The Ohio Expo Center is a multi-purpose convention and meeting facility offers more than 25 buildings, parking for 14,000 cars, park areas, full service catering, decorating, event coordination and sound and light capabilities. Including the great Ohio State Fair, the Ohio Expo Center is home to more than 200 events and nearly three million visitors annually.
Located within a half-day drive of half the nation’s population, just north of downtown, minutes from Port Columbus International Airport, shopping and hotels, the Ohio Expo Center is perfectly accommodating for any type and size event.
The Ohio State Fair is for all Ohioans and guests! Our great partnerships with organizations like Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities help us improve accessibility at the Fair year after year. Check out this incredible video produced by the OOD team. ⬇️
This summer, the Ohio State Fair set a new standard for accessibility! We partnered to enhance the experience of everyone through our mobile unit, auditory descriptions, and more sign language interpretation than ever before. Our goal was to ensure that every person enjoyed the Fair to the fullest as they passed through the gates! 🎉
#OhioTheHeartOfItAll#OSF24#OhioStateFairOhio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds
Fall is officially underway, and we are reminiscing on Fair days. The 2024 Ohio State Fair was a great success. We’re grateful for the wonderful staff, volunteers, contractors, sponsors, partners, and, of course, fairgoers who made this Fair so memorable!
Metrics from the Ohio State Fair include:
• More than $8.3 million in total vendor concession gross sales across the fairgrounds.
• More than $3.2 million in total Midway (ride and game) revenue.
33,943 free admission tickets distributed to community and charitable organizations and partners serving those who otherwise would not be able to attend the Ohio State Fair.
• Free Ohio State Fair admission offered to all libraries across the State of Ohio for any youth who participate the State Library of Ohio Summer Reading Program.
• Exhibitors/participants from all 88 counties.
• Tickets purchased by visitors from all 48 contiguous states and Hawaii, as well as Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Brazil, Japan, Korea, and Puerto Rico, according to Ticketmaster data sales.
• 45,151 concert tickets sold to paid shows in the WCOL Celeste Center.
• 346 total vendors with indoor and outdoor locations at the Ohio State Fair. Approximately 59% of all Fair vendors are Ohio vendors.
• $25,500 awarded in scholarships to Ohio youth.
• More than $260,000 in sales at the Sale of Champions from generous buyers, $134,500 of which goes to the Virgil L. Strickler Youth Reserve Program to award thousands of Ohio State Fair youth exhibitors.
• 152 free shows or events with ASL interpretation, as well as ASL interpretation at all paid shows in the WCOL Celeste Center. ASL interpretation is provided in partnership with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities.
Check out these Fair highlights ⬇️
What an incredible butter cow unveiling at the Ohio State Fair today with the American Dairy Association Mideast! 🧈
Pictured left to right: Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture Brian Baldridge, President & CEO of the American Dairy Association Mideast Scott Higgins, and Ohio Expo Center & State Fair Executive Director Adam Heffron.
Last week, staff members at the Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds gathered to host our first spring clean up across the grounds. Our staff did a wonderful job planning and executing this event (and the cookout that followed)! ☀️🌷
Governor Mike DeWine, Ohio Expositions Commission members, and many others broke ground on two buildings to revitalize the fairgrounds in the heart of Columbus, the Ohio Showcase Building and the new agriculture building.
Special thanks to all involved consultants and partners in the Expo 2050 project. We are so excited for what the future holds!
WellogyOhio Facilities Construction CommissionPopulousTurner Construction CompanyHill International, Inc.
EDGE
Korda
3C Industries, Inc.
Bennett Engineering, Inc.
BCL
Roto
Congratulations to our Assistant Rental Director, Rachael Lough, IFMG, on her outstanding accomplishment of becoming an International Association of Fairs and Expositions Certified Fair Executive (CFE)!
What is an IAFE CFE? The purposes of the certification program is to provide incentive for professional improvement in fair management and to recognize those who achieve the specific standards, as well as to develop professional status in the field of fair management. Certification also honors those members who have demonstrated their abilities through years of service to their fairs, fair associations, communities, and the IAFE.
In order to achieve this accomplishment, Rachael graduated from the IAFE Institute of Fair Management, participated and contributed to countless IAFE activities, exemplified management and leadership skills, demonstrated significant community leadership and participation in activities outside of the fair, and more.
We're very fortunate to have people like Rachael on our team here at the Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds.
Looking for a seasonal position? We'll be hiring for quite a few positions moving forward, and are looking for a summer Customer Service Representative NOW!
📞 Customer Service Representative needed! Have summers off and looking for a job to keep you busy? We’re hiring for someone to help prior to, and during, the Ohio State Fair. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g7WkTVfc
📅 Mark your calendar! We’re hiring for Fair-only positions including ticket sellers, ticket takers, shuttle conductors, and so much more. Applications open on June 3 at https://lnkd.in/gTdfxwX9
