OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) – The Oklahoma State Fair is returning to Oklahoma City to once again make a big economic impact, bringing with it dazzling lights, lightning fast rides, outrageously delicious fair food and something new – Oktoberfest.
The State Fair will come alive at the Oklahoma City Fairgrounds on Thursday, Sept. 12, and run through Sunday, Sept. 22.
This year’s fair will feature Oktoberfest, a traditional celebration that includes German beer, wine and live music. The new attraction will be presented 6–10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, through Sunday, Sept. 15, and 6–10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, through Sunday, Sept. 22. The State Fair website has a full Oktoberfest schedule that includes all the musical groups who will perform.
Kirk Slaughter, president and CEO of the Oklahoma State Fair, said the State Fair sets out to give fairgoers something new and exciting each year.
“We want to see if we can create some new wrinkles for it here and there, and I think that’s where Oktoberfest came from,” Slaughter said.
Oktoberfest was previously held annually in Choctaw, but is debuting in Oklahoma City at the State Fair.
“With one in six Oklahomans being of German heritage, the Oklahoma State Fair, along with Mike and Sammie Turek (of Old Germany Restaurant fame), is bringing that authentic German festival atmosphere right here to Oklahoma City,” the State Fair website says.
Oktoberfest will become its own standalone event at the fairgrounds in 2025, presented Oct. 9–11 of that year.
The State Fair will have plenty of other new attractions this year, including: the Urban Homesteading Expo for folks who are curious or passionate about homesteading; a Bison Experience that offers a chance to see Oklahoma’s majestic state mammal up close; and Wine & Palette for individuals who want to tap into their inner-artist.
And, of course, the fair will have its traditional wide assortment of thrilling rides, games, and tasty treats like funnel cakes, giant corndogs and humongous turkey legs, as well as a wide variety of other attractions previously offered at the fair.
The fair’s combination of classic wonders and new events is big business for Oklahoma City, bringing in droves of folks from across Central Oklahoma and even further out. And, of course, the livestock competition is always a big hit.
The Oklahoma State Fair is part of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE). Slaughter said the IAFE estimates that the Oklahoma State Fair has a $100-million direct spending impact.
The fair gives local businesses the opportunity to show a massive number of people what makes them special by being a presence at the fair as either a booth or a display.
“There’s always this comment about, ‘Oh, my business always suffers during the fair,’ and our immediate return to that is, ‘Well, if you can’t beat them, join them.’ If you have a business, come on out and take advantage of the fact that we’re going to put 900,000 people in front of you in 11 days,” Slaughter said.
Numerous businesses have benefited from being part of the fair, Slaughter said.
“Tractor Bob’s joined us and they apparently had a really good year out here selling UTVs and tractor packages and things of that type,” he said. “So, I continue to hear good news from those folks that come out here and put on a booth.”
This year will be the third year that the Oklahoma City-based Tractor Bob’s will have a booth at the fair.
“I think we’re definitely able to reach a different clientele that we would not have been able to reach through our other advertising platforms, like radio and social media, by being part of the Oklahoma State Fair,” said Naomi Malts, an administrator for Tractor Bob’s.
Tractor Bob’s has an agriculture-heavy clientele, which makes the State Fair an ideal advertising venue, according to Malts.
“They promote all sorts of agriculture through their animal shows, and their audience is very much our client base,” she said. “So, we’re right in the middle of our client base, and that’s great for us. It’s like a big giant shopping mall for all types of things, and our clients are spending a lot of time there, especially the ones who are participating in competitions.”
The fair offers local businesses the opportunity to gain massive exposure, according to Slaughter.
“A lot of it’s bringing local community together here to find all the shopping opportunities, but also we have people coming in from outside the city,” Slaughter said.
Though the Oklahoma State Fair continues to grow with big new attractions like Oktoberfest, the folks behind the scenes will not be resting on their laurels in the coming years.
“What we’re trying to do is look at ways we can bring in new events, new experiences,” Slaughter said. “We’ve got some ideas for next year’s fair. We go out to look at some other fairs to see what they do and try to incorporate those in.”
