Ohio State Fair 2024 with concerts, rides, and all of the fair fun!

The Ohio State Fair is back this year from July 24-August 4, 2024!

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!

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.

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.

Special Discount Days at The Fair

Thursday, July 24, 2024

WOSU Kids Day
(with Sensory Friendly Morning, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.). 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.

$3 Thursday
On either Thursday during the Ohio State Fair, all vendors will be offering a menu item of their choice at a smaller size for just $3! This new initiative is the perfect way to try some beloved “Fair fare” signature food options without breaking the bank! This event occurs on both Thursdays of the Ohio State Fair, July 25 and Aug. 1. When it becomes available, a full list of $3 Thursday items can be found at ohiostatefair.com/3-thursday.

Sunday, July 28, 2024

Veterans & Military Day
Veterans and active military are honored on this day. In addition, active military and veterans are given free admission today (and any day of the Ohio State Fair) with appropriate identification.

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

Senior Day
Seniors ages 60 and up can enjoy free admission, July 30 only, all day long! In addition, all fairgoers are invited to enjoy the free concert in the WCOL Celeste Center at 1 p.m. Check back later for the senior day concert announcement.

Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024

College Student Day
Students attending any college or post-secondary career or technical school receive discounted admission of $10 this day only. Fairgoers can show their student ID at the admission gates to receive this discount.

$3 Thursday
On either Thursday during the Ohio State Fair, all vendors will be offering a menu item of their choice at a smaller size for just $3! This new initiative is the perfect way to try some beloved “Fair fare” signature food options without breaking the bank! This event occurs on both Thursdays of the Ohio State Fair, July 25 and Aug. 1. When it becomes available, a full list of $3 Thursday items can be found at ohiostatefair.com/3-thursday.

Friday, Aug. 2, 2024

Telhio and Ronald McDonald House Charities Day
Bring a “wish list” item to a booth outside the admission gates, and get a voucher good for a BOGO free admission ticket before 6 p.m. Items needed are: Canned chicken or vegetables, disposable plates or silverware, napkins, paper towels, and condiments (mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, ranch dressing). All donations will support families at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio.

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.

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! 

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. 

2024 Tickets performances include:

• Kidz Bop Live
• Alabama
• Stone Temple Pilots with Soul Asylum
• Boys II Men
• Ice Cube
• Lauren Daigle
• Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias….and more. 

Click here to get concert tickets, and see entertainment scheduled for the fair!

Free Shows in the WCOL Celeste Center

No tickets required for these free events

Ohio State Fair discounts and discount days 

Buy early and save!
Advance Admission – $8 (valid May 1 – July 23 only)
Midway ride-all-day wristbands – $33 each (through July 23 only)

Ride Prices
$33 Ride-All-Day Wristband, Advance-sale
$36 Ride-All-Day Wristband, At the Fair
$1 credits — Fairgoers can buy individual ride credits for $1 each. All rides require 3 or more credits.

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

Fair Hours

Monday through Friday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m., except Sunday, Aug. 4, when admission gates close at 6 p.m. Most buildings and activities close at 6 p.m. All Fair activities are concluded by 9 p.m.

photos courtesy of Ohio State Fair

Find a list of Central Ohio county fairs here. 

Visit Central Ohio County Fairs for food, fun, and music in 2024