The Tulsa State Fair
For more than 100 years, the Tulsa State Fair has been bringing food, fun and entertainment to the citizens of northeastern Oklahoma. This year, nearly one million people will converge on the Tulsa Expo Square to enjoy the many concerts, exhibits, creative arts, concessions and the action-packed rides.
It all began in 1903 with the Tulsa County Free Fair at the Western Association baseball park at Archer and Boston Avenues. With the enactment of the Oklahoma Free Fair Act in 1915, a 15-acre tract of land north of Archer and Lewis was purchased to provide more suitable grounds. The fair moved to a portion of the present Expo Square between 15th and 21st Streets in 1923 thanks to a generous land donation by M.E. Crosbie, and in 1931 construction of the Pavilion began. The fair board acquired adjacent land in later years.
Over the years, bond issues, user fees and excise taxes funded the Exposition Center, the North Arena, the grandstand complex and other facilities at the fairgrounds. The historic “4-To-Fix-the-County,” approved by voters in 2000 and Vision2025, approved by voters in 2003 are funding the many improvements to the current facilities as well as new construction throughout the fairgrounds.
Today’s fair is funded through admission revenue, midway and food and beverage sales and a percentage of the commercial booths– the fair uses no tax money for its funding!
This year’s Tulsa State Fair is set for September 29 through October 9. For more fair information, see the Web site at www.tulsastatefair.com.
Updated 09-27-2005
READER COMMENTS
About Post Author
