Cows, Corn Dogs & Carnival Rides: Ohio State Fair Bound! July 29, 2025 Uncategorized July 29, 2025 | Uncategorized Every summer, Ohio throws a party so big it takes 360 acres to hold it--and this year, we weren't about to miss it. We packed up the car, grabbed some sunscreen, and took our 8-year-old granddaughter to the Ohio State Fair in Columbus. Let's just say: she came for the snacks and stayed for the all-day ride wristband. Honestly, she was living her best fair life. This isn't just a fair--it's a full-blown Ohio tradition. A glorious, chaotic mashup of fried food, farm animals, neon lights, and enough whirling rides to make your stomach question your decisions. And that's exactly why we love it. Let's Talk About the Butter Cow First stop? The famous Butter Cow and Calf--because nothing says "Ohio summer" like life-sized dairy sculptures. A tradition since 1903, this refrigerated masterpiece has evolved from just a cow and calf to full-blown buttery tributes. This year? A salute to our unofficial state symbol: the orange construction barrel. Because in Ohio, we only have two seasons--winter and construction. It's weird. It's wonderful. It's proudly Ohio. Pro tip: It's inside the Dairy Products Building. Bonus--air conditioning! Bring Your Appetite (Seriously) Fair food isn't just food--it's a commitment. We set out to sample the best of the best, and let's just say... stretchy pants would've been a good call. Here's what was on our culinary battlefield: Deep-Fried Buckeye - Chocolate and peanut butter, straight from the fryer. A sweet, melty tribute to Ohio pride. Donut Burger - A beef patty hugged by two glazed donuts. Equal parts wrong and oh-so-right. Roasted Corn on the Cob - Charred to perfection and slathered in butter like it owed us money. Fried Cheese on a Stick - Because what's life without deep-fried dairy on a stick? Lemon Shake-Up - Cold, tart, and refreshing enough to revive you after a lap around the livestock barns. Velvet Ice Cream - Locally made, and practically a rite of passage. But the new stuff this year really raised the (deep-fried) bar: Deep-Fried Tacos Ghost Pepper Fudge (your choice of chocolate or vanilla... and instant regret) Jalapeño Corn Dogs Strawberry Kettle Corn (because why not make popcorn weirdly romantic?) We nibbled, crunched, licked, and munched until we were full, happy, and debating whether to risk the Tilt-A-Whirl. (Spoiler: I sat that one out. Somebody had to hold the fudge.) Don't Miss These Fair Staples Here's what else made our day one to remember: Free Concerts & Live Music - Nothing says summer like live music drifting through the fairgrounds while you're holding a corn dog in one hand and dancing badly with the other. The Giant Slide - We grabbed burlap sacks and went for it. She beat me to the bottom. Twice. I demand a rematch. Livestock Barns - Horses, llamas, goats... and pigs racing like they're in the Indy 500. Plus, we may or may not have seen a baby cow being born. Fair magic. Natural Resources Park - A peaceful pause in all the chaos. She got to kayak. I got to sit in the shade and not be spinning for once. Win-win. The Midway - Where lights flash, music blares, and your granddaughter insists on riding every spinning, swinging, flipping ride back-to-back with zero fear. Me? I'll take a good bench and a funnel cake. Plan Your Visit The Ohio State Fair runs late July through early August at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus. If you're planning to go, check out dates, tickets, and food maps here: Visit the official Ohio State Fair website Final Thoughts We came for the food, the fun, and the butter cow--but what we really took home were the memories. Watching our granddaughter's face light up after every ride, every snack, every silly moment--that's the kind of magic that sticks with you long after the powdered sugar's wiped off your shirt. The fair is a place to eat, laugh, ride too many rides, and maybe pet a goat--but for me, it's also a reminder that these little slices of joy... these sticky, loud, sugary-sweet moments... are what make life worth savoring. Take the Trip. You won't regret it. read more

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Fun day at the fair! If you haven't been in awhile I highly recommend attending. A lot of once in a while kind of food, sites to see, and rides to ride. read more

Ohio State Fair - Festivals Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I love the fair, I go every year for things like deep fried Oreos, Steak on a Stick, Funnel Cakes, Bourbon Chciken. It's the time of year where a diet doesn't matter. People come from all around to see what's going on in the marketplace and see what exhibits are on display. It's also nice to stop by and see a concert or go to the back and check out the natural resource park and say hi to Smokey the Bear. Overall it's a great time! read more

Was at the fairground not for the fair but for a huge four day dog show in Nov. each day had over 1000 entries. Lots of breeds. Lots of fun. Free admission. Its fun to walk around and see all the dogs. read more

Ohio State Fair - Princess Wanda with her ribbon bounty. - Festivals Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

What an unexpected and awesome surprise. I was in the area for business and a co-worker's daughter was showing her livestock - so I popped over to the fair to see my friend's daughter and also to see her cows. The fair was an awesome diversion from work - the food was great - the midway was amazing and the folks were friendly everywhere I went! The Ohio State Patrol has a huge (friendly) presence to keep the crowds pleasant and the whole show was awesome. I cannot say enough good things! This Arkansas guy, came to the Ohio State Fair while on business for the Belgian company he works for. Only in America! Go Hogs - O H I O & God Bless America! read more

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A must do if you're from Ohio or just visiting. It's always a good time. The best fair is the whole United States. We don't have children, so we avoid the midway rides and kiddie section. We do like to stop at the petting zoo, the pig races and whatever animal attraction is there. In the past we've seen the bear, wolf and birds of prey shows just to name a few. You have to stop in Taste of Ohio building and try whatever you want, everything is awesome. If you eat pork, they you have to get some pig wings, out of this world. They also have beer and wine here There is a wonderful outdoor part where you can check out some campers, yurts, do some canoeing, see a lumberjack or dog show, get some fishing in and don't forget the butterflies, birds of prey and fish. This is also where you get to see Smokey the Bear and if you're lucky he might call you by name. Do not forget about the multitude of crafts in multiple buildings. Quilts, cakes, table settings, cookies, wood carvings, paintings, photographs...wait this is all in one building. The outdoor marketplace is full of stalls and vendors selling all sorts of items. There are always some famous football players there taking pictures, signing and selling items. The indoor marketplace is full of every and any item that you could want to buy, it also has food and drinks. There is free information galore about our great state including, all of the government offices, beer trails, Amish country, wine trails, camping, state parks. Off to the back side of the fair to see the Famous Butter Cow, the other butter sculptures and get some ice cream. We usually finish the fair with a ride on the Skylift. They finally replaced the old metal seats they are now plastic. I do love that they placed the old ones around the fairgrounds as spots to take some pictures. We usually attend a couples of times each year. Once on a day when you can get in at a discount price. There are always a few days when you can bring something to get in free or BOGO free. Another for a concert, there is usually at least one artist we want to see. We will definitely be back next year! read more

I love the Ohio State Fair! Yes, it is crowded and somewhat expensive but I pick and choose where I am going to spend my money. I looked at the schedule ahead of time,which is posted online, to plan for activities and entertainment. Seniors get in free on Senior day! I very much enjoy the booth that sells the Dole Whip - my favorite! Who doesn't love the baby piglets? I could spend hours in Kasich Hall enjoying the miniature doll houses, decorated cakes, and crafts. Spend a few hours or spend the entire day but go to the fair. read more

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I've been coming here pretty much my whole life, and while many rides and food options have come and gone over the years, the charm remains the same! read more

Whoever is in charge of the parking needs to be fired. Otherwise, the fair is a great family time. The planners and staff of the parking, however may very well be the worst of any event I've ever been to. read more

After a few years off due to COVID, the Ohio State Fair is officially back this summer! I happened to make it for the first time last weekend and had a really good time. I went with my boyfriend and his three nieces so to say we had our hands full would be an understatement. Parking wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, same goes for entry. It ended up being about $40 for us all to get in. The moment you walk through the gates the fun begins. We started with face painting and the girls absolutely loved it. From there, we headed towards the rides. For unlimited rides, the cost got up there. We had to stay at least three hours to get the bang for our buck.. At least 5-6 rides to make it worth the money. As for food, what's not to love about fair food? Prices were much lower than I expected too. We got a couple lemon shake ups and tried the onion blossom, French fries, fried oreos, and a funnel cake. The kids approved of everything they tried and I was incredibly satisfied with my onion blossom (my fav fair food). Overall, the fair experience is definitely one to remember. The girls loved their first ever visit to a fair and I enjoyed my first time at the Ohio State Fair. Until next year! read more

Ohio State Fair - Yum! - Festivals Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Ohio State Fair is not what it used to be, however it only comes around once a year so it's worth going if you need wheelchair accessibility parking. I seen people angry because the parking spaces aren't monitored. People just pull in them so know that going in there are plenty restrooms and they're water fountains around. It's not a lot, but they're in designated areas if you need to refill your water bottles read more

I have not visited the fair in a few years and it was definitely nostalgia at its finest. I went looking for food and we stumbled across something called a soul roll. It was collard greens and Mac &cheese wrapped in an egg roll. It was pretty good however, I asked the guy if the greens were cooked in meat or stock. He said no but I'm pretty sure the greens were glory greens and they are cooked in meat stock. We tried some other foods including a funnel cake and Turkey leg. I did enjoy that they had a lot of activities and vendors. Thanks Telhio for the comp tickets. Whoo Hoo! read more

The food was amazing. The fried cheese on a stick and deep fried buckeyes are FANTASTIC! There are a lot of animals, including a petting zoo. They had some fun rides and a lot of variety of food too. There were a lot of great shops (leggings, purses, hair accessories, salsas, etc.). This is a must do for us every year! We also pre-bought our tickets through Ticketmaster for $2 less per person online (this was advertised on Facebook a few weeks before the fair). We were able to skip lines doing this. Also, if you are seeing one of their shows (we saw Fluffy), you get into the fair for free, which is awesome! The inside area also had some kick-butt amazing gyros (Greek Food restaurant). The amount of food they gave was ENORMOUS and super tasty. Lastly, I highly recommend hitting up the corn dog stand by the slides (in the back). They have light-bulb drinks with free refills and a really sweet guy that is decked out in Spongebob gear (he was the sweetest)! We will be back every year for this! read more

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Honestly, I went for the nostalgia, the memories I had growing up in Columbus. The Demolition Derby, tractor pull, the concerts were free with your admission... the real giant slide. So much has changed. There are food booths for everything under the sun it seems- Turkey legs, elephant ears, even fried buckeyes, but read the fine print- MANY vendors charge extra to use a card. I'm not too much into the rides, but it was fun to watch people go on them. The expressions of people are so worth it. With the Ohio Highway Patrol HQ and training. Center on site there was obviously a large presence of patrolmen on site throughout the fairgrounds, and that was a good thing. Loved the exhibition halls we went through though- saw some of the sheep judging (6-8 month old ewes) and it was my wife's first time seeing something like that. (She didn't grow up in the States) BUTTER COW! Still cool (see what I did there). But the $4 scoops of Friendly ice cream were the smallest scoops I think I have ever gotten anywhere. Seriously!!! Soooo small I swear they were scooped with a Mellon baller, not an ice cream scoop. The concerts are listed online, they are also on the marquee outside the venue. Lots of variety. Liked that they still have the State Fair Marching Band- they played a few times around the fairgrounds. The parking was free and easy to get to, they had trams to take you to some lesser used gates and I recommend using them as courtesy is NOT something you will find by the people trying to cut in line to get in. Overall, this may be the last year I go to the fair. read more

Ohio State Fair - Fair looks open to me - Festivals Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Pros: Finally back after being on hiatus for 2 years during the pandemic Still the same ol greasy fried foods and turkey legs People watching is still so much fun Great concerts All the animals! Pig racing, petting zoo, livestock competitions So many vendors to buy from Free parking! Cons: Not too many ways to pre-buy tickets so be prepared to wait in long lines to get in Can be crowded, but hey, it's the Fair Turkey Legs are now $18 - ack!!! Pro tip: Be sure to stop by and see the Butter sculpture and the Craft competition halls read more

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Awesome for kids I go to county fairs and other state fairs and they all vary so much I wasn't sure what to expect. This fair is by far the most kid focused fair I have ever been too. Every building had something geared towards kids. Lots of food options. The Ohio state parks section was by far the best. You easily could have spent several hours just in that section. Parking in the cardinal lot wasn't that bad. Just prepared to spend the whole day walking! read more

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This enormous event space is really not JUST the Ohio State Fair! A more accurate description would be the Ohio State Expositions Center - the facility operates year-round and is host to many different interesting events. From ice skating events, to professional bull riding, the All-American Quarter Horse Congress, home and garden shows, giant auto shows, book sales, flat track roller derby, and so, so much more! I'm a huge fan of the Ohio State Fair - it's one of the finest agricultural expositions in North America. But the Ohio Expositions Commission runs a diverse event space with excellent facilities, and there is something to be found for everyone almost every month of the year. Check it out! read more

The Living Zoltan was fantastic!! He is off beaten path, but you should make a plan to go see him and tell him your wish.

This was my worst experience with The Ohio State Fair!! Dirty! plane dirty. not enough workers!! I didn't see one person cleaning up the ground. I slipped on a slice of pizza and almost tripped on a whole lemon. Trash everywhere. For such a family event the amount of marijuana I inhaled from teenagers was ridiculous. Their were so many young children who should not have been exposed. This was a huge disappointment for me as this was always a great childhood experience! it was so much better with whoever you guys contracted with before!! *** BRING THEM BACK*** read more

Ohio State Fair - Festivals Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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This was my first year going and I loved it! Never realized how big it was. There's so many food options, actives and animals to see. Truly a fair for all ages read more

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We skipped last year, but were back again. It was the second to last day of fair, but was still pretty busy. We ended up going to whichever lot we got directed to, but they had shuttles running to take us up to the main gate. Our lot (pink) wasn't far so we ended up walking back at the end. The shuttles run every 10-15 minutes and have steps. They might have lower ones, but I'm not sure. They do allow strollers on the shuttles too. Parking was free. We paid at gate so it was $12 per person. The sign said cash only, but I heard some people did use their cards. We had fried veggies, fried pickles, and a Dole whip float which was all vegan. The bathrooms were easy to find and there were plenty of water fountains. It was a bit sad that every place had plastic forks and straws, I forgot to pack my reusables. It was fun to see the miniatures, table scaping, and more. We rode the sky ride that went across the fairgrounds, it was $5 per person when going one way. Be warned that this is not included in the normal ride pass. We always like going to the natural resources department best. read more

Hi: my 1st mistake was getting on I-71 at 3:30 PM. Normal drive time to fair from start to finish is 22 minutes. 7-30-25 took 50 minutes. Parking was great. On pavement and 3-minute walk to (new) ticket booth (No lines). Then a 5-minute line to take $ 20/ticket/receipt. Two people to take money and one line to security scanners. No staff Info Booths. Internet suggested Budweiser Clydesdales at the Fair. No answer and did not find them. Then the construction, like last year and much more. No signage as to where it all moved. Walking and walking. Usually continuous horse shows in Coliseum. Shows stopped at 3:00 PM and start up at 6:00 PM done at 7:00 PM. 7:00 PM was when Nature Resource Area closed (should have remembered). No Butterfly or Aviary enclosures. Both padlocked. Vegetable and flower display minimal and in multiple (found two) places. Food choices were minimal. Lots of French Fries. One calzone and one Stromboli (bad choice). Few corn dog on stick (all $7). No Der Dutchman so no moon pies. Bottled pop only from machines (OK) but first two did not take cash and third did. Butter cow display was themed (construction) and boring. Cattlemen's food was good, consistent and lone bright spot. If construction continues this go every year 70-year-old will skip 2026. Best regards read more

We travel to Ohio every year to visit the Ohio State Fair. It is always an good time. My son is amazed every year that Smokey the Bear remembers his name. There are plenty of family friendly rides and good fair food. We love visiting the Schmidt's tent to eat. This is a wonderful family tradition that we we so glad is back in full force after COVID. read more

Ohio State Fair - Butterfly Tent - Festivals Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Admission is cheap if you're an OSU student ($3 from D tix) or from Kroger ($5). Otherwise, it's $10 at the entrance. Still, this seemed cheaper than the state fair in Kentucky. Food is also much cheaper here too! I was shocked they sold things less than $8. My friend found $5 funnel cakes here. I'm pretty sure they're more than that in Kentucky. While admission isn't awful, they get you with all the activities. You pay $2-3 for the ride on the telephone lines, the giant slide, and alien abduction (also known as starship 3000). The giant slide was a huge slide! You slide on these mats where you have a pouch for your feet. You almost bounce a bit on there. Very exciting! Alien abduction spins you so fast that your feet aren't on the ground anymore. It's so fun! It's literally a no gravity experience. They also play heavy metal music to go with the vibe. At the end, we took the ride on the telephone lines. Fun way to end the day! I spent more than I should have. I did find some decent $1 sweet tea and $4 cheese fries. Again, cheap! I've paid so much more for that at the Chow Wagon in Louisville. Food is always just alright here. Bathrooms needed more toilet paper and soap. Either way, I'd come again. It was a solid 4.5/5 experience but I had to settle for 4/5. I didn't see many animals and it didn't have much of a country feel that I was expecting. Love and Theft did play here for free although we didn't stick around to see them. I wish they had more signage for the animals. You mostly walk through booths and booths of food. Activities are inside but there wasn't much going on. Maybe there's more during the day or on a weekend? We came around 8 on a Thursday and there wasn't a whole lot to do. Anyway, Parking was only $5. I'd suggest carpooling. read more

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I've been to the fairgrounds for the Ohio State Fair, 4 or 5 times since we moved to Ohio back in 2000. I find it to be a fun family experience for attendees of all ages and not once has it been a disappointment. While at the fair, you get to enjoy games, concerts, rides, entertainment, exhibitions, shows, shopping, contests and food of all types. We usually go to see certain R&B groups. Our first, and still most enjoyable show, was Jeffrey Osborn, formerly of LTD. The way the seating, lighting and stage was designed, you'd swear you were in an arena. Just recently, they hosted TLC and En Vogue, among others. I'm continuously impressed by the line-up and am looking forward to who comes along next year. I also saw The McCartney Project, a tribute band performing Beatles and Paul McCartney songs. Fantastic! Between these, the break-dancing ensemble and the magic show put on by Trevor and Lorena, it was worth the trip. Despite what seemed to be the hottest day of the decade. I do don't do the rides anymore and definitely appreciated the cardio workout I got, walking from the parking lot and from end to end and back. My biggest concern is the preventive measures available to combat the heat. Yes, you can walk from booth to booth and purchase water or various beverages as needed, but I think they need to provide the overhead sprinkler systems that you find at theme parks. People may purchase drinks, but that doesn't mean they drink enough. Methods to cool the body down need to be readily accessible. Had to remove a star point for this. (I heard that they do indeed have cooling systems, but I never saw them at any point) Also, sadly, the park is still recovering from the tragedy that occurred last year. I'm so glad that the new inspection methods have been implemented and I hope they continue. The fair brings people from all over and beyond the state of Ohio. It's important that people attend with nothing but "a good time" on their minds. If you've never attended, make it a point to go. It's a great outing and definitely a plus for exercise! read more

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My wife and I went to the Fair on Wed July 31, 2024 and pulled up to the front gate as my wife cannot walk very far. I had 5 or 6 parking attendents pound on my car saying i cannot drive there. One attendent started spewing profanities saying "He didn't give a fk what I was doing" I adv him that there are no signs saying I xould not drop off there. I put my car into reverse ro pull into a handicap parking spot, another attendent pounded so hard on the car i thought i had hit concrete. Then he came to the drivers door and tried to pull me out of rhe car then spit in my face I then asked thee attendent who swore constantly at me what his title/name was. He put his nose in the air and put his badge under his shirt. I immediately went ro the highway patrol and the only this they did was ask if I wanted to press charges. He game me the impession that he did not want to help. AThe highway patrol said " he ism't like that" however when i went ro enter the gate, several gate people said this person has been in trouble befoe. A fair supervisor came over and I let him know what happened, went back to spraking with the patrol and the supetvisor had disappeared. I called the fair office to complain and was given a number to call that ws a non working/disconnected #. I had to call back and was given a different #. When I asked who I would be talking to she quite bluntly said "Whoever answers". I tried a total of 7 times and no one answered. Extremely concerned that they would allow this to go unanswered. Patrol said that there are cameras everywhere. Dependimg on what the fair says will determine our next step. read more

We attended the Ohio State Fair today in Columbus. We saw a ton of food - everywhere. None of what we saw was what I would consider gourmet. We did find a chicken gyro sandwich that was ok. We enjoyed looking at all the animals and rodeo shooting. And also took a ski lift ride from one end of the fair to the other. That was fun. It reminded me of a days gone by carnival rather than a state fair. Lots & lots of vendors, not much on the way of activities to watch. (No demolition derby, horse or tractor pulls, etc ) read more

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Wow! Can't believe I've never reviewed the Ohio State Fair before! This is a summer staple for me! I actually have been going for 10 years straight with one of my good friends. I also went once or twice as a kid and once in undergrad as well! I will cut right to the chase-- the main reason I come to the fair is the FOOD! And it's always so hard to choose which treats I want! However, as much as I always talk a big game, my belly starts to get full quickly and I almost always get the same things each year. lol! There is one Corn Dog stand that is FANTASTIC! Honestly the best corn dog I've ever had. It's on the total opposite side of the entrance back over by 17th. It is worth the walk and the corn dogs are only $2.50! That is a must every year! I also am a fan of the fair fries (who doesn't love those!) as well as corn on the cob with the many various seasonings. I usually always get ice cream every year as well. And for walking around on a hot summer evening, there is nothing more refreshing to me than a Coke Icee! And luckily they have various Icee vendors throughout. There are also endless options for "deep fried" anything! Pop tarts, buckeyes, twinkies, oreos, candy bars, etc. I personally have only ever had the Buckeyes and they were good. I would like to try to Oreos sometime! There are also a ton of rides there. I can't even keep track of how many there are. I personally do not ride them (although I have rode the Sky Buggies a couple of times...don't recommend if you don't like heights!). The rides this year in particular seemed very clean and well put together. It's unfortunate that a tragic situation had to occur in order for there to be stricter controls on safety. There are also various attractions like the famous "Butter Cow" which these past few years has became a whole "theme" of various butter sculptures. I love that this area highlights the multitude of dairy farms within the state! There are also a lot of farm animals and other "entertainment." On this most recent visit, we saw a boxing match; on another we saw a man on stilts doing tricks. Overall, I truly love the fair and look forward to it every year. My friend and I tend to go on Thursday evenings and that seems to be our sweet spot. We have gone a few years on weekends and I do not recommend that. It is (as you can imagine) very busy and too crowded. Only constructive feedback I have is that I wish they showcased some "Ohio favorite" businesses. For instance, we have so many great restaurants, bakeries, etc homegrown to Ohio (Graeter's, Jeni's, Hot Chicken Takeover, Mitchell's, Malley's, Montgomery Inn). I'd love to see those places be showcased or have a vendor truck or something. I know in Columbus, we have most of these, but people drive from all over the state for the Fair and they deserve a chance to test out these tried-and-true gems! On a similar note, I'd love to see Homage have a "pop up shop." I just think the Fair is a great way to promote Ohio-bred businesses! read more

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Every year the Capital City hosts the Ohio State Fair for a week and a half of hot fun in the summer time. This is where the people of the great state of Ohio come to let their hair down and have a good time. Like to shop? Go to the Bricker Building IE The Market Place, that's all you need to know about this. Looking to be impressed? Check out the Budweiser Clydesdales. Beautiful, majestic animals they are. Looking for things to do? There are a ton of carnival games of which I'm particularly good at winning at the Duck Pond game. Take a ride on the Ferris Wheel, the tram, giant slide, kiddie rides, and even some dilapidated old fun houses that were old when your parents were kids. BTW did anyone see the Kiss/Steven Tyler/Alice Cooper/Ozzy Osbourne/Britney Spears one? WTF is that combination? Finally when you just can't pick 'em up and put 'em down anymore, the Sky Glide will almost get you to the parking lots at either end of the fair. Looking for gastronomic fare with the emphasis on gas? They've got every imaginable food that you should never ever put into your body. There's slices of sub-quality Red Baron-ish pizza being served up at $4 a slice, Chinese food that makes Mark Pi's seem like a gourmet meal and and big ass turkey legs. Nothin' better than walking around while gnawing on a huge greasy bird leg. Huh? They've also got deep fried candy bars, Donut Burgers, Elephant Ears, Cotton Candy and Deep Fried Cream Cheese with Larvets (IMO, just wrong). God knows someone's eating all this stuff! Looking for one more "must do" at the fair? People watching is always a hoot and we have it all. Young, old, all races / mixed races are here along with married folks, couples, families, tops and bottoms, people with bad hair, people with BO and a surprising number of teenaged girls with a weeks worth of makeup caked on. The nicest thing though...families, yes families spending the day together.... I just love to sit and watch this parade of humanity go by. Enjoy your day at the fair everyone! read more

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I love our state fair. I have fond memories of visiting for my birthday when I was a kid, back when it was held later in August. I'm dating myself by saying this, but I saw the Osmond Brothers there and got a purple Donny shirt when I was 10. Good times. Over the years, I've taken my kids there, and now my grandchildren. Yesterday we went for special pricing day ($3 if you brought 2 cans of food for the food bank), and for PBS Kids Day. The kids got to meet and pose for pics with Curious George, Super Why, Daniel Tiger and a few other PBS characters. The ride wristbands are $25, but you can get discount vouchers at Kroger BEFORE the fair starts for $20. One granddaughter got to paddle around in a kayak in a pond, after instruction and assistance by volunteers with the Dept. of Natural Resources. It was free of charge. They also have a sandbox in that area for young kids to play with Tonka-type construction toys. One of my favorite exhibits is Smokey the Bear, where volunteers ask your child's name, then hold their pad up to the window so Smokey can greet your child by name. We hit all the usual spots, like the pony and camel rides, and the petting zoo, where you can feed goats, llamas, etc. carrot slices for $1.00. The butter cow is a must-see, and it's hard to resist the ice cream sold in the that building. The animals there for competitions are great to see. I love rabbits; sometimes there are very few rabbits on the day I am there, but this time we saw one that had to weigh 20 lbs. The sky ride is a cool way to get from one end of the fair to the other. Otherwise, all the walking you do is great exercise. The Bricker building is air-conditioned and a good way to cool off walking up and down all the aisles full of vendors. The BMV used to be here and in years past one was able to renew driver licenses, but they cut that out. It was super convenient. Favorite foods are Der Dutchman's chicken and noodles over mashed potatoes, and Tracy's Root Beer stand for root beer floats. There are a few options for vegetarians, such as veggie calzones, and falafel gyros. The cheapest bottled water I found to be $2, but some stands charge more. Lemonade and ice tea stands are the most popular because you can get discounted refills. In general, there is a lot to see, eat, ride, and there is no finer people watching. P.S. I forgot to mention the cinnamon sugar Inky Dinky donuts! If you are there in the morning, get in line and watch them being made. So fresh and tasty. read more

I've been many times, of course, so I'm not sure if I can capture all of the visits in one review. This year we went for a concert- Joan Jett and Heart. The Celeste center is only a fair place to see a concert, but we had fun. We spent the rest of the time there wandering amongst the food vendors. Corn dog? Check- this year with sriracha. Fried buckeyes? Hell yeah. Bacon on a stick? Yes, plain and chocolate covered. Roast beef sundae? A tradition now. And we tried fried gummy bears. Yes, you read right. Not bad, actually; something like a deep fried cherry pie. There are all sorts of other things to do at the fair: rides, shows, animals, helicopter rides, games... Well worth a day or two. Go to a concert and you get free admission, or look for the discount days. read more

The Ohio State Fair was awesome! It's an event that I look forward to every year and have since I was a kid! Everyone has at least one guilty pleasure when it comes to summer festivals, carnivals, or the Fair! I've probably got at least 10! While I won't bore you with each one, I will say that the Ohio State Fair probably has yours! The roasted corn, caramel apples, funnel cakes, deep fried Oreos, and Buckeyes are all delicious! I can never bring myself to eat the Krispy Kreme donut burger or deep fried gummy bears... people say they're good... but, maybe next year lol! The Fair has so much more to offer than just bizarre foods, games, and rides. I absolutely love the livestock exhibits, comedy shows, and the Clydesdales! These areas are probably the most underrated! The pig run and rabbit obstacle course are hilarious! Plan to come early and if you can during the weekday. Weekdays are less crowded and better parking options. The Fair also has daily specials and discounts, so check out their website for more info! If you can't go this year, be sure to go next year! I'll be there taking my annual selfies with the goats and rabbits, hahaa! Have a great summer! read more

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I love going to the fair one of the days at least while it's open. It's a fun change of pace of things. It's nice to go during the evening, so you can beat the heat. Convenient that it's open till 12am on the weekends. Did not see any fireworks this year, which they used to have daily at 10pm in previous years. A must have is the deep fried buckeyes, so so good! Tried the donut burger for the first time, it was definitely different. Glad they use the original glazed Krispy Kreme donut, and it tastes better in the second bite. Thought the funnel cake and churros were overpriced, but then again it is the fair. A ton of rides for kids. I love riding the sky glider back before leaving. Definitely buy the tickets from Ticketmaster or at Kroger for $6, instead of $10 at the gate. Parking is an additional $5. read more

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Fun time at the fair. Went later in the day and walked around before The Beach Boys concert. We saw the Clydesdale horses and the dog and walked inside the Bricker Building. We shared a footlong corn dog, fried pickles and a beer. Great people watching! The concert was nonstop and very entertaining. They played a lot of their oldies and sang some of their new music as well. Mike Love was awesome and Bruce Johnston amazing as well! read more

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Traditions bring us back to the fair year after year. The people watching to the greasy, bad for you food and the random shows and performances. We always head to Kroger to purchase our discount tickets to save a few bucks and to skip the ticket lines. My experiences at the fair never involve watching the farm animals compete nor wanting to watch the animals in stalls waiting to be stared and touched. I am not a farm animal kinda girl. I feel that disclosure was important to express as that is a big part of the Ohio State Fair. My love for food and random fun reflects my experience. This year, 2015, we were able to find ample parking a few blocks from the entrance. If you don't get lucky like we did, park far away and take the tracker ride that pulls the wagons filed with hay to the entrance. Not a quick ride but gets you off your feet. We were greeted at the front entrance with a booth passing out samples of ice cream, however, the fair police got feisty and didn't let anybody in until they ate the ice cream. Why wouldn't they set the booth up in the fair and not right out front. Maybe we should have grabbed it on the way out not in. The food choices were typical of any fair event. I would say the fried buckeyes might be exclusive to this fair. If your vegetarian, vegan, paleo or dieting, DO eat before. Oh, actually to my paleo peeps, they do have turkey legs the size of my fore arm. The roasted corn on the cob and the lemonade shake up round out my meal. Throw in a few fried oreos, elephant ear and kettle popcorn on the way out. I felt horrible for two days. But, back next year for sure. read more

I haven't been to the fair since 2004. This year I decided to treat my mom to an outing this year. She had not been since before that. I think that this was one of the best memories I will share with her. We walked around and played a few games. I like experiencing the fair as an adult. We were able to pace ourselves and really enjoy it without rushing. Being that this was the last day, we decided to come early. This was a good choice. It was not too crowded. Pricing is just what you come to expect from festivals and fairs. It was all worth it though. Grade: A- read more

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So when I got there I was have it fun and a few minutes later I was getting dizzy and felt a little sick the zipper ride was fun but scary and the green this spinning thing that goes on the sides that was fun but not scary at all but the green spinning thing is making me throw up and I almost got a heat stroke and thanks to the god my dad took me to the umbrella Shade thing and seconds later my uncle and my cusion Vivian and 2-3 hours later i went home and I still holding my puke but I didn't puke yet and I go to my house and 1 min Later I puked on my fav spot on my couch and went to the bathroom to the toilet and pukeing over and over and I felt I am not going into the heat anymore I going to bring my hat so I don't get heat stroke again and I am comeing back to Ohio state fair. read more

This was my second year checking out the OH fair. Doesnt compare to the much bigger NY State Fair, but always a good time! Make sure to get your discount tickets at Kroger ahead of time. Parking is $5, and they offer a tram for those who don't want to walk. Get a daily schedule to plan your stops! My favorite part of the Fair is the park. Sadly, they don't have live animals in the exhibits anymore, but still do encounters. Try your hand at fishing, archery, shooting, or even kayaking! Impressive butter sculpture Try the yearly ice cream flavor of the fair in the dairy building. Take in a horse show at the Colosseum. My favorite is the 6 horse hitches. Food favorites include the Gyro at Lamb farmer's assoc in the food building, fried mushrooms, raspberry lemonade, and the cream puff! read more

Ohio State Fair - State Park at the State Fair - Festivals Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Well, we decided to "play hooky" on a beautiful Wednesday afternoon and drive over to Columbus for the opening day of the Fair. Rare day off, even more rare to have good (not SWELTERING) weather this time of year, and I had a sneaky suspicion a mid-afternoon visit on the first day would not be too crowded, and was more or less correct. Definitely good idea to go on a weekday vs. a potentially crazy weekend!! This INSTITUTION has been going on for so many years, they've got just about everything down to a science. Parking's easy enough, and there are wagon rides to take you to the gate. We got discount tickets at Kroger, so didn't have to wait on line to get in, though there is a bit of a wait for the metal detectors. There is SO MUCH to see and take in here, and my "inner annoying/overstimulated 9 year old kid" wants to do EVERYTHING!! We took the traditional "skyline" ride across to the other side and commenced to our own version of semi-planned/aimless wandering. We enjoyed the "wilderness" area showcasing Ohio's state parks and natural resources, got great hiking, camping and watersport info for future adventures, and plenty of interactive displays for all ages. While this year was not as hot as previous years, we also spent a good bit of time checking out the indoor exhibits (whewwwwwww, air conditioner!!) and shopping/browsing through the merchant's building for a zillion and one things you TRULY don't need!! Get the map, wander around and EAT to you're ever-loving Ohiooooo heart's content, and yep, be sure to squeeze in lots of people (and animal!!) watching. As for the rides.... YES, we were there when IT happened. We were probably only a half hour or so done with our stroll through the midway/rides area when the terrible, horrific "accident" occurred. I am a ride FANATIC, always the first on line to try all sorts of crazy, topsy-turvy attractions, but fair/carnival rides have always given me an extra moment's pause. I don't know if the Opening Day tragedy of 2017 will turn out to be negligence or some unavoidable "act of God" event, but this terrible event will HOPEFULLY serve to make operators (and management!!!) 1000x extra vigilant. Everyone EVERYWHERE needs to be careful, to listen to those inner voices that tell you when to "go for it" and when being cautious might be the best choice. Go to the fair, have tons of FUN, eat lots of deep-fried junk, check out the 1,001 things there are to see and do here, and say a little prayer for the guy who never made it home on Wed., 7/26/17. read more

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What's not to love about the Ohio State Fair!!! There is so amazing things but I'm going to focus on the one thing I love the most - THE FOOD!!! It wouldn't be a trip to the fair without a visit to the butter cow and a big bowl of Velvet ice cream from the dairy products building. Alongside the 2019 theme celebrating the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, Velvet Ice Cream introduced the Orange Moon this year a flavor of orange ice with brownie chunks and marshmallow swirls. Craving the infamous Pineapple Dole Whip from Disney? Now you don't have to shell out the airfare to grab your favorite cool treat, find the Pineapple Dole Whip at Martin's Fine Foods and it'll put a smile on your face and if you close your eyes you can taste Disney. Some food just scream Ohio State Fair to me and one of those is the giant caramel apples. I prefer mine covered in rainbow sprinkles but Kevin is more of a peanut guy which is fine by me because we can eat get our own. The Ohio State Fair has no shortage of spots to grab one and keep in mind, you're getting your daily intake of fruit so how bad could it be? I can't miss everyone's favorite donut stop - Inky Dinky Donuts. These guys have been slinging donuts for years and a friend of mine once told me that every morning he worked the fair he would stop for their hot, fresh donuts and walk straight to the dairy products building to pair with a fresh glass of milk. The perfect fair breakfast. New to me this year - tater tots! Brought to you by Donut burger, the tater tot base adds Philly steak, onion and green peppers then topped with melted cheese. The pork butt tots complete with pulled pork, onions, and melted cheese. I had a hard time deciding which one I liked more. Almost too hard to decided but the caramel maple bacon funnel cake was one of 2019 favorites. Honorable mention Mint Grasshopper Funnel Cake made with mint Oreos, mint sauce and whipped cream which is yummy if you're a mint lover but the caramel maple bacon has my heart. It's a top contender for my favorite fair food this year. Corn dog on a stick - do not miss! But how do you amp up a typical corn dog? Add flamin' hot Cheetos to the batter and on top and you have a new favorite snack. Dip in hot sauce and nacho cheese and you have lit up your tastebuds. Check this item out at Tracey Company and if you want to get wild, ask for the secret menu item, the Flamin' Hot Cheeto Cheese on a Stick. I was introduced to my very favorite food item in 2018 during a tour of fair. Have you fallen off your chair that my favorite food is NOT something sweet? Yeah, me too! But this pork loin sandwich from Ohio Pork inside the Taste of Ohio cafe is a MUST HAVE. Sweet, juicy, tender - this sandwich melts in your mouth. Trust me on this one - spend the $5 and grab this sandwich. This wouldn't be a true Ohio State Fair review unless I mentioned all things deep-fried. You can pretty much guarantee that any food on your list is offered in a deep-fried format. Bugs? Yup, we tried em. PB+J? Yup. Gummy burgers, cheesecake, cinnamon rolls, strawberries, Oreos, buckeyes, smores, and the list goes on and on. Do yourself a favor and indulge in one deep-fried item this year and take a chance and try something new. Anyone else more than read for the 2020 Fair? read more