Carnival & Fair News

Running 11 days or as the fair's slogan went this year, “11 Days of Awesome,” Oklahoma's Tulsa State Fair brought in 1.1 million people this year.

Along with a wide variety of attractions, this year's fair came with “fair weather.” According to Amanda Blair, the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Expo Square and the Tulsa State Fair,  "It's been great weather, so we've had just a phenomenal turnout.”

Admission was priced at $15 for adults and $10 for kids ages 5-12, military, and seniors over age 62. Children under age five were admitted free. Carnival ride tickets were priced at $1.50 each with ticket books available for 20 tickets priced at $28 and 50 tickets for $65. The unlimited ride Mega Ride Pass was available for $85 online and $95 in person at Expo Ticket Xpress.

News On 6 and the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma partnered with the fair, working to raise funds for the Food For Kids Program and bringing in a total of $36,509.06. Adding to the fundraising fun was the News On 6 Kiss the Pig contest.  Donating fairgoers cast their votes for which News On 6 anchor team would have to pucker up to a porcine pal.

The carnival, provided by North American Midway Entertainment, sold 223,505 wristbands for the Mega Ride Pass this year. The company provides midway attractions for 13 of the top fifty North American fairs. Top rides in Tulsa included hits like the Giant Wheel, the Crazy Mouse Spinning Coaster, Euroslide, and Polar Express. Also popular were the Outlaw Roller Coaster, the Zipper, and Mega Drop, which took guests 130 feet up in the air and back down again in just 2 seconds.



The Tulsa State annually begins the fourth Thursday after Labor Day, and started back in 1903, when it was called the “Tulsa County Free Fair.” It is now the biggest fair in the state.

Many of the events were still free this year, including racing pigs, the Jet Pack Circus, a sea lion show, the Perondi's Dog Show, the Insypral Stilt Walkers, and two evening fireworks shows. National act concerts on the Oklahoma Stage and smaller acts at the Hard Rock Huddle were also no charge. Another freebie: limited edition Tulsa State Fair lapel pins on Collector's Pin Day October 3rd. And, during the run of the fair there were ten social media giveaway events offered by the fair, from Mega Ride wristbands to food concession giveaways and meet and greets with performing stage artists.

While not a free attraction, food was definitely a large draw for fair goers, with 132 concession stands grossing $5.8 million in sales and Fairplex Concessions from Exposerve grossing $1.8 million. The fair held its Annual Awesome Eats Food Competition, which allowed food vendors to enter their best dishes for judging in three categories: savory, sweet and sips. There were a lot of tasty treats to be enjoyed, including fair contest prize winners like Savory winners Rick's Flamin' Hot Cheetos Pickle Pizza from R & J Concessions.  Korean Beef Fries from Lucky Lucky Dumpling, and Gator Balls from Mrs. Lively's Cajun Konnection. In the sweet treat category, the top three fair foods were Watermelon Pie from Cutie Pies, Minnecookie Dough Pie from Minneapple Pie, and Deep-Fried Bread Pudding Squares from Mrs. Lively's Cajun Konnection. The overall winner was Cutie Pies.



Music was a big part of the fair fun this year, including acts such as hit country singer Pat Green; rockers 38 Special; young country star Jackson Dean; the soulful Sister Sledge featuring Sledgendary; and hip-hop/pop-rap duo Tag Team, the musicians behind 90s music hit “Whoomp! (There It Is).”

Also appearing on stage were Journey from the Heart; Sam Barber; Matthew West; Hinder; and La Furia Del Bravo.

While general admission to concerts was free, paid VIP tickets were also available for $40 online and $45 in person, providing center stage reserved seating along with gate admission. In all, 20,402 tickets were sold for the fair's 10 performances.

A traditional Fiddle Contest was another part of the musical fun at the fair; also popular with fairgoers were ten performances of the Disney On Ice Stage show, with 19,747 tickets sold.

Naturally livestock was a large part of the entertainment mix, with 2,755 FHA and FAA exhibitors on hand and a livestock and horse show with over 4000 exhibitors. 16,982 entered the livestock and horse show. There were also kid's pony rides, a petting zoo, and a birthing center, where 105 baby critters were born including adorable piglets and chicks. Goats, cattle, sheep, dogs, and horses were among the exhibited livestock. Agriculture exhibits were not forgotten either, with the massive Aglahoma exhibition.

Balloon Therapy Tulsa created a series of massive balloon sculptures; competitive exhibits included giant pumpkins, culinary, and arts, quilts, photography, and even cupcake competitions. The Southwest Dairy Farmers Mobile Classroom offered lively informational presentations; chain saw carvers and blacksmith artists demonstrated their skills and showed their wares. The fair also offered a wine garden with musical entertainment and an international beer garden.  



But that's not all. The fair is also home to the Miss Tulsa State Fair Pageant, the Tulsa Kung Fu Lion Dance, Ballet Folklórico Sol Azteca, and Just Gotta Dance Clogging.

This year brought increased safety precautions resulting in a safer fair this year, thanks to the use of new technology. Tools used included increased security camera placement, facial recognition software on cameras, and drones. Also, after 5 p.m., guests under 18 needed to be accompanied by those over that age.

According to fair CEO Mark Andrus, who has been with the fair since 1979, “We bring people together in a way that is safe and has an abundance of fun…the fair provides jobs, revenue for our organization, and a significant economic impact to Tulsa County.”

COO Amanda Blair adds that the new attractions and tasty food at the fair this year made “lasting memories” from a fair team that “strives toward excellence” as the fair continues to improve and grow each year. She assets that “It is no surprise that our hardworking staff creates an environment where memories are made, and new experiences are explored through a variety of entertainment options, competitive events, thrilling rides and delicious fair foods.”