COLUMBIA, S.C. — If you've been to the South Carolina State Fair this year, you might have heard the sound of bells in the background.
Thirty-five bells traveled this year to the state fair for the first time.
It's part of a show by Charlie St. Cyr-Paul called "Cast in Bronze," a carillon that incorporates this distinctive musical instrument.
St. Cyr-Paul is the carillonneur and performs three shows a day showcasing the largest instrument in the percussion family.
"It's always been the job of the carillonneur in any town or city is to play the melodies that people want to hear," said St. Cyr-Paul. "To unite them, to allow them to celebrate."
"What I hope for is in the moment of these stressful days of what everything is going on in the world and politically and what have you, they can just escape for a moment and hear something they've never heard before, a true symphony of the bells," St. Cyr-Paul said.
Melanie Parker is a Columbia resident who has followed "Cast in Bronze" on tour for months. She says she is excited to see them in person in her backyard.
"I'm thrilled that it's here at the fair," Parker said. "I play in a handbell choir and so I love all things bells, and so I started following him on Facebook. And then he shared that he was going to be at the South Carolina State Fair, and so I wanted to make sure I saw him especially."
You can find the "Cast in Bronze" show at the south gate entrance beside the Ellison Building.