If you missed out on all the rides and food at NAZ Night this past Friday, not to worry; the State Fair of Oklahoma is here from September 13-23. Every year, this annual event opens its gates offering multiple forms of entertainment, shopping, rides, games, concerts, shows, exhibits, and a selection of food items like nowhere else. It truly has something for everyone.
If you’re new to the state or haven’t ever gone to the fair, there is no better time than the present. The festivities take place just a little over 6 miles away from the SNU campus, at State Fair Park on the corner of I-40 and I-44 interchange. It runs for 11 days which gives you plenty of opportunities to experience this annual event.
The celebration attracts crowds from all over the state for the entire duration that it is open. With these large crowds, comes the need for good traffic flow and parking. The State Fair Park is well equipped to handle both these required tasks. There is both free and paid parking with acres of spots to choose from. All are monitored by fair security, the Oklahoma City Police and Sheriff Departments to ensure the safety of visiting fairgoers.
If you’re seeking a thrill, this might be your place. Every year brings both new and old rides, haunted houses, mazes, and carnival games. There are multiple avenues to pay for the rides. You can buy tickets for one ride, skip the line tickets, or the all-inclusive Carnival Armband which allows access to most of the rides and attractions.
For those that don’t enjoy the Midway, you’ll be pleased to learn that this venue has separated the mayhem of the Midway from the slower paced events and shows. This gives visitors a chance to avoid certain areas of the fair if desired. If this is the situation you find yourself in, be sure to view the map to the fair and park accordingly.
If watching shows and concerts interests you, this year’s fair has plenty to offer. The Disney shows always attract an audience both young and old. Once again, Disney on Ice returns to entertain guest. When asked if he plans on seeing any upcoming shows at the fair, SNU Adult Studies student, Jacob Gross stated, “We will most likely take our girls to see Disney on Ice.”
Other events going on include Xtreme Bulls, which not only features bull riding but also holds a concert afterward. The two performances held after Xtreme Bulls this year are Big & Rich and Aaron Watson. It is recommended that all tickets to these shows be purchased in advance.
Free concerts are also offered. This year offers a variety of performers. Some of the concerts taking place this year are new Christian artist Jordan Feliz, country singer Neal McCoy, and R&B artist Dru Hill.
When asked about the fair, SNU Program Director/Associate Professor of Business Administration, Dr. Harlan Johnson commented saying, “My favorite part of the State Fair is just walking around and seeing everything that is there.” He went on to state, “I like to look at the different exhibits and the different kinds of food that you do not get to see anywhere else.”
Speaking of food, Jacob Gross said, “My favorite part of the fair is all of the fair food.” When it comes to fair food, Jacob mentioned that “We always get the lemon shake-up and a turkey leg. If you have a sweet tooth, the cinnamon roll is the way to go.”.
If you crave traditional menu options, fried food, sweets, or something on the bizarre side, this year’s fair has it all. There is one thing that I have learned from going to the fair: they can truly fry anything. Deep-Fried Hot Pepper Rings, Deep-Fried Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip, Kit-Kat Fries, and Deep-Fried Coffee are just a few items that can be enjoyed this year. Whatever your taste, it probably can be found at the fair.
The fair has too much to mention in this article. It must be experienced for yourself. If you want something to do, other than study, the fair might be an interesting experience you soon won’t forget. If any of this interest you, check out the website https://okstatefair.com/ and plan a trip with a group of friends to this year’s fair.
(Photo by Heni Noviyanti on Unsplash)