GROVETOWN, Ga. — Crowds streamed into the Grovetown fairgrounds Thursday night as the 61st annual Columbia County Fall Fair kicked off a multi-week run that continues through Nov. 15.
Organizers opened the gates in the late afternoon, and the earliest wave of visitors — the first 250 through the turnstiles — walked in without paying the usual entry fee. Standard adult admission later settled at ten dollars a person.
Families who want every ride can buy an all-day wristband for twenty-five dollars on site, or shave seven dollars off that price by purchasing the same pass ahead of time on the fair’s online ticket page.
A youth rule kicks in after 7 p.m.: anyone 17 or younger must stay with an adult, and each accompanying adult may supervise as many as four children.
The Merchants Association of Columbia County stages the fair each year and treats gate money as its largest charity fundraiser, sending a large share of proceeds back to local nonprofits once the lights come down.
New for 2026 is the Zerbini Family Circus, making its first Columbia County appearance with aerial performers, acrobats and clowns alongside the midway. Fairgoers will also find ReadyDogGo canine events, fire shows, seals, a petting zoo, games and the usual mix of carnival attractions.
Weeknight hours run from 5 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Fridays stretch to 11 p.m., Saturdays open at noon and close at 11 p.m., and Sundays run from 1 to 10 p.m.
The fairgrounds sit on the west side of the Augusta metro in Grovetown, drawing regulars from Evans and the surrounding Columbia County suburbs for food, rides and evening shows through mid-November.
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