Ohio State Fair 2023 with concerts, rides, and all of the fair fun!

The Ohio State Fair is back this year from July 26-August 6, 2023!

Summer just isn’t the same without the butter cow, concerts, midway, fair food – and the whole experience!

Enjoy one of the free entertainment stages featuring live music, amazing hypnotists, impressive magicians, and wholesome family-friendly shows.

Immerse yourself in activities and exhibits the free petting zoo, livestock shows, an Ohio arts gallery, pop-up entertainment performances, hands-on education, costumed characters, and an eight-acre natural resources park with free youth fishing!

Find a list of Central Ohio county fairs here. 

Visit Central Ohio County Fairs for food, fun, and music in 2023

As one of the largest state fairs in the United States, the Ohio State Fair is sure to have all of the food, competitions, games, animals, vendors, ride, exhibitions, activities, concerts, and fun that you can handle. 

Let’s not forget the fried everything to eat. Literally everything. Don’t forget to check out the Butter Cows, catch a concert, grab awesome fair food, and so much more.

Butter Sculpture Unveiling, Dairy Products Building, Image: Ohio State Fair

Attractions

Your admission ticket includes so many free activities and attractions!

Experience all your favorite traditions: visit the famed butter cow and calf, be greeted by Smokey Bear, see baby animals being born, take a ride on the Giant Slide, and listen to the sounds of the All-Ohio State Fair Band & Youth Choir.

WOSU Kids Day

Thursday, July 27, 2023; 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Central Park. Join WOSU Public Media in Central Park for a chance to meet some of your favorite PBS KIDS® characters! The event, designed to keep the whole family entertained, will offer PBS KIDS® crafts, coloring, educational activities, and games. See PBS KIDS® characters throughout the day for photo opportunities.

Fun with Columbus Zoo Animals!

July 30 & 31, Aug. 6 & 7, 2023 11 a.m., Natural Resources Park amphitheater

Jack Hanna’s crew will have audiences of all ages captivated with the Columbus Zoo Animals show that will take place in the Natural Resources Park amphitheater.

Columbus All-Breed Dog Agility

July 29 – 30, 11 a.m., 2 p.m. & 4 p.m., Rhodes Center Lawn
Watch as these local pups strut their stuff with as-seen-on-TV style agility!

Ohio State Fair 5K

July 31, 8 a.m.

The Ohio State Fair 5K offers a complete family experience of fun and exercise. This is your chance to run through the Ohio State Fair before it is even open. Imagine weaving your way through hundreds of rides and exhibits along this unique 3.1-mile route. More information is available at https://www.ultrafit-usa.com/ohiostatefair2022.

Well Beyond 60! Health & Wellness Expo presented by the Ohio Department of Aging

Aug. 2, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., North of 17th Avenue in front of the Rhodes Center

Visit our partners at this free expo for vision screenings, fall risk assessments, computer balance tests, blood pressure checks, and more!

Veterinary Exploration Day: Vet for a Day at the Ohio State Fair

August 3 from 9 am – 12:30 pm. For students grades 9-12!

This half-day experience for high school students grades 9-12 seeks to provide participants with an in-person, close contact experience with animals on display at the Ohio State Fair.

Students will follow a unique agenda taking them around the fairgrounds where they will learn about a variety of animals at the Ohio State Fair. The program will conclude with a college fair for students interested in learning more about the state institutions that provide the education needed for this exciting field!

Cost is $10; sign up on Eventbrite. Limited to 100 students.

Daily fun

Natural Resources Park

10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Enjoy free fishing for kids, kayaking, archery, a butterfly house, and so much more in this beautiful eight-acre park maintained by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Enjoy native Ohio wildlife, a geological walkway, a camping village and a tall grass prairie. The outdoor amphitheater hosts free music and entertaining programs, such as the popular lumberjack show, throughout each day of the State Fair. (times of activities vary)

Accessible Playground, Natural Resources Park

This playground features low-impact, easy-to-access entertainment for children. 

Kayak Pond

10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Natural Resources Park
Grab a life jacket and try one of the fastest growing activities in the country – kayaking. Paddlers of all ages (50″ tall minimum, 300 lbs. maximum) can kayak daily. Those interested must check in at the Discovery Pavilion in the Natural Resources Park.

Natural Resources Park. Image: Ohio State Fair

Kids’ Fishing Pond

10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Natural Resources Park
Kids age 14 and younger may fish daily for bluegill from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. using cane poles and tackle provided by the ODNR Division of Wildlife. If you catch a fish, an Ohio wildlife officer will help you take if off the hook. You can leave the fish in the live well, or take it home and fix it for dinner!

Lumberjack Show

Noon, 2 and 6 p.m., Natural Resources Park
Catch lumberjacks in action as they entertain crowds with fast-paced log rolling, chainsaw carving and wood chopping. This family-friendly show will take place in the amphitheater.

Land & Living Exhibit

10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Land & Living Building presented by Ohio Farm Bureau
This highly interactive exhibit is packed with agricultural education activities the whole family can enjoy. Visitors will see, experience and learn about caring for animals on the farm, how science and technology are helping farmers produce safe food while enhancing our environmental resources, how scientists are researching solutions to our biggest food and farming challenges, and how young people can have careers in agriculture.

Little Farmers

10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Voinovich Livestock & Trade Center Lawn
This hands-on educational exhibit, targeted toward kids ages 3 to 10, allows youth to explore different aspects of Ohio agriculture. Families will navigate through eight different stations featuring simulated animals, real grains, gardening, and more, with the opportunity to pick a small prize at the final station, the Ohio Proud Farmer’s Market.

OVMA Veterinary Education Center

9 a.m. – 10 p.m., Wick Pavilion
Witness the miracle of birth and visit new and expectant farm animal mothers and their young at this educational exhibit near the Dairy Products Building. You can even milk a real cow from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.!

Pig Races

Monday – Friday: 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., Kiddieland
Saturday – Sunday: 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m.
Three different breeds of swifty swine race around the track for a prize. Cheer on your favorite little porker! 

Ohio State Fair

Petting Zoo

10 a.m. – 10 p.m. (open until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday), Kiddieland
The free Petting Zoo features more than 50 animals from around the world including goats, llamas, zebras, antelope, kangaroos and much more.

The fair offers so much, and it’s not all just your typical fair fun! Check out these other attractions.

Free and ticketed concerts

Tickets prices vary depending on concert. Tickets can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com/OhioStateFair. Concert tickets purchased before arriving at the Fair include Fair admission. 

2023 Tickets performances include:

• Clint Black
• Keith Sweat with Ginuwine
• Jeff Dunham
• Third Eye Blind
• Yung Gravy and BBNO$
• Casting Crowns
• Ludacris
• Styx with Foghat
• Tyler Hubbard
• Lindsey Stirling
• Kidz Bop

Click here to see the concerts and entertainment scheduled for the fair!

Free Shows in the WCOL Celeste Center

No tickets required for these free events

July 30 at 1 pm: All-Ohio State Fair Band and Youth Concert.
August 1 at 1 pm: The Tribute (Beatles Tribute)
August 6 at 2 pm: Sale of Champions Livestock Auction

Ohio State Fair discounts and discount days 

Buy early and save!
Early Bird Admission – $6 (valid May 1-31) (lowest price of the year!)
Advance Admission – $8 (valid June 1 – July 26 only)
Midway ride-all-day wristbands – $25 each (through July 26 only)

Thursday, July 27, 2023

Telhio and Ronald McDonald House Charities Day

When you bring one of the following “wish list” items per person to a booth outside the gates, you’ll receive a voucher good for a BOGO free admission ticket before 6 p.m.: Canned chicken or vegetable, disposable plates or silverware, napkins, paper towels, or condiments (mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, ranch dressing)

Friday, July 28, 2023

RecoveryOhio’s Mental Health Day

On July 28, you will find behavioral health resources at state agency booths throughout the fair to help make prevention, treatment, and recovery supports more visible and accessible to all Ohioans.

Sunday, July 30, 2023

Buckeye Health Plan Day

Join Buckeye Health at the Cardinal Gate for fun giveaways and health information on Buckeye Day, Sunday, July 30. Visit between 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. to spin the wheel and win a free prize! Bring kids to our fitness challenge at the Main Street Stage from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Fitness Challenge participants will have the chance to win one of six free bikes!

Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023

Senior Day
Seniors ages 60 and up can enjoy free admission, Aug. 1 only, all day long! In addition, all fairgoers are invited to enjoy the free 1964 The Tribute (Beatles Tribute) concert in the WCOL Celeste Center at 1 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023

Sensory-Friendly Morning, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

We’ve turned down the lights and volume to make the Ohio State Fair more sensory-friendly in partnership with OCALI. Ride the rides with no flashing lights or music, visit the Fair’s many educational and sensory activities, take a break in a quiet room, or use our sensory accessibility guide to find a Fair opportunity that suits you.

Print social narratives, a first-then board, wait cards, and a permit that will allow you to park in a special area on the OCALI website at ocali.org.

Ohio State Fair Ticket Prices

Gate admission

Adults (ages 13-59) – $12
Youth (ages 6-12) – $10
Senior (ages 60+) – $10
Children five and under – Free
General Parking – Free

Early Bird Admission – $6 (valid May 1-31) (lowest price of the year!)
Advance Admission – $8 (valid June 1 – July 25 only)
Midway ride-all-day wristbands – $32 each (through July 25 only), $35 at the fair

photos courtesy of Ohio State Fair