Easily one of TNE best beer festivals in the area. My particular group of friends have now gone to…read morethis fest for 10 years straight. A TON of amazing beers every year, from the slightly pedestrian to the most obscure (even more so if you choose to take the connoisseur level). We typically get early entry and enjoy every minute until they kick everyone out. In addition to all those beers (the reason to go), they also have several food trucks/booths, silent disco, tricycle racing (MUST do), inflatable horse racing (new this year), virtual reality, and even live music. Location is great in the heart of Cinci, so multiple lodging options within stumbling distance. If you haven't been already.....GO!! You'll be glad you did!!

its trash, boring, and this year i was offer free tix, and would go. at this point, you couldn't…read morepay me. Weak shitty promoters that exploited the beer wave and didnt do anything different than over chargue from your local bar.

Cows, Corn Dogs & Carnival Rides: Ohio State Fair Bound!…read moreJuly 29, 2025 Uncategorized July 29, 2025 | Uncategorized 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 First stop? 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! 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's what was on our culinary battlefield: Deep-Fried Buckeye - 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 nibbled, crunched, licked, and munched until we were full, happy, and debating whether to risk the Tilt-A-Whirl. (Spoiler: I sat that one out. Somebody had to hold the fudge.) 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 - We grabbed burlap sacks and went for it. She beat me to the bottom. Twice. I demand a rematch. 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 being born. Fair magic. Natural Resources Park - A peaceful pause in all the chaos. She got to kayak. I got to sit in the shade and not be spinning for once. Win-win. 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. 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.

Fun day at the fair! If you haven't been in awhile I highly recommend attending. A lot of once in a…read morewhile kind of food, sites to see, and rides to ride.

5 stars specifically for the demo derby. The rest of the fair is a bit sad, but the demo derby was…read moreaction packed a new pretty well run. If you have never seen a demo derby in person, check it out!

I love a demo derby, so the fair is worth the admission just for that spectacle. Otherwise, our…read morelocal fair is a little sad. This year the rides didn't pass the permitting process, so those were closed. Bummer. There was a new craft beer garden, so that's a plus. Minus one star because the bathrooms were beyond awful. Half of the stalls were out of order, and I won't even detail the condition of the rest of the bathroom. Let's just say I saw things that I'll never be able to get out of my head. Ew. Go for the demo derby, use the bathroom before you leave home!

This is one of the last county fairs my family attends for the fair season. It is fun to walk…read morearound and see the animals, get some fair food, and maybe if your lucky bet on some ponies. Thursday is Jug Day! It is a well known sulky race held right here in Ohio! I love the fair!

I've loved going to small town fairs since I was a kid. And I enjoy the delaware county fair for…read moreits simplicity, free music concerts and free grandstand events. It's only 30 minutes from Columbus so a doable drive. Admission is only $6 which includes parking. I go on the first night. Everything seems much cleaner the first day. The smells of all the fair vendors, sounds and sights are just fun to take in.