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Every September, thousands of people gather in Oklahoma City to experience the Oklahoma State Fair. The crowds gather to try the latest fair foods, listen to several genre of music, see the best in agriculture technology and showmanship, and catch a thrill on the midway. For 2015, the Oklahoma State Fair plans to create Miles of Smiles during this year’s run September 17 through 27.
This year, near the Adventure Road Entertainment Stage in the Entertainment Plaza, fairgoers will find a new place just to hang out called the PATIO. It’ll have Adirondack chairs as seating. Craft beer and food truck specialties will be available.
Speaking of the Adventure Road Entertainment Stage, several musical acts are slated to perform free shows. If you want to get your grove on, Blood, Sweat, and Tears featuring Bo Bice and Rose Royce will be performing. Country fans can enjoy Chris Janson, The Swon Brothers and Sister Hazel. Latin band La Energia Nortena and Christian act Matt Maher will perform on the stage during the fair. Performers paying tribute to Elvis and Johnny Cash also will take the stage.
If you would like to perform, then try your hand at the annual Okie Karaoke Contest on the Centennial Plaza. Prizes will be given to the winners who must be at least 18 years old to compete. The finals will be held on Sunday, Sept. 27, the final day of the fair.
Part of the eleven day run will feature the Navy. Oklahoma City is one of a dozen cities to host Navy Week. Special events, exhibits, and entertainment involving the Navy Band Southwest, Leap Frogs Parachute Team, USS Constitution and USS Oklahoma City are planned.
Another new attraction for this year will take you back to the days of the dinosaurs. Wild About Dinosaurs! will keep attendees on their toes as the dinosaurs could be around any corner.
On the entertainment side of the Oklahoma State Fair, the family can see some familiar Disney faces on ice skates. Disney on Ice is bringing its Frozen production to Oklahoma City September 17–22. Mickey and Minnie Mouse will play host to the story with special appearances by the Disney Princesses and favorites from Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and The Lion King.
If a different kind of live action better suits your family, the Oklahoma State Fair has you covered there. Xtreme Bulls will deliver the best of the PRCA Tour on September 25 and 26. The Casey Donahew Band and Gary Allen will perform after the dust has settled in the area. Both Xtreme Bulls and Disney on Ice take place in the Jim Norick Arena.
Of course competitors don’t only ride bulls, they create art. The Oklahoma State Fair is known for its creative arts competitions. Participants enter their crafts, special recipes and photography to be judged against their peers.
If you want to get into the competition, On The Spot Walk-up Contests will be held. Some of the contests include The Biggest Bubble Contest, State Fair Structures: Lego Building Contest, Paper Airplane, Move That Bean! Minute to Win It Contest, and others. On Sunday afternoons, families can join the Rain Gutter Regatta on the Creative Arts Building lawn. Kids of all ages can create their own sailboats and race them in a fun, non-competitive environment.
For more traditional fairgoers, equine and livestock competitions will take place as they do every year. Get a feel for the farm as Oklahoma youth prepare their horses, calves, llamas, swine and other show animals in hopes of winning the top prize.
Also featuring some of the best agriculture has to offer, the City of AGtropolis makes its annual return to State Fair Park. Families can take their children to AGtropolis to help them understand the contribution agriculture makes to their lives. Each place in the City gives children a first-hand look at the farm-to-market process with interactive exhibits and demonstrations. The City of AGtropolis will call the Oklahoma Expo Hall its home during the run of the fair.
Getting a thrill is as easy as going down the Oklahoma State Fair’s midway. The light-filled rides and games will be accompanied by the music, carnie calls and crowds typical of any exciting midway. Some of the rides available this year are the Cyclone Roller Coaster, Power Surge, Quasar, Wave Swinger, Zero Gravity, Bungee Zip Line and the Mega Bounce Zone.
Of course, what most people say they go to the Oklahoma State Fair for is the food. Old favorites like funnel cakes, Indian tacos, roasted corn on the cob, turkey legs and those savory-warm cinnamon rolls will be there. Every year, new foods make their way into the awaiting stomachs of fairgoers.
For adults who would like to sit back and enjoy an adult beverage the Wine and Beer Garden is making a return. Plenty of shade under trees and canopies will be available. Live entertainment also will be on hand.
The Oklahoma State Fair 2015 has plenty of sights, sounds and tastes to reach its goal of generating Miles of Smiles.
BY Jason Doyle Oden | Photos Provided by The State Fair Park
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