Ohio State Fair opens with new showcase building in Columbus

Governor Mike DeWine, First Lady Fran DeWine, Lieutenant Governor Jim Tressel and fair executive director Adam Heffron officially opened the 171st Ohio State Fair at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus. The ceremony marked the completion of a multi‑year construction program that added the new Ohio Showcase Building, a Children’s Carousel, a new amphitheater, a misting area and extensive renovations to existing facilities.

The Showcase Building houses the "Shaping Ohio" exhibit, featuring a 360‑degree film, interactive displays, a life‑size replica of the 1905 Wright Flyer III and a Food Hall with six Ohio‑based restaurants. Officials highlighted the fair’s role in celebrating the state’s agriculture, history and innovation.