Ohio State Fair
The Ohio State Fair is a state government-run annual 12-day event in Columbus, Ohio, operated by the Ohio Expositions Commission since 1850. It serves families, agricultural communities, and concert attendees through gate admission, ticketed concerts, livestock exhibitions, the iconic butter cow display, and corporate-sponsored attractions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1850
- HeadquartersColumbus, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Ohio State Fair does
The Ohio State Fair is a state government-run annual event operated by the Ohio Expositions Commission, held at the Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1850, the Fair runs for 12 days each summer (July 29 - August 9, 2026) and combines agricultural heritage with modern entertainment, targeting a broad consumer base of families, the agricultural community, youth, and concert attendees. Core products include general admission to the fairgrounds, the WCOL Celeste Center concert series featuring national recording artists (Styx, Nelly, Weird Al Yankovic, etc.), free live entertainment across multiple stages, the iconic butter cow and dairy sculpture display (2,200+ pounds of butter annually), livestock exhibitions and the Sale of Champions auction, arts competitions, and the 8-acre Natural Resources Park. The Fair also generates ancillary revenue through paid attractions ($10-$12 per experience), $10 parking, on-site RV camping, and a non-profit ticket donation program.
The business model is event-driven and direct-to-consumer, monetizing through gate admission, ticketed concert sales via Ticketmaster, attraction fees, parking, vendor booth rentals, food concessions, and corporate sponsorships (led by Nationwide, CareSource, and the American Dairy Association Mideast). Ticketing infrastructure is powered by the Saffire event management platform, with the official Ohio State Fair mobile app providing schedules, maps, and event information. Distribution is entirely physical at the Columbus fairgrounds, supplemented by digital channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, Pinterest, LinkedIn) and the "A Fair to Remember" podcast (2018-2024). The entity is governed by a 15-member Commission (9 gubernatorial appointees plus 6 ex-officio state officials) under Adam Heffron as Executive Director, with regulatory authority from the Ohio General Assembly to operate on state property and conduct at least one Fair annually.
Ohio State Fair firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ohio State Fair
- Legal name
- The Ohio State Fair
- Website
- https://ohiostatefair.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1850
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Ohio State Fair is a state government-run annual 12-day event in Columbus, Ohio, operated by the Ohio Expositions Commission since 1850. It serves families, agricultural communities, and concert attendees through gate admission, ticketed concerts, livestock exhibitions, the iconic butter cow display, and corporate-sponsored attractions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ohio State Fair industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Agricultural Fair & Event Services
- NAICS
- Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries (713), Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Local Community & Multi-Category Fairs (MPAGAFAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- General Consumer Expos & Trade Shows (MPAGAFAA), Fairgrounds & Expo Parks (THAHAAAH)
Keywords
Where Ohio State Fair is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Columbus
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Ohio State Fair business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Admission Tickets: The primary revenue stream is gate admission fees charged to fairgoers. Concert tickets purchased in advance include fair admission.
- Concert & Event Tickets: Ticketed concerts at the WCOL Celeste Center featuring major artists. Tickets sold through Ticketmaster with varying price points.
- Paid Attractions: Revenue from attractions including camel rides ($10), Beat The Bar Challenge ($10), Dueling Axes ($10), and Walk on Water bubbles ($12).
- Parking Fees: $10 parking fee for vehicle parking at the fairgrounds.
- Vendor & Sponsorship Revenue: Revenue from commercial vendors, food concessions, and corporate sponsors including Nationwide, CareSource, and American Dairy Association Mideast.
- Livestock Auctions: Sale of Champions auction and Youth Reserve Program featuring premium livestock sales.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Fair Admission |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Camel Rides |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Beat The Bar Challenge |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Dueling Axes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Walk on Water Bubbles |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Parking |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Community Donation Program |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels11 records
Ohio State Fair product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Ohio State Fair is a 12-day annual event held at the Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds in Columbus, Ohio, featuring family entertainment, carnival rides, live music concerts, livestock exhibitions, agricultural displays, arts competitions, and the iconic butter cow sculpture. The fair sells gate admission tickets, concert tickets, and paid attractions directly to fairgoers, while also generating revenue through vendor fees, parking, food concessions, livestock auctions, and corporate sponsorships.
Product overview
The Ohio State Fair is an annual 12-day event (July 29 - August 9, 2026) held at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio. The product portfolio centers on the core fair event featuring family entertainment, agricultural exhibitions, and competitive programming. The main offerings include the Concert & Event Series at the WCOL Celeste Center (with ticketed performances by national artists), Free Live Entertainment featuring multiple stages of performers, Attractions included with admission (animal exhibits, natural resources park, history center), and the iconic Butter Cow display. Supporting programs include Livestock Exhibitions & Competitions, Arts Competitions spanning creative categories, and the Blue Ribbon Recipe Collection of award-winning recipes. Additional offerings encompass the A Fair to Remember podcast (2018-2024), RV camping facilities, paid attractions (beat the bar, dueling axes, water bubbles), and a Community Donation Program for non-profits. The fair uses Ticketmaster for concert ticketing and Saffire for general admission ticket processing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Ohio State Fair Annual Event An annual 12-day state fair held at the Ohio Expo Center featuring family entertainment, rides, live music, livestock exhibitions, agriculture displays, and competitive events, open to the general public and families.
- Concert & Event Series Ticketed concerts at the WCOL Celeste Center featuring national recording artists, sold via Ticketmaster with advance purchase including fair admission.
- Butter Cow Display An iconic life-size butter sculpture display of a cow and calf maintained at 45°F in the Dairy Products Building, created annually using over 2,200 pounds of butter and visited by approximately 500,000 people each year.
- Livestock Exhibitions & Competitions Livestock program including cattle, swine, sheep, goats, and poultry exhibitions, livestock competitions, online auctions, and the Sale of Champions youth reserve program for 4-H and FFA participants.
- Arts Competitions Creative arts competitions including poster contests, mural competitions, fine arts, cooking & baking, arts/crafts/fashion, and youth arts categories for fair participants.
- Free Live Entertainment & Entertainers Complimentary performances and entertainment acts across multiple stages, included with fair admission, featuring groups such as Salsa Steel, Comedy Farm Magic Review, BOOM! Percussion Hype Group, pig races, and comedy hypnotist Ron Diamond.
- Fair Attractions Attractions included with admission such as the OVMA Animal Life & Learning Center, accessible playground, Natural Resources Park, Ohio History Center, Ohio Village, camel rides, pig races, petting zoo, imAGine Ag Exhibit, and Glacial Misting Park.
- Ohio State Fair RV Park Camping On-site RV camping facilities at the Ohio Expo Center for fair attendees during the 12-day fair period.
- Blue Ribbon Recipe Collection Award-winning recipes from fair cooking and baking competitions across categories including desserts, entrees, breads, jams, preserves, candies, and condiments, available as free downloadable recipe books.
- Community Donation Program Ticket donation program offering certificates redeemable for four fair tickets (retail value $48) to qualified non-profit organizations for fundraising and charitable purposes.
- Paid Attractions Additional fee-based attractions at the fair including camel rides ($10), Beat The Bar Challenge ($10), Dueling Axes ($10 for 10 throws), and Walk on Water bubbles ($12).
Quantifiable outcome
- 500,000+ visitors annually to the Dairy Products Building alone
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Ohio State Fair
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Ohio State Fair technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Ohio State Fair partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- American Dairy Association MideastcorePresents the butter cow display and dairy products building at the Ohio State Fair. Uses butter past its expiration date that cannot be consumed for sculptures. Coordinates with dairy farmers across Ohio to support the iconic butter sculpting tradition.
- TicketmastercoreOfficial ticketing partner for Ohio State Fair concerts and events. Handles concert ticket sales, presale access, and venue ticketing for the WCOL Celeste Center. Fair admission included with advance concert ticket purchase.
- Ohio Agriculture Center presented by NationwidemajorPresenting sponsor of the Ohio Agriculture Center featuring OVMA Animal Life & Learning Center, horticulture exhibits, and the Ohio Proud Showcase. Represents major investment in agricultural education and exhibition space.
- CareSourceminorPresenting sponsor of the Petting Zoo attraction at the Barnyard.
- Ohio Department of Natural ResourcescorePartners to maintain the 8-acre Natural Resources Park featuring free fishing for kids, kayaking, archery, butterfly house, camping village, and amphitheater hosting free music and lumberjack shows.
- Ohio Department of Children & YouthminorPartners on the Children's Passport program, encouraging families to visit state agency booths and complete activities for prize chances.
- SaffirecoreWebsite and event management platform provider powering the Ohio State Fair website, ticketing infrastructure, and mobile experience.
- Workit HealthminorGazebo stage at the fair is named the Workit Health Gazebo Stage, hosting performances including Spoon Man.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Ohio State Fair competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wisconsin State Fair: Midwest state fair held at Wisconsin State Fair Park with a similar mix of agriculture, livestock, free entertainment, and headline concerts, competing for overlapping family audiences in the Great Lakes region.
- Eastern States Exposition (The Big E): Multi-state regional fair with livestock exhibitions, concert series, and signature agricultural traditions (butter sculptures, agricultural education), competing for Northeastern family audiences with a directly analogous programming mix.
- State Fair of Texas: The largest U.S. state fair by attendance, featuring livestock shows, a major auto show, concerts, and signature food innovations; the closest large-scale analog in operating model and revenue diversification to the Ohio State Fair.
- Iowa State Fair: Neighbor Midwest state fair with a strong agricultural identity, livestock competitions, free entertainment stages, and grandstand concerts — directly comparable in scale, programming mix, and audience demographics to the Ohio State Fair.
- Minnesota State Fair: One of the largest and most-attended U.S. state fairs, operated by the Minnesota State Fair Foundation, with a comparable mix of livestock exhibitions, concerts, agricultural education, and iconic food traditions competing for similar Midwest family audiences.
- Indiana State Fair: Direct neighboring state fair with comparable livestock programming, youth development (4-H/FFA), free entertainment, and concert lineup, operated as a state-government event on a permanent fairground.
- Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center: Pennsylvania's flagship agricultural exposition with livestock shows, competitions, and consumer programming housed in a year-round state-owned expo facility — comparable in mission and venue model to the Ohio Expo Center.
- Michigan State Fair (Michigan State Fair LLC at Suburban Collection Showplace): Michigan's state fair operation, revived as a smaller-scale event focused on agriculture, livestock, and entertainment; closely comparable in programming categories though with smaller scale.
- Erie County Fair (Hamburg, NY): One of the largest independent county fairs in the U.S., combining livestock/agricultural programming with headline concerts and midway attractions — directly comparable operating model and revenue mix to a state-level fair.
- Kentucky State Fair: Regional state fair with a similar agricultural exhibition, livestock competition, and entertainment format, targeting overlapping family and agricultural audiences in the Ohio Valley.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ohio State Fair social profiles
Digital presenceOhio State Fair financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ohio State Fair leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Ohio State Fair funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ohio State Fair M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ohio State Fair
What does Ohio State Fair do?
The Ohio State Fair is a 12-day annual event held at the Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds in Columbus, Ohio, featuring family entertainment, carnival rides, live music concerts, livestock exhibitions, agricultural displays, arts competitions, and the iconic butter cow sculpture. The fair sells gate admission tickets, concert tickets, and paid attractions directly to fairgoers, while also generating revenue through vendor fees, parking, food concessions, livestock auctions, and corporate sponsorships.
Is Ohio State Fair a public or private company?
Ohio State Fair is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Ohio State Fair founded?
Ohio State Fair was founded in 1850. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Ohio State Fair based?
Ohio State Fair is headquartered in Columbus, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ohio State Fair make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Admission Tickets are the primary driver. The others are concert & Event Tickets, paid Attractions, parking Fees, vendor & Sponsorship Revenue and livestock Auctions.
Who are Ohio State Fair's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wisconsin State Fair, Eastern States Exposition (The Big E), State Fair of Texas, Iowa State Fair, Minnesota State Fair, Indiana State Fair, Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center, Michigan State Fair (Michigan State Fair LLC at Suburban Collection Showplace), Erie County Fair (Hamburg, NY) and Kentucky State Fair.
Does Ohio State Fair have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ohio State Fair.
What industry is Ohio State Fair in?
Ohio State Fair's product category is Agricultural Fair & Event Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGAFAO, Local Community & Multi-Category Fairs, with a secondary code of MPAGAFAA, General Consumer Expos & Trade Shows. Its NAICS code is 713 and its SIC code is 7900.