Tulsa State Fair Brings New Shows
By EMILY RAMSEY
Managing Editor
ENTERTAINMENT CHOICES: In addition to the array of musical, cultural and educational entertainment choices at the Tulsa State Fair this year, 30 new rides will be added, which includes updated versions of longtime favorites and new rides such as the White Water Flume, The Vertigo and a zipline that stretches 200 feet down the Midway. Read more about the Fair’s entertainment lineup on page 11.
Courtesy Cooper Design
Organizers of the Tulsa State Fair are holding true to their aim to consistently bring new and highly-anticipated artists and entertainment acts to the event’s annual lineup.
The Tulsa State Fair, which runs Sept. 26-Oct. 6, will feature two main stages with more than a few entertainment options: national recording artists on the Oklahoma Stage and a more localized and cultural focus on the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Stage. Also to be featured on the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Stage will be returning competitions Miss Tulsa State Fair on Sept. 26 and Oklahoma State Picking and Fiddling Championships on Sept. 28 and 29.
The Voice contestant and Tulsa native Adley Stump will perform on the Oklahoma Stage opening night of the fair, Sept. 26 at 8 p.m. Country performers Josh Thompson and Lee Brice will also take the stage during the fair’s 11-day run. However, more than country is on the bill, Communications Director Sarah Thompson assures fairgoers. Many other genres will be represented including rock, alternative, classic rock and hip-hop.
One well-known performer that Thompson expects to draw a large family crowd is Zendaya, who will perform Oct. 1. She placed runner-up on Dancing with the Stars and starred in the Disney Channel original series “Shake It Up.”
Additionally, various shows, both new acts and old favorites, will take place throughout Midway and the fairgrounds.
Two shows coming to the fair for the first time this year will focus on the preservation and education of bears and alligators: Welde’s Big Bear Show, to be found at the Pavilion Entrance, and Kachunga and The Alligator Show, at the east end of the River Spirit Expo. Both shows will run three times per day and will include animal and trainer interactions and stunts.
Children will have the opportunity to learn about fire safety, even getting to crawl through a smoke house, at the Firefighter Training Show. Performances will take place on Central Park Lawn, three times per day with additional performances scheduled Oct. 1-3.
Another educational opportunity for fair attendees is the Tulsa State Fair Contest Powwow on Sept. 28. This first-time fair event is a competition of powwow dances and is open to public participation. Registration can be made on the day of the contest or before.
Fair organizers were approached with the powwow idea by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation as a way to expand public exposure to its culture and to increase focus on Oklahoma Native American heritage and traditions.
Another not-to-be-missed new show on the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Stage is Bronkar’s Circus of Sound, a show featuring beat boxer Bronkar Lee who blends music and comedy to create a unique and energetic performance filled with rarely-heard sounds.
Cirque du Soleil fans will want to seek out Cirque Zuma Zuma African Acrobats, a show with non-stop action, high-energy dance acts and acrobatic ingenuity, all mixed with flavors of African culture.
One popular event returning for another year is Perondi’s Stunt Dog Show. “We get so many compliments on that show,” Thompson says. “I think people just like to see dogs perform, and the trainer puts on a great show.”
With the variety of shows, show times and locations, fair attendees will do well to use the fair’s Plan Your Day itinerary planner to make sure they catch all of the new and favorite acts.
Updated 09-16-2013
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