Updated: July 7, 2026
The Ohio State Fair is one of the biggest events of the summer. The 2026 edition of the fair runs July 29 through August 9. But if you’re living on a budget, or you’ve just got a large family, it can get a little pricey.
Once you’re in the gate, it’s actually pretty easy to find free fun. Your admission ticket includes countless free activities and attractions, including the famed butter cow and calf, Smokey Bear, a petting zoo, an arts gallery, and fishing at the 8-acre natural resources park.
There are also free entertainment stages featuring live music, amazing hypnotists, impressive magicians, and wholesome family-friendly shows.
If you’re looking to save some cash this year, there are tons of ways to cut the costs of attending the fair. Kids five and under always get in free, and there’s a discount or free-admission deal on nearly every day of the run, so you can put all your extra money towards some deep-fried Buckeyes and funnel cake!
Admission Prices
- Adults (ages 13-59) – $13 at the gate
- Youth (ages 6-12) – $10
- Senior (ages 60+) – $10
- Children five and under – Free
- Veterans, military, and first responders (with appropriate ID) – Free, any day of the fair
- Parking – $10
- Advance sale (through July 28) – single-day $9, three-day $24, all 12 days $84
Ride Prices
- $38 at the gate – Ride-All-Day Wristband ($33 in advance through July 28)
- Individual ride tickets – you can buy digital ride tickets on site at Magic Money kiosks, and every ride takes three or more tickets. If you plan to ride much at all, the all-day wristband is the better deal.
Discount Days, Day By Day
The fair packs a discount or free-admission deal into nearly every day of the run. Here’s the full 2026 lineup, in order.
Wednesday, July 29: Opening Day $2 Rides
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on opening day only, look for the $2 ride signs at participating kids’ attractions, plus the SkyGlider and the brand-new Ohio Children’s Carousel. Grab ride credits at any Magic Money kiosk. (The SkyGlider and Carousel sell tickets separately at their own booths.)
Thursday, July 30 & Thursday, August 6: $3 Thursday
On both Thursdays of the fair, every vendor offers a smaller-size menu item for just $3. It’s the perfect excuse to try more fair food without emptying your wallet. Check ohiostatefair.com/3-thursday for the full list of $3 items.
Sunday, August 2: Veterans & Military Day
Veterans, active military, and first responders get in free with ID. That’s actually true every single day of the fair, not just on this honorary day, but August 2 is when they’re formally celebrated.
Monday, August 3: NBC4 Family Discount Day
Adults pay the kids’ price of $10, kids 12 and under get in free all day, and discounted ride wristbands are available until 5 p.m.
Tuesday, August 4: Senior Day
Heads up if you’ve done Senior Day before: there’s no more free senior gate admission. Seniors 60+ pay the usual $10 senior price, the same as any other day. What you do get is the Ohio Department of Aging’s free Healthy Aging Expo at Kasich Hall, with health screenings and wellness demos, plus a free 1 p.m. concert in the WCOL Celeste Center from Journey from the Heart, a Journey and Heart tribute band. No ticket needed, and it’s open to everyone, not just seniors.
Thursday, August 6: College Student Day
Students at any college or post-secondary career or technical school get discounted $10 admission by showing their student ID at the gates. It’s also the second $3 Thursday, so plan your fair-food budget accordingly.
Friday, August 7: Telhio and Ronald McDonald House Charities Day
Bring one of these “wish list” items to a booth outside the gates and you’ll get a voucher good for buy-one-get-one-free admission before 6 p.m.: canned chicken, tuna, or vegetables; pasta; salad dressing (ranch, Italian, French, or balsamic); barbecue sauce; paper towels; resealable plastic baggies; aerosol disinfectant spray; or disinfectant wipes. All donations support families at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio.
Saturday, August 8: Donate Life Ohio Day
Learn about the importance of organ, eye, and tissue donation, and register your decision with the Ohio Donor Registry. Stop by the Donate Life Ohio booth to say “yes!” to saving lives and get the scoop on how you can make a difference.
More Ways To Save
Kroger and advance-ticket deals
Buying ahead beats paying at the gate: advance-sale admission is $9 (through July 28) versus $13 at the gate, and advance ride-all-day wristbands are $33 versus $38, a real difference for a family. Advance admission tickets are on Ticketmaster and advance wristbands are online through Magic Money. If you’d rather grab them in person, check whether your local Ohio Kroger service desk is carrying fair tickets this year, as they have in past summers. Both online deals end July 28.
