Food, rides, music and more: Here are the 6 best things to do at the Oklahoma State Fair
Here are 6 can't-miss things at the 2021 Oklahoma State Fair:
1. Disney on Ice
Disney on Ice is making a return to the 2021 Oklahoma State Fair with a show titled "Dream Big." Along with favorites Mickey and Minnie Mouse, "Disney on Ice Presents Dream Big" also will bring characters and scenes from the hit Disney animated films "Beauty and the Beast," "Coco," "The Little Mermaid" and "Tangled" to Jim Norick State Fair Arena.
When: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 16; 12:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sept. 17; 11:30 a.m., 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sept. 18; 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. Sept. 19; and 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20.
Where: Jim Norick Arena, 333 Gordon Cooper Blvd. on the OKC Fairgrounds.
Tickets and information: www.okstatefair.com, DisneyOnIce.com and 405-948-6800.
More: Skater relishes 'Frozen' role in Disney on Ice show
2. Save some money
If you’re hoping to save a few bucks at the Oklahoma State Fair this year, you can start by pinching pennies at the gate on select days. An outside gate admission ticket costs $12 for adults age 12 and older. Children ages 6 to 11 can get in for $6, and children age 5 and younger get in for free. To buy tickets online, visit https://okstatefair.com.
Sept. 16: Opening Day — Outside gate admission costs $2.
Sept. 20: Military Monday — Military personnel and their spouses will receive free outside gate admission and $4 ride tickets for the Sky Eye Wheel ride. Service members must present military identification.
Sept. 21: $2 Pepsi Tuesday — Outside gate admission costs $2. Carnival rides (some exclusions apply) cost $2. Sky Eye Ferris Wheel ride tickets cost $2. Select food items will also cost $2.
Sept. 22: Senior Day — Senior citizens ages 55 and older get free admission. They must present identification. Sky Eye Ferris Wheel ride tickets cost $4.
3. Free live music
The Oak Ridge Boys will launch the free concert lineup Sept. 16 on the Oklahoma State Fair's Chickasaw Country Entertainment Stage. The lineup includes country hitmakers Sawyer Brown, rockers Skid Row and Jackyl, R&B star Ginuwine, up-and-coming country singer-songwriter Jameson Rodgers, Mexican act La Fiera De Ojinaga, Grammy-nominated worship band We the Kingdom, “This Diamond Ring” hitmakers Gary Lewis & The Playboys, Resurrection — A Journey Tribute and the popular staple Elvis Extravaganza.
Oklahoma State Fair Chickasaw Country Entertainment Stage
•7:30 p.m. Sept. 16: The Oak Ridge Boys
•7:30 p.m. Sept. 17: Sawyer Brown
•8 p.m. Sept. 18: Jackyl
•7:30 p.m. Sept. 19: Resurrection — A Journey Tribute
•7:30 p.m. Sept. 20: We the Kingdom
•7:30 p.m. Sept. 21: Gary Lewis & The Playboys
•7:30 p.m. Sept. 22: Elvis Extravaganza
•7:30 p.m. Sept. 23: Jameson Rodgers
•7:30 p.m. Sept. 24: Ginuwine
•8 p.m. Sept. 25: Skid Row
•7:30 p.m. Sept. 26: La Fiera De Ojinaga
More: Oak Ridge Boys, Sawyer Brown, Skid Row and more to play free concerts at Oklahoma State Fair
4. Ride, play all day
It wouldn't be the fair without the rides and games. The hosts of the Midway Carnival expect turnout to be even bigger than previous years. The popular Sky Eye Wheel and its accompanying park are returning to the entertainment plaza.
During the State Fair, carnival ride armbands are available at the carnival ticket booths. They are $35 Monday-Thursday and $45 Friday-Sunday. Each armband will have a $1 activation fee added. Attendees can also get a reloadable ride coupon card at any carnival ticket booth or kiosk. Individual coupons (in groups of 5) can be bought, or groups of 30 (for $30) or 55 (for $50) also can be purchased. The coupons placed on those cards are good for the entire run of the fair. Each individual card has a $1 activation fee.
More: Crews Set Up Rides and Attractions For Opening Day Of The Oklahoma State Fair
5. Eat until you're stuffed
The State Fair returns with about a dozen new food vendors for 2021. Available will be giant s’mores on-a-stick, doughnuts, the DoughBoy Sandwich, pizza, cannolis, deep-fried spaghetti with meatballs, nachos made with three flavors of gelato, homemade stroopwafel chips, a homestyle pasta with pulled pork and barbeque sauce, apple fries, dragon fruit lemonade, elk sausage, rattlesnake sausage corn dogs, ghost pepper tater tots, ice cream sandwiches, watermelon pie, Frosted Flakes chicken on-a-stick, cheese curd tacos, waffle-wrapped snow ices, insect-laden bug pizza, bacon-wrapped caveman turkey legs, and, of course, funnel cakes.
For fans of the home-made, baking, candy and preserving competitions also abound.
More: 10 of the craziest Oklahoma State Fair foods
6. Two- and four-legged friends
Fairgoers have a number of livestock shows, agricultural demonstrations and hands-on learning experiences to choose from. Several livestock shows will take place from Sept. 14-26 in the fair’s expo halls and arenas. This year’s shows include cattle, swine, sheep and goats, among other animals. Added to this year’s livestock show repertoire are the Rodear stock dog and horse competitions Sept. 21 and 22.
The North American Peruvian Horse Association’s national show competitions will take place Sept. 24-26.
Whether you want to watch ranchers milk dairy cows, see sheep and goats climb obstacles or watch chickens hatch, the fair has you covered with the long-running Agtropolis. Also on display is a birthing center, where spectators can watch pigs and goats give birth — if they show up at the right time.
Agtropolis displays are open daily in the Oklahoma Expo Hall. Also, Four-H Club and National FFA Organization competitive projects will be housed in adjoining halls.