It’s County Fair season, everybody!
Of course, most people have had the pleasure of visiting the Ohio State Fair at least once in their lifetime. But have you had the joy of wandering around a good, old-fashioned County Fair?
Heading out to the fairgrounds is a great way to hear live music, eat food, and people watch. If you’re anxious to fill your belly with carnival food ASAP, here are some county fairs near central Ohio that you won’t want to miss.
July 18-24 | Franklin County Fair
Details: Daily admission to the Franklin County Fair is $10. Children 2 and under are free. Individual tickets for rides are $1, or you can purchase a wristband for $15-$20, depending on the date.
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 14 miles
Where: Franklin County Fairgrounds, 4100 Columbia St, Hilliard, OH 43026
July 18-23 | Fayette County Fair
Details: General admission, which includes the grandstand attractions, is $8. Kids 2-years-old and under get in free.
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 50 miles
Where: Fayette County Fairgrounds, 213 Fairview Ave, Washington Court House, OH 43160
July 18-23 | Perry County Fair
Details: Daily tickets cost $10, and kids under 4-years-old are free. In order to ride the rides you’ve got to have a ride pass, which costs $7.
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 55 miles
Where: Perry County Fairgrounds, 5445 OH-37, New Lexington, OH 43764
July 22-29 | Clark County Fair
Details: Kids under 5 are free, general admission goes for $6. Ride wristbands are available for $18/adults and $14/kids.
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 42 miles
Where: Clark County Fairgrounds, 4401 S Charleston Pike, Springfield, OH 45505
July 24-30 | Knox County Fair
Details: General admission tickets are $8 and kids 8 and under are free. Single tickets are $1 each. You can purchase a 12 pack for $10, or wristbands for unlimited rides starting at $15.
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 55 miles
Where: Knox County Fairgrounds, 601 Fairgrounds Rd, Mt Vernon, OH 43050
July 24-30 | Union County Fair
Details: Admission is $6 per person, unless you’re 5-years-old and under or 80-years-old and over. In that case, you get in free of charge. Rides are available for an additional cost.
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 34 miles
Where: Union County Fairgrounds, 845 N Main St, Marysville, OH 43040
July 31-August 6 | Greene County Fair
Details: Daily admission for guests 10-years-old and up costs $8. Wristband pricing for rides will be released shortly before the fair, but you can also pay per ride.
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 64 miles
Where: Green County Fairgrounds, 120 Fairground Rd, Xenia, OH 45385
August 5-12 | Champaign County Fair
Details: Daily admission to the fair is $8, which includes rides. Most Grandstand events are also included in admission, including the rodeo.
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 46 miles
Where: Champaign County Fairgrounds, 384 Park Ave, Urbana, OH 43078
August 7-13 | The Hartford Fair
Details: The general admission prices are $8 for adults and free for kids 8 and under. Admission doesn’t include the cost of rides, but seats at the Grandstand are free.
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 34 miles
Where: Hartford Fair, 14028 Fairgrounds Rd, Hartford, OH 43013
August 6-13 | Ross County Fair
Details: $5 a ticket for those ages 7 and up. Ages 6 and under are free. Some Grandstand events are free to attend, but rides will cost an additional fee.
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 42 miles
Where: Ross County Fairgrounds, 344 Fairgrounds Rd, Chillicothe, OH 45601
August 14-20 | Muskingum County Fair
Details: General admission is just $8, but little ones 10 and under are free. Wristbands for unlimited rides are $15.
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 56 miles
Where: Muskingum County Fairgrounds, 1300 Pershing Rd, Zanesville, OH 43701
August 29-September 5 | Morrow County Fair
Details: Daily gate admission for 6-year-olds and up is $7. Prices for ride tickets and wristbands haven’t announced yet, but Grandstand events are included in general admission.
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 46 miles
Where: Morrow County Fairgrounds, 195 S Main St, Mt Gilead, OH 43338
September 6-11 | Hardin County Fair
Details: Tickets are $10 per per person 9-years-old and up. Free admission for people under the age of 8, with special discount days for Veterans and Seniors. Grandstand events and rides are not included in general admission.
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 67 miles
Where: Hardin County Fairgrounds, 14134 Fairground Rd #140, Kenton, OH 43326
September 12-18 | Hocking County Fair
Details: Admission is $7 and all rides are included in that price. The fair features many Jr. Fair Livestock Shows, Demolition Derby, Moto-Cross, Tractor & Truck Pull, Garden Tractor Pull, ToughTruck, Mud Bog and Auto-Cross.
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 51 miles
Where: Hocking County Fairgrounds, Logan, OH 43138
September 15-22 | Delaware County Fair
Details: Daily admission is $8 and children 8 and under are free. Rides aren’t included in that price, but you can buy individual tickets for $1.50 or an all day wristband for $15.
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 30 miles
Where: The Delaware County Fairgrounds, 236 Pennsylvania Ave, Delaware, OH 43015
October 9-15 | Fairfield County Fair
Details: Anyone 10-years-old and over gets in for $7. Kids 9 and under get in free of charge and ride tickets are available for $1.25 each (all ages).
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 30 miles
Where: Fairfield County Agricultural, 157 E Fair Ave, Lancaster, OH 43130