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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Things are getting pinteresting

That's right, the Ohio State Fair has officially joined Pinterest, and our pin boards just keep growing! Here's a peek at what you'll find on our Pinterest page:

Ribbon-worthy recipes
We're scouring the Internet for mouthwatering recipes, and sharing some of our very own favorites from previous Ohio State Fairs (like this 1986 blue ribbon carrot cake or this 2011 award-winning fresh blackberry pie).

Fairtastic photos

By searching "Ohio State Fair" on Pinterest we stumbled across some amazing shots of rides, food and tradition for this collection - from engagement pictures taken by professional photographers to impressive Instagram snapshots.

Backyard beauty
While we may be months away from spring planting, it's never too early to find ways to beautify your backyard (and think about showing off the fruits of your labor in the agriculture and horticulture competitions at the Fair!). We've found clever ways to repurpose items for gardening - like a skid planter, rain boot flower pots and a log planter.

Fair food
We can't neglect the delectable deep-fried Fair treats! We're compiling a board of food featured at the Fair, like deep-fried Kool Aid, the doughnut burger and chocolate-covered bacon on a stick - also known as a "muddy pig" - all pictured here.

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The Ohio State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition blog has moved!

The Ohio State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition blog is now officially a part of the Ohio State Fair blog found right here at blog.ohiostatefair.com.

Don't worry - you'll still be able to find all the great fine arts updates from previous years housed here on this blog!

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