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Ohio State Fair great and big
The 156th Ohio State Fair starts this Wednesday, July 29, complete with the usual butter sculptures, midway rides and a pretty impressive list of entertainers.
“We try to make the fair a good mix of traditional favorites and new attractions,” said Christina Leeds, marketing and public relations director for the fair.
She doesn’t have to tell me. I’ve had a date with the Ohio State Fair for more than 30 years in my home state. I’ve also lived in Michigan and Florida, both big states with little state fairs. Lived in Connecticut, too. It doesn’t even have its own fair. It has to share one with the whole region, called The Big E. There is nothing big about it.
The Ohio State Fair, meanwhile, has a longstanding tradition of large chunks of butter being sculpted into farm animals, local news anchors and state sports stars.
It has sanctioned petting zoos filled with baby animals. It has unofficial petting zoos in the form of horses, cows, sheep and other animals housed at the fair for competition.
This year, the fair is adding Mutton Bustin.’ Basically it will be like adult bullriding, but with children 6 and younger riding sheep.
“It’s gonna be great,” Leeds said.
Clearly.
BMX teams will perform stunts. Monkeys will perform. And NASA will have an exhibit where one can see how much a person would weigh on various planets, Leeds said.
In addition to the usual baking and produce contests there will be cupcake and duct-tape-product-making competitions this year.
And while the fair is a great place to eat some junk food, it also is a great place to shop. This year there will be 600 vendors, but about 175 of those are food vendors.
“People love to come to the fair to shop,” Leeds said.
Each year the fair hosts musical entertainment from any of the free bands or choirs performing to big names in music. This year that includes Kelly Clarkson, David Cook, Little Big Town and Rascal Flatts. Fair admission is included in ticket prices if purchased before arriving to the fairgrounds.
“The lineup is exceptionally strong this year,” Leeds said. “We’re really super excited about the lineup. We can bring the entertainers in at a great value.”
For more information by phone: Call 614-644-3247 (Recorded Information Line), 1-888-OHO-EXPO (646-3976)
TDD: 614-644-4009
Online information: OhioStateFair.com or email info@expo.state.oh.us
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