Go on - play with your food!

Fair seeks professional and amateur food artists and chefs to "play with their food"

Kids are told not to play with their food, but the Ohio State Fair wants to make up for lost time with the popular Food Art Competition!

The Fair is currently seeking talented professional and amateur food artists and chefs to compete in the food sculpting competition in which they will transform food into magnificent art on Wednesday, July 31 from 3 pm to 6 pm in the DiSalle Creative Arts Center at the Ohio State Fair. Carvers from Columbus, Cleveland, Akron, Newark, Michigan and Indiana are expected to participate.

Culinary students are invited to participate in the amateur division and will be given specific fruits and three hours to create their masterpiece on-site.

During the amateur carving, professional artists and chefs will display their previously carved sculptures and allow the crowd to vote on their favorite. 

Visitors will enjoy watching the transformation of ordinary fruits, vegetables and cheeses into unbelievable sculptures – such as a watermelon becoming a rose garden, birds and even a lady bug – some sculptures standing more than four feet all. Visit the Ohio State Fair on July 31 to see who the next Food Art Champion will be! 

How to enter:

To enter and/or make inquiries, contact Greg Butauski of Rock On Ice / Art The Experience at 614.449.8770 www.rockonice.com www.arttheexperience.com or Lisa Ohmer, Creative Arts Director at 614.316.3948 l.ohmer@expo.state.oh.us.

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Fair concert series finalized

Pop star Carly Rae Jepsen and R&B crooner Eric Benet are among the final acts to be added to the Fair’s annual concert line-up.

The “Ladies’ Night Out Tour” will take over the WCOL Celeste Center stage on July 25 with performances by Eric Benet, K’Jon and Noel Gourdin. Then, on July 31, pop/rock foursome Hot Chelle Rae will open for “Call Me Maybe” singer Carly Rae Jepsen. Tickets for these shows go on sale on this Saturday, April 13 at noon at Ticketmaster outlets.

All concert tickets purchased in advance include free admission to the Fair, allowing visitors to arrive early and enjoy all the Fair has to offer. At this time, a closing show in Crew Stadium is not scheduled.

The 2013 Ohio State Fair Concert & Event Series is as follows:

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Jeff Dunham Wed., July 24 Time: 7 pm Price: $38 On Sale Now
Ladies Night Out Tour featuring Eric Benet, K'Jon and Noel Gourdin Thurs., July 25 Time: 7:30 pm Price: $25 Tickets go on sale Saturday, April 13 at Noon
Martina McBride with special guest Angie Johnson Fri., July 26 Time: 7 pm Price: $32 On Sale Now
Will Downing / Lalah Hathaway Sat., July 27 Time: 7:30 pm Price: $25 On Sale Now
Styx / REO Speedwagon               Sun., July 28 Time: 7:30 pm Price: $32 On Sale Now
Justin Moore with special guest The Farm Mon., July 29 Time: 7 pm Price: $20 On Sale Now
Austin Mahone with special guest Jake Miller Tues., July 30 Time: 7:30 pm Price: $25 On Sale Now
Carly Rae Jepsen with special guest Hot Chelle Rae Wed., July 31 Time: 7 pm Price: $32 Tickets go on sale Saturday, April 13 at Noon
Steve Miller Band Thurs., Aug. 1 Time: 7 pm Price: $30 On Sale Now
George Jones with special guest Tanya Tucker Fri., Aug. 2 Time: 7 pm Price: $30 On Sale Now
Hillsong Live Sat., Aug. 3 Time: 7 pm Time: $25 On Sale Now
FREE SHOWS
Buckeye Sports Fest* Buckeye fans catch all the action of Ohio State Athletics. Meet and mingle with Ohio State athletes and coaches, get discounts on upcoming Buckeye sporting events and try out some of the Buckeye interactive activities. Sat., July 27 Time: 11 am - 1 pm Price: Free
All-Ohio State Fair Band & Youth Choir* Sun., July 28 Time: 1 pm Price: Free
A Salute to America presented by the All-Ohio State Fair Band & Youth Choir* Tues., July 30 Time: 1 pm Price: Free
Sale of Champions Livestock Auction* Sun., Aug. 4 Time: 2 pm Price: Free
HOW TO BUY TICKETS
The following options are available to purchase tickets: 1. Ticketmaster online - Visit www.ticketmaster.com/OhioStateFair 2. Ticketmaster phone centers - Call 1-800-745-3000 3. Ticketmaster outlets - Visit www.ticketmaster.com/h/retaillocations.html for a complete list Concert tickets purchased before arriving at the Fair include Fair admission. There is a limit of eight tickets per person per show on the first day of sale.
*Tickets are not required for these shows
Concert tickets purchased before arriving at the Fair include Fair admission. Concerts are held in the WCOL Celeste Center unless otherwise noted. Click here to view the Celeste Center Seating Chart.  Please be cautious when considering online auction sites, as these tickets cannot be verified as authentic tickets. The Ohio Expositions Commission will not be responsible for fraudulent sales or the illegal duplication or sale of tickets, and does not encourage ticket re-sales.

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Which Fair food is the top "something on a stick"?

Worldwide, people are celebrating Something on a Stick Day today, March 28, 2013.

Sure, it could mean anything on a stick. What we are daydreaming about, though, is food on a stick. Fair food to be specific.

So last year, we completed a highly scientific (*cough, Facebook poll, cough*) study to find out which Ohio State Fair food on a stick people love the most.

What do you think, does this look about right?

We're just kidding about the scientific stuff, but we really do love food on a stick. How about you? What is your favorite?

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Watch this time lapse transformation of the Expo Center

The home of the Fair, the Ohio Expo Center, is a year-round event facility that is rented by roughly 150 different event holders every single year.

One of these great events, the Dispatch Home & Garden Show, kicks off in late February. Before the event opens, the Bricker Building and Celeste Center start as empty buildings with concrete floors. Over the course of just a few days, though, they become a gardening wonderland filled with flowers, fountains and patios galore.


Like what you see? The Home & Garden Show is going on now through Sunday, March 3!

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Fair announces first batch of concerts

Comedy, rock and country, oh my!

The Ohio State Fair has released its first announcement of performers who will be gracing the WCOL Celeste Center stage this summer, July 24 - August 4, 2013.

Drumroll, please...

With a few additional acts yet to be announced, the 2013 Ohio State Fair Concert Series is as follows:

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Jeff Dunham Wed., July 24 Time: 7 pm Price: $38 Tickets go on sale Saturday, March 16 at Noon
Martina McBride with special guest Angie Johnson Fri., July 26 Time: 7 pm Price: $32 Tickets go on sale Saturday, March 23 at Noon
Will Downing / Lalah Hathaway Sat., July 27 Time: 7:30 pm Price: $25 Tickets go on sale Saturday, April 6 at Noon
Styx / REO Speedwagon               Sun., July 28 Time: 7:30 pm Price: $32 Tickets go on sale Saturday, March 23 at Noon
Justin Moore with special guest The Farm Mon., July 29 Time: 7 pm Price: $20 Tickets go on sale Saturday, March 16 at Noon
Austin Mahone with special guest Jake Miller Tues., July 30 Time: 7:30 pm Price: $25 Tickets go on sale Saturday, March 16 at Noon
Steve Miller Band Thurs., Aug. 1 Time: 7 pm Price: $30 Tickets go on sale Saturday, March 16 at Noon
George Jones with special guest Tanya Tucker Fri., Aug. 2 Time: 7 pm Price: $30 Tickets go on sale Saturday, March 16 at Noon
Hillsong Live Sat., Aug. 3 Time: 7 pm Time: $25 Tickets go on sale Saturday, March 23 at Noon
FREE SHOWS
Buckeye Sports Fest* Buckeye fans catch all the action of Ohio State Athletics. Meet and mingle with Ohio State athletes and coaches, get discounts on upcoming Buckeye sporting events and try out some of the Buckeye interactive activities. Sat., July 27 Time: 11 am - 1 pm Price: Free
All-Ohio State Fair Band & Youth Choir* Sun., July 28 Time: 1 pm Price: Free
A Salute to America presented by the All-Ohio State Fair Band & Youth Choir* Tues., July 30 Time: 1 pm Price: Free
Sale of Champions Livestock Auction* Sun., Aug. 4 Time: 2 pm Price: Free
HOW TO BUY TICKETS
The following options are available to purchase tickets: 1. Ticketmaster online - Visit www.ticketmaster.com/OhioStateFair 2. Ticketmaster phone centers - Call 1-800-745-3000 3. Ticketmaster outlets - Visit www.ticketmaster.com/h/retaillocations.html for a complete list Concert tickets purchased before arriving at the Fair include Fair admission. There is a limit of eight tickets per person per show on the first day of sale.
*Tickets are not required for these shows
Psst - don't forget that concert tickets purchased before arriving at the Fair include Fair admission!

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State Fair featured in "Parker" movie, in theaters Jan. 25

If you've seen the trailer for the latest action thriller starring Jason Statham, you may have noticed that it opens with an amusement ride and scenes of people having fun at a fair. What you may not have noticed from the trailer, though, is that it is, in fact, the Ohio State Fair. Check out the extended movie trailer below, starting right around the :20 mark (please use discretion, though - this movie is rated R).

 


You watched it, right?

Well, it all started in the months leading up to the 2011 Ohio State Fair, when a representative from the film reached out to administrators of the Ohio Expo Center. Plans were made for a small crew to come and film atmospheric footage during the Fair to blend with scenes shot in professional studios in New Orleans.

However, as discussions continued, the project expanded in scope and the director, producer and several of the stars traveled to Ohio to film scenes while the Fair was underway.

So, that August, as fairgoers enjoyed lemon shake-ups and rides down the Giant Slide, a film crew and prominent actors including Jason Statham descended upon the Ohio State Fair, spending two days shooting a variety of scenes which now make up the movie’s opening segment. Scripted scenes performed by professional actors have been coupled with footage of real Ohioans enjoying various aspects of the Fair, such as livestock shows, the daily parade, Midway rides and concerts by the 200 youth members of the All-Ohio State Fair Band.

The film is an adaptation of Donald Westlake’s novel "Flashfire," which follows professional thief Parker (Statham) while he travels the country in a fast-paced series of schemes and robberies. It also stars Jennifer Lopez, Michael Chiklis, Wendell Pierce and Nick Nolte, and is produced by Stratton Leopold. While the cast and crew were here shooting, an estimated $1.3 million dollars were spent in Ohio.

Get your tickets now - the movie opens next Friday, Jan. 25!

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Fair's soybean education program receives international award

The Ohio State Fair, in conjunction with the Ohio Soybean Council, has received an award of distinction in the inaugural Soybean and Environmental Sustainability Awards competition from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) for its soybean education program at the 2012 Fair.

In addition to receiving first place in its attendance division for the "educational event, exhibit or program for the fairgoing public – soy use" category, the Ohio State Fair was presented with the coveted Judge's Choice Award for the entire Soybean and Environmental Sustainability Awards competition, which recognized fairs in four different categories, and in each of five divisions based upon attendance. The entries were evaluated and judged by a team of industry leaders selected from the membership of the IAFE.

The multi-faceted program was developed in partnership with the Ohio Soybean Council and soybean checkoff to educate fairgoers, farmers and concession vendors about the state's most abundant and versatile crop, the soybean:

• Many concessionaires made their fried foods healthier by adopting the use of trans fat-free high-oleic soybean oil in their food booths, featuring educational signage alongside the delicious treats.
• Various additional soy-based products, such as hand sanitizer and paint, were used throughout the 360-acre Ohio Expo Center.
• A final educational element was the sponsorship of several buildings and the entire junior livestock show, capped with Ohio Soybean Day, Saturday, Aug. 4. On this day, Ohio soybean farmers greeted fairgoers and answered questions about the uses of soybeans and how farmers grow them.  Additionally, potted soybean plants along with signage sharing interesting facts such as "one acre of soybeans can produce 82,368 crayons" were located throughout the grounds.

The Soybean and Environmental Sustainability Awards were developed to encourage fairs to utilize soy products in their operations, educate the public about the soy products, to incorporate environmentally sustainable practices in fair operations as well as to educate the fairgoing public about environmentally sustainable practices.

The Ohio Soybean Council is governed by a volunteer farmer board, which directs the Soybean Promotion and Research Program. The program's primary goal is to improve soybean profitability by targeting education, marketing and research and development projects through the investment of farmer-contributed funds.

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 2013 Ohio State Fair will run July 24 - August 4.

From left to right, Ohio Soybean Council Executive Director Kirk Merritt, Ohio State Fair General Manager Virgil Strickler, Chairman of the Ohio Soybean Council Board of Trustees and Hancock County soybean farmer John Motter and Ohio Soybean Council Communications Director Jennifer Coleman pose with the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) Soybean and Environmental Sustainability Judges' Choice Award for the Ohio State Fair's soy education program. 

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