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The first Ohio State Fair was held in Camp Washington (2 miles east of downtown Cincinnati) on October 3 and 4, 1850. Admission was $.20. The attendance was estimated to be between 25,000 and 30,000.
The 2024 Ohio State Fair is coming to the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus. It will open on July 26 and its last day will be August 6, 2023. Be prepared for days of rides, food and fun!
Rides
Ohio State Fair offers quality rides that everyone can enjoy.
- Sky Glider – Get on at Kiddieland or near the Cardinal Gate and enjoy a half mile trip across the fair.
- Giant Slide – Hike up 105 steps, get in a burlap sack and go down the 144 foot long slide!
- Kiddieland has rides for kids and their families, including a carousel, mini-coasters and bumper boats.
- Mountain Dew Midway – More than 60 rides from a Ferris Wheel to free fall drops
2024 Ohio State Fair Concert Series
Enjoy concerts with artists from a variety of musical genres.
- Kidz Bop – Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at 6:30 pm
- Alabama with special guest Jade Eagleson on Thursday, July 25, at 7 pm
- Stone Temple Pilots with special guest Asylum on Friday, July 26, at 7:30 pm
- Boyz II Men with special guest comedian Preacher Lawson on Saturday, July 27, at 7 pm
- La Zenda Nortena presented by Eli Lilly and Company on Sunday, July 28, at 7:30 pm
- Ice Cube on Tuesday, July 29, at 7 pm
- Laura Daigle on Monday, July 30, at 7 pm
- Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias on Wednesday, July 31, at 7 pm
- Stephen Sanchez with special guest Ray Bull on Thursday, August 1, at 7 pm
- The Ohio Players & Midnight Star on Friday, August 2, at 7:30 pm
- Jamey Johnson with special guest Southall on Saturday, August 3, at 7 pm
Book your concert tickets here to get the lowest available price.
Free Events
- All-Ohio State Fair Band & Youth Choir on July 28, at 1 pm
- Hotel California (Eagles Tribute) presented by AARP Ohio on Tuesday, July 30, at 1 pm
- Sale of Champions Livestock Auction on August 4, at 2 pm
Butter Cow
In 1903, the first ever butter cow and calf sculptures were featured at the Ohio State Fair in a butter sculpturing contest. It was so popular that it later became a permanent attraction.
Now the butter cow and calf have become a tradition and can be found in the Dairy Products Building. They’re created each year along with a mystery sculpture that will reflect cultural trends and positive ideals in Ohio.
Each year, approximately half a million people go to see the butter sculptures. The 2022 Butter Cow was the largest display ever at the fair. It used 2,530 pounds of butter and took 600 hours to complete. A temperature of 45 degrees is maintained inside the cooler.
Food Fair
Almost everyone loves to eat at the State Fair – fair food is fun food! Funnel cakes, corn dogs, fried pickles, lemonade, popcorn, cotton candy, fried oreos, it’s all delicious! You’ll find all the foods you’d expect to see at the fair and some you’ve never heard of. Be adventurous!
- Deep Fried Devil Dogs – Classic chocolate cake stuffed with cookie dough and deep fried
- Deep Fried Piggy in a Pancake – Breakfast sausage dipped in special Fruity Pebble infused pancake batter and then deep fried
- Waffle Bombs – Chocolate covered strawberries placed on a stick, then dipped in waffle batter and deep fried
- Fried Olives – A stick of crispy, fried olives stuffed with your choice of bleu cheese or jalapeno and garlic served with a side of ranch dressing
State Fair Attractions
- Electric Bull Riding – How long can you hang on?
- “The Dunk” is a life size sculpture of Ohio’s official State Fossil Fish in the Natural Resources Park.
- Helicopter Rides – See the Ohio State Fair and downtown Columbus
- Camel Rides – Every day is hump day at the fair!
- Butterfly House
- Kayak Pond – Grab a life jacket and get paddling.
- Lady Houdini – Escape artist
- Kids’ Fishing Pond – Kids 14 and under can fish daily for bluegills.
- Lumberjack Show with fast paced log rolling, chainsaws carving and wood chipping
- Marvelous Mutts are talented rescue dogs with impressive canine tricks and stunts.
- Monster Mural – Kids can paint on a giant fair mural
- Accessible Playground
- Ohio Proud Farmers’ Market – You can buy farm fresh produce from Ohio farmers across the state.
- OVMA Veterinary Education Center – Witness the birth and visit new and expectant farm animal mothers and their babies. You can even milk an actual cow.
- Pig Races – See swift swine race for a prize.
- Ohio Proud General Store – Shop for local products and more from Ohio Proud vendors.
- Petting Zoo with over 50 animals
- Smokey Bear is a tradition at the Ohio State Fair
- Tiny Town by AAA
- Walk on Water with Water Bubbles – Climb inside a 6 foot in diameter floating bubble to walk, run, roll or relax.
- NASA Journey to Tomorrow Exhibit – Fun interactive experience with learning stations and activities
Strolling Performers
You never know who you might meet at the fair. You will encounter strolling performers from time to time, including
- Butters D. Cow, the fair mascot, and his character ambassadors
- Comedians
- A One Man Band
- Quartets
- Jugglers
- The Flyin’ Hawaiian Show
- 9 foot tall robot
- Street dancers
- Brass band
- Stilt Walkers
- Magicians
Animal Competitions
- Junior Beef Showmanship
- Junior Market Lamb Show
- Open Youth Crossbred Breeding Show
- 4-H Judging
- Dean’s Charity Steer Show
- Dog Agility
There’s so much to see and do at the Ohio State Fair. There’s also horse shows, sporting competitions, youth agricultural competitions, midway games, interactive educational displays, exhibitions, a fine arts show, a rib-off competition, antique shopping and Ohio’s largest pig.
Tickets
Get your tickets here to get the lowest available price.
RVs
Many people like to go to fairs and festivals in RVs and it does have its advantages. There is a fair RV Park during the State Fair. You don’t have an RV? Then you can rent one and Green Vacation Deals recommends RVShare.