The Ohio State Fair opens July 23 and runs through Aug. 3 at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus.
This will be the 170th Ohio State Fair, but it will serve as the 175th anniversary of the first Ohio State Fair because of years when the fair was not held: 1942-1945 during World War II and in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the fair’s 2024 media guide, around 800,000 to over 900,000 visitors have attended the fair each year in the past two decades, even setting a record in 2023 with 1,006,228 attendees.
Sights and sounds are just part of what lures fairgoers. There’s also food as far as the eye can see and the nose can smell, from the intoxicating aroma of funnel cakes deep-fried to crispy, golden perfection to more unusual fare such as ghost-pepper fudge and buckeye lemonade infused with creamy peanut butter and chocolate.
(And don’t forget meats on sticks!)
But before you traipse off to behold the beloved butter cow, here’s what you need to know to plan your trip.
When does the Ohio State Fair open?
The fair is located at the Ohio Expo Center, 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, Ohio.
Admission gates open each day at 7 a.m., but most food vendors, buildings, activities and other attractions open until regular fair hours.
Fair hours:
Fairgoers must exit the grounds by 11 p.m. each day, except for Aug. 3, when the fair closes at 9 p.m.
How much are state fair tickets?
Beginning July 23, tickets purchased online and at the gate cost $12 for ages 13-59 and $10 for ages 6-12, as well as for ages 60 and older. Children 5 and younger are admitted for free, as are veterans, military personnel and first responders.
What’s the bag policy for the Ohio State Fair?
Purses, backpacks, book bags, coolers and strollers are permitted but are subject to search. Fairgoers can bring their own food and beverages into the fairgrounds.
What time do Ohio State Fair rides open?
Weekday hours for the midway will be 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 23-25 and July 28-Aug. 1.
On July 24, a sensory-friendly experience will be offered from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., when rides will run with no lights and sounds.
On July 26-27 and Aug. 2, rides will be open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. The midway will close at 9 p.m. on Aug. 3.
How much do rides cost?
A ride-all-day wristband costs $37.
Individual digital tickets can be bought on-site. All rides require at least three tickets. All rides and games at the fair are cashless. Reloadable RFID (radio frequency identification) wristbands will be scanned at each ride or game.
What music artists will perform at the Ohio State Fair?
The fair’s concert series, held in the air-conditioned WCOL Celeste Center, will offer shows by:
Concert tickets purchased before arriving at the fair include admission to the fair.
Is there anything new at the fair?
A variety of new features will debut, including Rodeo Night on Aug. 2, a mobile axe-throwing trailer and the opening of the Barnyard, the new location of the pig races and petting zoo.
For adrenaline junkies, the new Sling Shot ride will launch thrill-seekers from 145-foot towers, catapulting them as high as 200 feet in the air!
What food can I get at the state fair?
Vendors will also sell new twists on fair favorites, such as Dubai chocolate funnel cakes and peanut butter chocolate lemonade. On Thursdays, vendors will offer smaller versions of items for $3. The fair website offers lists of foods for people with allergies or dietary restrictions. A full map of vendors can be seen on the Ohio State Fair App.
Where can I park at the fair?
Parking costs $10, available to purchase online with admission or on-site at the fair. Reserved parking is not available to the general public. Parking is accessible from I-71 at the 17th Avenue exit and the Hudson Street exit at Silver Drive.
Also, free O’Reilly Auto Parts shuttles will be available in the general parking lots to take fairgoers to and from the main entrance gate to their vehicles.
What are the rules about minors at the fair?
A measure implemented in 2024 requires youth under 18 to be accompanied by “an adult, sober, and competent person aged 21 or older” for admission to the fair after 6 p.m. each day.
Unattended minors will be denied entry at the gate and be asked to leave or return with an adult chaperone. Chaperones cannot accompany more than six minors per day.
Underage concertgoers with valid tickets can enter the fair and concerts after 6 p.m. without an adult. When the concert ends, they must leave the fair or meet up with a chaperone.
Those under 18 who are caring for animals or working at the fair are exempt from the curfew if they have valid credentials.
For more information about the fair, visit ohiostatefair.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 2025 Ohio State Fair kicks off: Everything you need to know about the fair
Reporting by Belinda M. Paschal, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
