What WON’T Be Around At The Aiken Fair This Year

Aiken, SC—It is that time of year again…fair time, where you’ll find the Ferris wheel…the fun house…and of course, the funnel cakes.

Alan Gregory, Western Carolina State Fair manager: “Carnival food! You got to come eat carnival food; you only get it once a year.“

But, there is one thing you won’t find at the Western Carolina State Fair…

Sgt. Dave Myers, Aiken County Sheriff’s Office: “This year, the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office is asking that nobody, over the age of 16, enters the facility, the event, the fair, with a mask on their face.“

Gregory: “About every six or seven years, we finish on Halloween, and I know things have changed in our country, we used to let folks come out, dress up, do everything.”

But this year, the Sheriff’s Office is banning those masks that cover faces…

Sgt. Myers: “We have a few instances, in the past, where pranksters come in, and wear their masks, and try to scare kids, try to scare adults, and as law enforcement officers, we don’t know if it’s a prank or not. So we take it seriously, and it would be considered a threat of some sort.“

Whether scary or strange…they are fair game for a fine, if you’re caught wearing one here.

Sgt. Myers: “Because masks are used in convenience store robberies, and things of that nature, and that’s the reason its there.“

Gregory: “In today’s society, you don’t get to pick the good, and the bad guys.”

So they’re just eliminating the possibility, altogether. So as the fair gets set to open…

Gregory: “We’re ready to go!“

Feel free to ride the Gravitron…the Scorpion…the big wheel, or the Tilt-a-Whirl…just make sure to do it, with your best face forward.

For Ticket information, locations, and events, log onto WestersCarolinaStateFair.com.