COLUMBUS – Elephant ears, Ferris wheels, games of “skill,” beard contests and gator-on-a-stick.
It must be Ohio State Fair time.
The 163rd Ohio State Fair: July 27 – August 7, Ohio Expo Center, 717 E. 17th Ave.
Hours:
Admission gates: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (Aug. 7 until 7:00 p.m.) Admission: $10 for ages 13-59/ $8 for ages 5-12 and 60+. Children under 5 are free. Special ride-all-day wristbands are available for $25.
Rides: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. (open until midnight Fridays and Saturdays) $1 coupons – select kiddie rides require one coupon; super kiddie and spectacular rides require two coupons; super spectacular rides require three coupons.
Commercial exhibit buildings: 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Youth Center: 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Janis Center: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
The fair opened Wednesday morning with a tour by Gov. John Kasich, who handed out awards to student art contest winners.
Attendance at the fair has been on the rise for the past five years, with attendance last year reaching 982,305, according to a report in The Columbus Dispatch.
During the 12-day run, fairgoers will see a variety of new attractions that raise their eyebrows and food items that challenge their palates.
See a daily schedule of events
The traditional butter cow sculpture (right) pays homage to the NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers.
Over 190 food vendors are attending this year’s fair. Some new food items include banana cream pie ice cream, shrimp-and-beef kebabs and gator-on-a-stick.
New attractions include a show by a team of expert acrobatic divers and this year’s entertainment includes pogo professionals and ventriloquists.
New fair competitions:
In the Candy Bouquet Competition, participants create the most original and creative candy bouquet in the state of Ohio.
Old Familiar Beard Bash Competition (pictured above) (Entry Deadline: Aug.1) Monday, Aug. 1, 2:30 – 4:00 p.m, Showplace Pavilion. Now in its third year, this competition includes categories for natural and freestyle moustaches and beards, and even fake facial hair.
Slinging Aces Cornhole Tournament (Entry Deadline: Aug. 5) Friday, Aug. 5, 4:30 p.m., Buckeye Sports Center. Competitors face off against cornhole players from around the state in a double-elimination tournament. Arrive early enough to register and warmup.
Participants in the Brillo Pad Art Competition can submit a float, an outfit or garment, a 3-D creation or something else. Entries will be judged based on quantity of Brillo Pads used, creativity, originality, display and presentation.
The Artistic Upcycling Competition features recycled items transformed into something creative and fun in a series of environmentally-friendly competitions. Participants can create a decorative item, small furniture, a repurposed door, a recycled bowling pin or a metal sculpture.
Ohio Department of Agriculture inspectors started safety checks of the fair’s 76 rides last week and worked through 90-degree temperatures to complete those inspections in time for the fair’s opening. Inspectors will continue monitoring rides through the end of the fair on Aug. 7.