Rides, fried foods, lively performances and closer interactions with a cow than you ever knew you wanted.
This attraction comes once a year and for 12 days there is a little slice of pure fun on the fairgrounds. People come from all over the South to take the rides for a spin after having just a little too much funnel cake.
You can forget your diet just long enough to order that fried Oreo. You can abandon your study schedule for a few hours, give over some of your control to a ride conductor and enjoy a few carefree moments.
This attraction is temporary. The colorful lights will go dim, the animals will be herded into trailers and wheeled away, and the rides will be broken down with enough ease to make you amazed you ever let yourself get on such flimsy things. This is a time to abandon fear and responsibility and act like a kid for an evening.
If you could not tell, I host an embarrassing amount of enthusiasm about the fair, and this year’s theme only makes me want to throw more money at this state tradition: this year the South Carolina State Fair is going pink in honor of breast cancer awareness month.
One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, and the only bright side to such a prevalent disease is the community that builds around it. The American Cancer Society reports that three million volunteers have dedicated their time to helping in the fight against cancer.
By mixing in the serious topic of breast cancer with the lighthearted nature of the fair, breast cancer is brought out of the darkness and isolation of medical screenings and back into the light. Breast cancer is not a death sentence; it is a treatable disease that can be conquered with a strong support system, and a refusal to give up. The hope is this demonstration of public support will help men and women living with breast cancer feel the love and support of their community, helping them to not feel so alone in their fight.
This display at this year’s state fair may just seem like an excuse to wear that one pink sweater you never wear, but it’s actually a great representation of the ongoing fight against cancer in which we are all warriors.