COLUMBIA, S.C. — A blast from the past is something you can experience at the South Carolina State Fair. Heritage Village is nestled over by the rocket where attendees can see live demonstrations of what it was like to live in a time of covered wagons.
"I think it's the hidden gem for the fair," fairgoer Mary Adams shares.
Along with Carolyn Mitchell, Adams says she stumbled upon Heritage Village.
"I think it adds value," Adams says about the fair. "You know, we all have to go back in history and learn a little bit about what went on years ago and this is a great little add on to the fair. I think it's awesome."
"When you come into the Heritage Village, everything changes," demonstrater Mary Anne Farrell explains. "You come to the past and what it was like for everyone to go across country in a covered wagon and what they went through."
Farrell comes to the Palmetto State every year from upstate New York to show fairgoers what it was like to live in the mid-1800s.
"I think that it's important to keep it alive and to let everybody know, so they don't forget what we all went through to be where we are today," Farrell says. "Heritage Village is where you come to kind of calm down, reflect or relax, and we love when people see it and they remember their grandmother cooking out of the same pot. That's really great for us and we encourage people to sit by the fire and just hang out and see all the demonstrations inside Heritage Village."
From glass blowing to broom making to rope weaving, live demonstrations are free to watch for people like Cheryl Morse who is seeing the village for the first time this year.
"I find it to be very interesting. I enjoy the aspect of just kind of looking back at yesteryear and seeing what the lifestyle was like more for the pioneers and such as that," Morse said.
The village is educating people while providing a break from the rides and games, which Alexis Salis says she appreciates.
"Especially when it gets loud and people are overwhelmed, they come over here and just have a quiet time," Salis shares.
And Farrell says its helpful for people of all ages.
"I think it gives the parents the ability to relax after all of that and also you're not spending a bunch of money. It's not about money here. It's about demonstrating and enjoying food together," Farrell shares. "And half the time the kids don't want to leave, and then the parents end up just staying because the kid is happy."
Heritage Village is over by the north gate at the Hampton Plaza by the Ruff Building.
"I like the hospitality of the people. I love the children and I love the elders. I can't get enough of them," Farrell smiles. "So it's just a little boost of, you know, love that we get once a year. It definitely is our labor of love. We believe in it and we want you to come down and see it and have some apple pie with us."