July 29, 2025 |

Every summer, Ohio throws a party so big it takes 360 acres to hold it—and this year, we weren’t about to miss it. We packed up the car, grabbed some sunscreen, and took our 8-year-old granddaughter to the Ohio State Fair in Columbus. Let’s just say: she came for the snacks and stayed for the all-day ride wristband. Honestly, she was living her best fair life.

This isn’t just a fair—it’s a full-blown Ohio tradition. A glorious, chaotic mashup of fried food, farm animals, neon lights, and enough whirling rides to make your stomach question your decisions. And that’s exactly why we love it.

Let’s Talk About the Butter Cow

The famous Butter Cow and Calf—because nothing says “Ohio summer” like life-sized dairy sculptures. A tradition since 1903, this refrigerated masterpiece has evolved from just a cow and calf to full-blown buttery tributes. This year? A salute to our unofficial state symbol: the orange construction barrel. Because in Ohio, we only have two seasons—winter and construction.

It’s weird. It’s wonderful. It’s proudly Ohio.

Pro tip: It’s inside the Dairy Products Building. Bonus—air conditioning! They usually Sell ice cream cones but this year due to construction, they were only selling little pre Scooped cups.

Bring Your Appetite (Seriously)

Fair food isn’t just food—it’s a commitment. We set out to sample the best of the best, and let’s just say… stretchy pants would’ve been a good call.

Here was some of the culinary offerings:

Deep-Fried Buckeyes– Chocolate and peanut butter, straight from the fryer. A sweet, melty tribute to Ohio pride. Donut Burger – A beef patty hugged by two glazed donuts. Equal parts wrong and oh-so-right. Roasted Corn on the Cob – Charred to perfection and slathered in butter like it owed us money. Fried Cheese on a Stick – Because what’s life without deep-fried dairy on a stick? Lemon Shake-Up – Cold, tart, and refreshing enough to revive you after a lap around the livestock barns. Velvet Ice Cream – Locally made, and practically a rite of passage.

But the new stuff this year really raised the (deep-fried) bar:

Deep-Fried Tacos, Ghost Pepper Fudge (your choice of chocolate or vanilla… and instant regret) Jalapeño Corn Dogs, Strawberry Kettle Corn (because why not make popcorn weirdly romantic?)

We opted for the Taste of Ohio venue, where local farmers sale locally sourced meats such as Pork, Chicken, Beef, and even dairy.

🎡 Don’t Miss These Fair Staples

Here’s what else made our day one to remember:

🎶 Free Concerts & Live Music – Nothing says summer like live music drifting through the fairgrounds while you’re holding a corn dog in one hand and dancing badly with the other.

🎠 The Giant Slide – you grab burlap sacks and go for it. The slide has multiple lanes so, you can race your friends or family. And see has bragging rights for the fastest Fair slider! (If that is even a thing!)

🐖 Livestock Barns – Horses, llamas, goats… and pigs racing like they’re in the Indy 500. Plus, we may or may not have seen a baby cow or two. Fair magic.

🚜 Natural Resources Park – A peaceful pause in all the chaos. They offer kayaks to paddle around a small pond. Or a place where you can try out your fishing skills. And even a Giant Smokey the bear that talks to you!

🎢 The Midway – Where lights flash, music blares, and your granddaughter insists on riding every spinning, swinging, flipping ride back-to-back with zero fear. Me? I’ll take a good bench and a funnel cake sitting in the shade.

🎟️ Plan Your Visit

The Ohio State Fair runs late July through early August at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus. If you’re planning to go, check out dates, tickets, and food maps here:

👉 Visit the official Ohio State Fair website

Final Thoughts

We came for the food, the fun, and the butter cow—but what we really took home were the memories. Watching our granddaughter’s face light up after every ride, every snack, every silly moment—that’s the kind of magic that sticks with you long after the powdered sugar’s wiped off your shirt.

The fair is a place to eat, laugh, ride too many rides, and maybe pet a goat—but for me, it’s also a reminder that these little slices of joy… these sticky, loud, sugary-sweet moments… are what make life worth savoring.

Take the Trip. You won’t regret it.