Richland County Sets 2026 Fair Admission Fees; Board Adds Free Admission for Children 5 and Under on Peak Nights

The Richland County Board approved a resolution on April 21 setting admission and grandstand fees for the 2026 county fair and added an amendment to grant free admission to children five and under on the two busiest nights.

Under the adopted resolution (as presented to the board), general admission was set at $5 on Friday and Saturday and lower amounts for Thursday and Sunday; grandstand and pit fees were set at separate rates for events on Friday and Saturday. During floor discussion, board members raised concerns about impact on families and the logistics of charging at gates versus charging for parking. Several supervisors said lowering entry fees from past levels aimed to balance revenue needs with affordability.

Concerns referenced the financial shortfall the fair experienced when gate fees were waived in 2025 and the operational costs of entertainment, dumpsters and other event expenses. Board members described higher attendance and some vendors reporting increased sales in the year gate admission was free, but also noted a reported fair loss in a prior year.

A motion from the floor amended the resolution to exempt children five and under from admission charges on Friday and Saturday; the amendment passed by voice vote and was incorporated into the final resolution, which the board then approved.

The resolution includes direction for fair organizers to continue exploring options such as parking fees, wristband arrangements with carnival operators and donor support to stabilize fair finances.

Next steps: the fair board and county administration will implement the amended pricing structure for the 2026 fair and continue discussions on logistics and potential payment methods beyond cash.