Maybe we hit it at the wrong time but having been in many fairgrounds and convention centers across the US I found this one kind of run-down, confusing, and badly laid out. We came to the Ozark fairground to see an RV show, first I arrived a bit misled by both the fairgrounds and the RV show operators. The pictures they used to promote the event came from some other fairground and did not match this location. We happened to attend an RV show in Louisville about a month ago, for $8 per person. It was a million square feet of RVs and boats in a beautiful facility with interactive displays, tons of food options, and food trucks in a well-lit, air-conditioned facility. I wasn't expecting this in Springfield however, for a $15 entry they should have been embarrassed. None of the food stands or restaurants on the grounds were operating, one bad hotdog stand inside was that did at least have good fries for $10. The building inside was confusing with smallish halls shooting off in odd directions, making it impossible to walk through to see all the booths and rigs in an orderly way. Most of the RVs that were supposed to be there on the outside of the main building were not present at all. When we asked we were told the venue told the vendors to remove them all from the ground, so we got to see half of what we expected and the small interior meant the vendors had to cut back on what they brought to the show. I'm told they had to move the show so maybe the original location was better suited for the event, I don't know. However, the grounds themselves needed to be in better repair, terrible parking on semi-dirt-covered pothole-infested asphalt. Part of the grounds were going through construction on open sewage which made being outside physically palatable in the air and on your tongue of sewage. Just putting it all together was a disappointment. Did we have fun? yes, we know how to enjoy wherever we are. but that does not excuse the poor facilities, overpriced entry for the quality of venue and size (5 dollars might have been ok), terrible grounds, everything is closed, and underserving the event. read more

Ozark Empire Fairgrounds & Event Center - Festivals Near Me - Springfield, Missouri

Way overpriced. Workers are rude and don't care about anything except for money. Food is overpriced, ride bracelets are overpriced, and everything is mediocre at best. read more

This fairgrounds was nice for the North American Diving Dog National, Barn Hunt National and an AKC Dog Show. Lots of parking for events. Plenty of walking spots for the dogs throughout the day. I've never been here for the actual fair, but for our events it's been good. Would definitely go to dog events here in the future. read more

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Mega RV show was disappointing, not near the toy haulers as they have had at past shows.

It's pretty okay place. I always like going to the summertime festivities and today I went to the Moore Expo@Overland _Unlimited. Just a bunch of off-road stuff in which I'm really not interested. It was a nice clean place as always and had a lot of interesting things going on. On the other side of the main building from where I was they were having some kind of archery event going on. Usually always a very good time. I do have to say the admission prices are a bit steep at these things. At this particular one it was $20 a head. Just to walk around and look at stuff and buy things or be aware of things that you could buy some place. read more

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We live right nearby to the fairgrounds so we were looking forward to the the Ozarks BBQ fest. We were disappointed that most of the so called contestants refused to give out samples. Dried out BBQ Pork seems to be the winner here. Typical extremely bad KC and Ozarks "hospitality" read more

I went to the fair yesterday I paid $66 for wristbands and admission it was $3 night but me and my husband wanted to ride all the rides we first got on Farris wheel everything was going great now I am a bigger person I get on the next ride I don't fit was told to get off I said ok and go to get on another ride to my disappointment I don't fit either I paid $66 to only ride one ride I let my husband still ride rides while I talked to the front desk I explained I could only ride one ride the lady was very rude and pointed to the sign that said no refunds and asked if I could read I said yes but wouldn't have went if I knew I could only ride one ride she then said well read sign no refunds have a nice day and shooed me off very rude worker read more

The fair seemed smaller than I remember. It made me a little sad... But it was worth the visit for a bag of cotton candy! read more

Ozark Empire Fairgrounds & Event Center - Festivals Near Me - Springfield, Missouri

First the bad. The parking is beyond terrible, it is a nightmare. Expect to walk a long way or get blocked in or park far away only to be gouged to park on someone's lawn. Also, do Not expect to get good deals at these shows. It does not matter if it's a gun and knife show or a camper show or a carnival. You can purchase goods and services at stores and other outlets much cheaper when you are able to negotiate with a business on your terms. As for carnivals, anyone with any working brain knows that carnie's are there to extract as much of your money as possible in the short amount of time they have you as a part of their captive audience. Now for the good. If you like campers or guns and knives you can go to these shows and see so many variations it can give you a good idea about what you're in the market for so that when you do go to buy something you have a good idea about what all you want and how much you are willing to pay for it. My last experience here was at a gun and knife show. I like pocket knives. It was worth the price of addition for me to go around and see the different types and models so that later when I was at a knife store I had a good idea of what I wanted and purchased one for much less than I would have payed at the fair grounds. Last but not least are the carnivals. They are dirty and expensive and a lot of fun every once in a while. I go to one about every 5-10 years. When I was younger I went a lot more. What is the point of working hard all the time if you don't go have some fun once in a while and blow off some steam? These fair grounds are not kept up very well. They are dirty, especially the restrooms or port-a-pots. With that in mind, some times you just need to go have some fun. read more

Yes love going there i have a good time lots of rides and fun things to do I love going to the eplex great stuff there have fun at the fair

Can't complain at all! Love this fairground! I been coming here every year for almost ten years! Been to rodeos, fairs, food festivals, Farm Fests, monster truck shows, demolition derbys, truck&tractor pulls, mule days, etc. I will continue to come here. read more

The parking lot is in terrible need of repair. I don't think I've ever seen this many potholes. The buildings at the Fairgrounds are in pretty good shape. I've been for several events, but if its an outdoor event, I tend to stay away. You're just one pothole away from a terribly twisted ankle. read more

Parking really is godawful. Every time I've been here for an event, we spent a minimum of 30 minutes looking for a parking spot within a mile of the fairgrounds. Events themselves were regular events. Carnivals with rides. Fair food. Screaming children. Sun. Mysterious vomit-like puddle on the pavement. Fireworks. Craft booths. Nothing special, but still decent. Except the parking. Seriously. read more

It's not the Iowa State Fair, or even the Del Mar Fair, but it's still a fun time for the whole family. Full of exhibits, rides, food, and entertainment. Worth it to make a day of it. read more

Went on a Monday and there was hardly anything to do but the midway carnival rides. Very few animal exhibits, scarce exhibits of most anything. Emptiness everwhere. Total waste of money and time. read more

it's a good fair I can't say much for the carney's that work there but good I will go back the parking kind of sucks and you have to pay for parking to. read more