My parents didn’t have a ton of cash for extracurricular activities when I was a kid, but they did make sure my brother and I got to do some special things – such as spend the day at the Ohio State Fair with a ride-all-day wristband. When August rolled around I’d get excited for the fair, fair fries (with tons of malt vinegar, salt, and ketchup), and bumper cars. I remember as a child being enamored by the blinking colored lights, the horse shows, carnival rides that jerked your brains out, and tossing rings around coke bottles in hopes to win a poorly stitched stuffed pig. I’d leave sweaty, full of fries, a bag of cotton candy in one hand and a prize I won in the other. Those were the times I loved being a kid.
Unfortunately, when I became an adult it took me a while to attend a fair again. As an “all growns up” gal the fair lost its magic and eating a ton of grease and riding fair rides was no longer my idea of summer fun. However, after taking my children last year, I was reminded how much fun the fair is for kids. My children loved everything I did when I was younger: petting the animals, riding the obnoxiously loud rides, eating junk food, and hanging out with their Grandpa and their friends. The fairs that happen to be our favorites are the Ohio State Fair, Franklin County Fair, and the Delaware County Fair. The county fairs are much smaller than the Ohio State Fair – they still have all the fun it is just in a smaller setting. So if you are into a little agriculture, carnival rides, and anything you can imagine fried on a stick, get to the fair this year! It is a semi-cheap way to spend a day with your kids and you can go as a family or with a group of friends.
Here is a site that lists the fairs and county fairs in and surrounding Central Ohio: Ohio County and State Fairs. The majority of the fairs are in July, August, and 
September.
Ideas for saving money on admission:
- This year (2011) the Franklin County Fair is partnering with the Mid-Ohio Food Bank on admission. The first 500 people to donated 5 cans of food (5 per person) will get free admission to the fair on Tuesday, July 19th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Check with your local grocery stores, the fairs’ websites, The Dispatch, and local TV media for discounted tickets.
- Please leave a comment if you have other ideas to share on how families can save on admission.
Going to the fair, a few things to make your visit more enjoyable with kids:
- Go early in the week on a week day. The evenings and weekends are generally the most crowded.
- Stroller-friendly – even if you are visiting animals in their stalls.
- Save more money by packing your own lunch.
- Bring plenty of water – it gets hot hot hot!
- If your kids like to go on rides and you are on a budget, set a limit to the amount they can ride or spring for the wristband. Believe me, those ride tickets go FAST.
- Check into the shows and events calendars for the particular fair you are attending.
- Check the weather! Rain can be NO fun, especially if you are at a county fair and there is little shelter.
Refried Deepfried Twinkies here I come!
Skipping the rides saves a lot of money. You can spend an entire day at the Ohio State Fair doing fun free things! Enjoy the several shows…lumber jack, juggling, bands. Visit the Dept of Natural Resources display where there are several kids activities. Stop by the 4H barns and see the animals. One year there was a gaint corn climbing wall that my kids loved. Go look at the butter carvings in the dairy barn where you should spend money on the fresh made ice cream!
As a rural kid growing up, the fair was the thing we waited for all summer! The Fairfield County Fair is still my favorite. Not too big, not too small.
and yes, “rides that jerk your brains out.” perfect image, by the way.
thanks for this post!
amy
I LOVE the fair!!! My poor husband is a “grown up” grown up and does not much like animals, especially farm animals, but I love them. My poor family gets dragged through all the barns and listens to me ramble on and on about wanting goats. This year, now that my kids are past the age of being happy with just a few ride tickets, they will be getting wrist bands. To keep the cost down I am buying the tickets for the wristbands at Kroger…one per week. Then we are going to the Ohio State Fair on one of the weekdays that they have cheaper admission. We also really love the Delaware County Fair, embarrassingly enough because of the derby and watching cars crash into each other and all the noise.