Numerous events planned for 162nd Ohio State Fair

COLUMBUS — The 162nd Ohio State Fair is coming soon, and patrons are invited to start planning their Ohio staycation with the Fair’s newly-released schedule of events, available today. This year’s event offers new attractions, agricultural exhibits, sports competitions, great Fair food and a variety of shopping opportunities you won’t want to miss.

The 2015 Ohio State Fair is jam-packed with fun activities that’ll appeal to every member of your family. Fairgoers are invited to use our schedule to plan their family’s activities at this annual Ohio tradition. At this year’s Fair, enjoy all sorts of fun concerts, exhibits and competitions such as:

– Concerts: The Hyundai Concert Series will feature numerous musical acts such as “Lips are Movin” star Meghan Trainor, REBA, Disney Channel star Sabrina Carpenter from the series “Girl Meets World,” Grammy Winner Peter Frampton, Cheap Trick, Patti LaBelle, Alabama and more.

– Fair Food: Funnel cakes, elephant ears, 30 different types of food on a stick and more will be sold by nearly 200 food vendors located throughout the Fair. To quickly find your favorite vendor, use our online food finder or download the Mobile Food Finder App for iPhone or Android. New foods this year include homemade gourmet popsicles, deep fried cake balls and many more.

– Competitions: Competition is a key aspect of the Fair, featuring competitions in areas from livestock to cooking to sewing and more. Watch as Ohioans of all ages compete and show off their skills and hard work throughout the Fair. New competitions include a recycled bowling pin decorating competition, a chili cook-off, Ohio’s Best Tattoo Competition and more.

– Rides: Families will enjoy excitement and thrills with 75 rides on the Mountain Dew Midway and Kiddieland including the Ferris wheel, Giant Slide, one of the world’s longest portable sky rides and more.

– Education: Cows, sheep and goats; oh my! Interact with animals in the free petting zoo, milk a cow in one of the Agriculture is Cool interactive education stations and see the Wolves of the World, the world’s only traveling world pack.

– New: This year, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will unveil a lifelike, 14-foot tall, animatronic version of Smokey Bear, a Fair tradition since 1959.

For more information, call 1-888-OHO-EXPO or 1-614-644-FAIR. On the Web, visit usat ohiostatefair.com.

The Ohio Expo Center is proud to host the Ohio State Fair. With a spectacular midway, big-name entertainment, hundreds of exhibits and one of the largest junior fair shows in the nation, the 2015 Ohio State Fair will run July 29 – Aug. 9.