What Oklahoma State Fair does

Oklahoma State Fair, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that produces and operates the annual Oklahoma State Fair, held each September over approximately 11 days at OKC Fair Park in Oklahoma City. The organization, founded on October 5, 1907, self-describes as one of the top State Fairs in North America and draws roughly one million attendees annually. Its core offering is the multi-day fair event, which combines ticketed gate admission, a carnival midway, Disney On Ice performances, free and ticketed concerts at the Chickasaw Country Entertainment Stage, livestock and 4-H/FFA exhibits, creative arts and equine competitions, and themed special events such as the PBR Teams Challenge and arm wrestling championships.

The organization generates revenue through six diversified streams: outside gate and special-event ticket sales (sold via Etix, box office, and phone); corporate sponsorship packages that include naming rights, signage, hospitality, and cross-channel media recognition; vendor and exhibitor booth rentals (with renewal rates exceeding 90%); corporate group sales and tent rentals; concessions and food-and-beverage revenue sharing (with non-profit partners earning up to 12% commission); and year-round facility rentals at OG&E Coliseum, Jim Norick Arena, and other OKC Fair Park venues. Distribution is multi-channel, combining self-serve online ticketing, direct sales, inside sales, and an Ungerboeck-powered vendor application portal.

OKC Fair Park serves as a year-round operating asset beyond the 11-day fair window, supporting private events and community programming. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors, operates as an equal opportunity employer, and maintains Title VI compliance as an ARPA subrecipient of Oklahoma County. Community-facing programs include a Scholarship Program (10 individual $2,500 awards annually since 2015, totaling over $420,000 since 2002), a structured Donations Program, and extensive volunteer engagement. Core strategic partnerships span Pepsi, BancFirst, Chickasaw Nation, Tinker Federal Credit Union, OG&E, Hobby Lobby, Wade Shows (carnival provider), Etix (ticketing), Feld Entertainment (Disney On Ice), and the Oklahoma Wildcatters (PBR).

Name

Oklahoma State Fair

Legal name

Oklahoma State Fair, Inc.

Website

https://okstatefair.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1907

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Oklahoma State Fair, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1907 that operates the annual September Oklahoma State Fair and year-round venue at OKC Fair Park in Oklahoma City, drawing roughly one million attendees through ticketed admissions, sponsorships, vendor rentals, corporate sales, concessions, and facility rentals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Event Entertainment

NAICS

All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (713990), Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries (713), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Community & Multi-Category Fairs (MPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fairgrounds & Expo Parks (THAHAAAH), Family, Kids & Education Fairs (MPAGAFAH)

Keywords

• Annual state fair
• Agricultural exhibitions
• Family entertainment events
• Livestock competitions
• Event venue rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Oklahoma City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from outside gate admission tickets, ride armbands, and special event tickets including Disney on Ice, concerts, and rodeo events. Tickets sold through etix.com, box office, and phone.
2. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship packages including naming rights, on-site signage, product sales and display, hospitality packages, meeting facilities, event tickets, parking passes, and website/radio/newspaper recognition. Sponsorship packages can be customized to fit marketing objectives.
3. Vendor Space Rental: Revenue from exhibitors, concessionaires, and attractions renting booth and display space at the annual fair. Applications accepted year-round with renewal rates exceeding 90%.
4. Corporate Sales: Group ticket sales to companies including gate admission discounts, carnival tickets, and Disney on Ice bulk purchases. Also includes corporate tent rentals.
5. Concessions and Food & Beverage: Revenue sharing from food vendors and concessionaires operating during the fair. Non-profit organizations can earn up to 12% commission working events.
6. Facility Rentals: Year-round venue rentals for events at OKC Fair Park including the OG&E Coliseum, Jim Norick Arena, and general facilities for corporate events and private functions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Oklahoma State Fair operates an annual multi-day state fair event at OKC Fair Park in Oklahoma City, featuring carnival rides, Disney On Ice performances, concerts, livestock and creative arts competitions, exhibits, and educational programming. The organization also runs year-round facility rentals, a vendor marketplace, sponsorship programs, and community initiatives including a scholarship program and donations.

Product overview

Oklahoma State Fair, Inc. operates the annual Oklahoma State Fair event at OKC Fair Park, offering a unified portfolio of entertainment and competitive experiences. The core offering is the annual multi-day fair event featuring carnival/midway rides, Disney On Ice performances, concerts at the Chickasaw Country Entertainment Stage, and diverse exhibits and attractions. The fair also hosts competitive programming including Livestock & 4-H/FFA Exhibits, Creative Arts, Equine shows, Oklahoma Student Art Exhibition (OSAE), Wine competitions, and Arm Wrestling. Additional revenue streams include sponsorship packages, corporate sales/tent rentals, vendor marketplace participation, scholarship program, donations, and a volunteer program. The organization is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OKC Fair Park: The venue/facility operated by Oklahoma State Fair, Inc. where the annual fair and other events are held.

Products and services

• Oklahoma State Fair (Annual Event) The annual Oklahoma State Fair is a premier state fair event showcasing the state's agriculture, manufacturing, and commerce through family entertainment, educational exhibits, competitions, and carnival attractions. Runs annually in September for approximately 11 days at OKC Fair Park.
• Disney On Ice Performances Annual ice skating performances featuring Disney characters held at the Jim Norick Arena during the fair period, featuring productions such as Frozen & Encanto, Magic in the Stars, Jump In!, and Dream Big.
• Carnival/Midway Carnival rides and games available during the annual fair event, operated in partnership with Wade Shows.
• Chickasaw Country Entertainment Stage Concerts Free concert performances on the Chickasaw Country Entertainment Stage during the fair, featuring various musical genres including country, pop, rock, and R&B.
• Wildcatters PBR Teams Challenge Professional Bull Riding (PBR) Teams Challenge event featuring the Oklahoma Wildcatters team competing at the OG&E Coliseum, typically held in September.
• OKC Fair Park Facility Rentals Year-round venue rentals for events at OKC Fair Park including the OG&E Coliseum, Jim Norick Arena, and general facilities for corporate events and private functions.
• Corporate Sales & Tent Rentals Corporate ticketing packages, carnival armband discounts, Disney On Ice group sales, and corporate tent rental services for businesses seeking group entertainment options.
• Vendor Marketplace Opportunities for exhibitors, concessionaires, and attractions to participate as vendors at the annual fair, with renewal rates exceeding 90%.
• Sponsorship Packages Marketing and exposure opportunities for companies including naming rights, on-site signage, product sales and display, hospitality packages, meeting facilities, event tickets, parking passes, and website/radio/newspaper recognition.
• Livestock & 4-H/FFA Exhibits Competition Competitive livestock exhibits and 4-H/FFA programming showcasing agricultural education and youth development at the annual fair.
• Creative Arts Competitions Competitions for creative arts including photography, painting, crafts, and culinary arts held during the annual fair.
• Equine Exhibits and Competitions Horse and equine competitions and exhibitions held at the fairgrounds during the annual fair.
• Oklahoma Student Art Exhibition (OSAE) Juried art show open to Oklahoma students in grades Pre-K through 12, with hundreds of pieces judged and exhibited during the fair, awarding $4,100 in gift cards and $3,000 in cash.
• Wine Competition Wine tasting competition awarding gold, silver, and bronze medals with Best of Show awards for amateur and professional divisions.
• Arm Wrestling Competition AUSA Oklahoma State Championships featuring standardized weight classes and national rankings for competitors, held during the fair.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 1 million Fairgoers attend annually
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered major, scholarship, core and general.

• PepsimajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPepsi is listed as a Major Sponsor of the Oklahoma State Fair, receiving prominent logo placement on the sponsorship page and presumably providing beverage sponsorship and marketing presence at the event.
• BancFirstmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerBancFirst is a Major Sponsor providing financial services sponsorship and marketing visibility at the fair.
• Chickasaw CountrymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerChickasaw Country Entertainment Stage is named after Chickasaw Nation's tourism brand, providing entertainment stage sponsorship and cultural partnership.
• Tinker Federal Credit UnionmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a Major Sponsor providing financial services marketing presence at the fair.
• American FidelityscholarshipGTM or Marketing PartnerScholarship sponsor for the Oklahoma State Fair Scholarship Program, contributing to educational initiatives for Oklahoma youth.
• Waste ConnectionsscholarshipGTM or Marketing PartnerScholarship sponsor contributing to the Oklahoma State Fair Scholarship Program for Oklahoma youth.
• EcolabscholarshipGTM or Marketing PartnerScholarship sponsor for the Oklahoma State Fair Scholarship Program.
• Disney On Ice (Feld Entertainment)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisney On Ice presents annual ice skating performances at the Jim Norick Arena during the fair, featuring multiple performances of productions like Frozen & Encanto, Magic in the Stars, Jump In!, and Dream Big.
• OG&E (Oklahoma Gas & Electric)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerOG&E Coliseum is the named venue for major fair events including concerts and PBR competitions, representing a key venue partnership.
• Ram TrucksgeneralGTM or Marketing PartnerAutomotive sponsor providing vehicle display and marketing presence at the fair.
• Hobby LobbycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner with the Oklahoma Student Art Exhibition (OSAE), awarding $4,100 in gift cards to art classrooms.
• Wade ShowscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState Fair Carnival Provider and sponsor of the Ribbon Recycle Challenge program, providing carnival rides and attractions along with $950 in cash and gift card awards.
• EtixcoreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial ticketing partner for the Oklahoma State Fair. All ticket purchases should be made through Etix to avoid resellers.
• Oklahoma Wildcatters (PBR Teams)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOklahoma's hometown team in the PBR Teams Series bringing the PBR Teams Challenge Event to the fair, featuring bull riding competitions September 19-21.
• Arm Wrestling USA (AUSA)generalStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the AUSA Oklahoma State Championships arm wrestling competition held during the fair, featuring standardized weight classes and national rankings.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• North Carolina State Fair: North Carolina State Fair is operated by a state authority and runs annually in Raleigh with comparable livestock, agricultural, entertainment, and carnival components. Comparable in mid-tier attendance scale (~1M visitors) and multi-revenue-stream model.
• State Fair of Texas: The State Fair of Texas in Dallas is the largest state fair in the U.S. by attendance (~2.5M+ visitors annually) and the most directly comparable peer in format, scale, and revenue model — annual multi-day event with exhibits, livestock, carnival, concerts, and major sponsorships at a permanent fairgrounds.
• Minnesota State Fair: Minnesota State Fair draws ~2M visitors annually and is widely considered the gold standard of U.S. state fairs. Comparable in multi-category exhibits, livestock, entertainment stage programming, year-round fairground usage, and diversified revenue model including vendor and sponsorship income.
• Ohio State Fair: Ohio State Fair is a 12-day annual event held at the Ohio Expo Center, featuring livestock, agricultural exhibits, concerts, and a vendor midway. Comparable in format, governance, and facility rental model anchored at a permanent expo center.
• California State Fair: California State Fair operates as a multi-week summer event at Cal Expo with livestock, agricultural exhibits, concerts, and vendor marketplace. Comparable as a large-scale, multi-category state fair with significant corporate sponsorship and facility rental operations on a permanent fairgrounds.
• Indiana State Fair: Indiana State Fair is a 17-day annual event operated by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, with similar attendance scale (~800K–1M visitors), livestock competitions, concert programming, and vendor marketplace. Closely comparable on operating structure, duration, and community-anchored nonprofit mission.
• Iowa State Fair: Iowa State Fair is consistently one of the highest-rated state fairs in North America, attracting ~1M+ visitors annually over 11 days in August. Comparable in scale, agricultural focus, livestock competitions, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit structure, making it a benchmark for attendance and community engagement.

Emerging players

• Feld Entertainment: Feld Entertainment produces Disney on Ice, Monster Jam, and other touring family entertainment shows that anchor programming at fairs and arenas nationwide. Oklahoma State Fair is a key venue partner; Feld is comparable as a content partner shaping the live entertainment lineup at state fair venues.
• Wade Shows: Wade Shows is one of the largest carnival midway operators in North America and is a strategic partner of Oklahoma State Fair as its State Fair Carnival Provider. Comparable as a key ecosystem participant and content/attractions supplier for state fair midways.

Others

• International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE): IAFE is the industry trade association for state and county fairs across North America. Comparable as the peer benchmark / standards-setting body whose membership includes Oklahoma State Fair, providing industry data and operational best practices.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/okstatefair
• Facebookfacebook.com/okstatefair
• Instagraminstagram.com/okstatefair
• TikToktiktok.com/@okstatefair?lang=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Oklahoma State Fair