COLUMBUS — The Ohio State Fair brings together families, exhibitors, music lovers, vendors, and fairgoers from across Ohio and beyond each year. With the safety of these guests in mind, State Fair leadership continually works with the Ohio State Highway Patrol to review and implement new safety procedures. These procedures include but are not limited to:
• Magnetometers — Visitors are screened through metal detectors upon entry.
• Bag searches — Purses, backpacks, book bags, coolers, strollers, etc. are permitted, but are subject to search.
• Concert screening — All guests entering the WCOL Celeste Center for concerts must go through an additional weapons detection screening and are subject to additional screening and bag searches prior to entry.
• Prohibited items — Prohibited items must be returned to your vehicle, disposed of, or forfeited to the Ohio State Highway Patrol upon admission to the grounds, and include:
• Weapons such as knives, chains, bats and sticks,
• Illegal substances,
• Alcoholic beverages,
• Bicycles, Segways, hoverboards, skateboards, roller blades, roller skates, mopeds, motorcycles and other two–wheel vehicles,
• Drones (unmanned aircraft systems),
• Laser pointers,
• Selfie sticks,
• Glass bottles and containers.
• Please note that in accordance with Ohio law, fairgoers carrying a firearm, concealed or open, are permitted to enter only the outdoor portions of the Ohio Expo Center & State Fair. If any patron carrying a firearm would like to enter a building, the patron will be given the option to return the firearm to his or her vehicle and return to the fair with an admission handstamp. All buildings have signs posted prohibiting the carrying of a weapon, concealed or open.
• No smoking — The smoking of marijuana is prohibited, and outdoor cigarette smoking will only be permitted in designated areas.
• Ride safety — The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s (ODA) Ride Safety Division works closely with the ride provider, Talley Amusements, as well as an independent third–party ride inspector for a layered ride inspection process including pre–fair ride inspections conducted by ODA, as well as daily inspections conducted by the ride foreman and independent ride inspector.
• New unaccompanied minor protocol — After 6 p.m., minors will be required to enter with an adult chaperone, such as a relative or parent.
“Safety and security are a top priority of the Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds. As such, we regularly review our protocols to align with industry best practices and recommend adjustments based on data and trends,” explained Executive Director Adam Heffron. “One industry best practice that has emerged in recent years at amusement parks, fairs, festivals, and shopping malls, is instituting a chaperone requirement after a certain time. Instituting these rules has improved safety at a number of other venues, and as such, we will be requiring minors to be accompanied at the admission gates after 6 p.m.”
Additional details about the unaccompanied minor protocol are available online and include provisions for youth working at the Fair, caring for animals after the curfew, or attending a concert. The protocol also places limits on the number of youth a chaperone can escort.
The Ohio Expo Center is proud to host the Ohio State Fair. With big–name entertainment, educational activities, hundreds of exhibits and one of the largest junior livestock shows in the nation, the 2024 Ohio State Fair will run July 24 — Aug. 4. For more information, visit ohiostatefair.com, call 1–888–OHO–EXPO or 1–614–644–FAIR.
Submitted by the Ohio Expo Center & State Fair
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