Tulsa State Fair Brings Fun for All
By EMILY RAMSEY
Managing Editor
ENTERTAINMENT GALORE: The Tulsa State Fair, Sept. 29-Oct. 9, returns this year with its many agricultural events, including livestock shows and live animal births in the birthing center, which continue to be popular draws for fairgoers as well as the rides. Pictured above is Johnna Stottlemyre from Luther Future Farmers of America, winner of Grand Champion Meat Goat in the Junior Livestock Show.
Courtesy Cooper Design
The Tulsa State Fair returns Sept. 29, running through Oct. 9, bringing new and returning entertainment, with its theme “Picture This” encouraging fairgoers to “get social,” says Sarah Thompson, with the Tulsa State Fair.
Giant picture frames will be set up around the fairgrounds to encourage visitors to take selfies and photos inside the frames, using the hashtag #findtheframes. The frames will be located in various areas, near the Golden Driller, livestock arenas, children’s areas and entertainment.
“We want to highlight what people enjoy most about the fair and also encourage them to move into areas that they have not experienced before,” she says.
Tickets to the fair cost $8-10 for an adult, $6 for children ages 5-12 and is free for children under 5 years old.
The fair’s opening night is Ford Family Fun Night, where gate admission costs $1 with a coupon from a local Ford dealer. Oct. 4 is Alltech’s Family Fest, with $5 gate admission.
“After fair admission is paid, fairgoers have a wide array of free activities and entertainment options available to them,” says Thompson.
This includes a number of shows located on the fairgrounds, including the All Star Stunt Dogs Challenge, which has been a regular occurrence at the Tulsa State Fair for eight consecutive years; although, its total number of years at the fair is more than that, says Thompson, and it continues to draw large crowds of all ages. Performances will take place daily at noon, 4 and 7 p.m.
A new addition this year is Ma’Ceo Circus, to feature horse trick riding and aerial stunts.
The show will be located on Midway, east of the Exchange Center.
“This will be a full circus show and the most visually exciting ground show we’ve had at the fair so far,” says Thompson.
Performances will take place daily at 3:30, 5:30 and 7:30 p.m., starting Sept. 30. Limited shows will take place on opening night.
The Just For Kids building offers various free children’s activities, such as the Make It and Take It Creative Zone, which offers a daily craft for children to make, block building and Lego construction areas, Tulsa’s largest sandbox, and a miniature golf course, a new offering for this year.
“The Just For Kids building provides parents a place to come with their kids, where they can sit and rest while the kids can keep playing,” she says.
Returning this year to the Just For Kids building is Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo stage show and its Australian exhibit. “It’s a fantastic exhibit,” she continues. “It’s geared toward younger children, but it’s also something that parents will enjoy.”
On the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Stage, on Sept. 29, is a new addition this year: the Tulsa State Fair Fashion Show, thanks to a new partnership with Clary Sage College. The show will feature entries made by Clary Sage students.
“We are always looking for new contests and ways to stay modern and relevant, and this show fits in well with our other competitive exhibits,” continues Thompson.
The Oklahoma State Picking and Fiddling Championships returns Oct. 1-2, starting at 11 a.m. on both days. High energy hypnotist De’Anna the Hypnochick also returns daily Oct. 3-9, with afternoon performances.
Also new on the Muscogee (Creek) Nation stage this year is acrobatic show Flippin’, with performances beginning Oct. 3.
Old Dominion opens the fair on Sept. 29 on the Oklahoma Stage, as well as American Authors, Elle King, Ashanti and others on following evenings.
The Rodeo and Concert Series takes place Oct. 7-8. Dustin Lynch will perform following the rodeo on Oct. 7 and Wade Bowen on Oct. 8. Tickets cost $40 and $35, respectively.
Included in the ticket price is admission into the fair, rodeo and concert.
Agricultural exhibits include the always popular birthing center and the Surgical Suite Surgeries both located in the Super Duty Exhibit Hall, the 4-H and Future Farmers of America competitive exhibits in the Ford Truck Arena Exhibit Hall, and the livestock shows taking place every day of the fair.
Updated 08-29-2016
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