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Ohioans can carry guns at first full Ohio State Fair in 3 years

By Karen Kasler

Published July 18, 2022 at 8:39 PM EDT

Ohio State Fair in Columbus in 2017. [Eric Glenn / Shutterstock] — All-Ohio State Fair marching band

Next Wednesday, the Ohio State Fair in Columbus will be open for visitors for the first time since 2019. COVID canceled the 2020 fair, and last year’s was for livestock exhibitors only.

This year along with those shows, the concerts, the rides, the food and the Butter Cow, there’s a change that will allow weapons on the fairgrounds.

As of last month Ohio law allows people to be armed without a permit. Ohio State Fair Assistant General Manager Alicia Shoults said that means gun owners can both carry concealed weapons and openly carry at the fair.

“All patrons must continue to pass through those metal detectors you mentioned upon entry to the Ohio State Fair. And the current procedures at the fair are in compliance with state law," Shoults said. "So fairgoers carrying a firearm, concealed or open, are permitted to enter only the outdoor portions of the Ohio Expo Center and State Fair only."

Shoults added, "If anyone carrying a firearm would like to enter a building, they'll be given the opportunity to return the firearm to his or her vehicle and then return to the fair with a handstamp. And all of the buildings have signs posted prohibiting the carrying of a weapon, concealed or open."

The Ohio Highway Patrol will provide security for the fair as always, and Shoults said this time there will be increased security measures.

More than 934,000 people came to the last full fair in 2019.

As for other changes to the Fair, Shoults said "it's been kind of nice, actually, to have a positive opportunity to reimagine some different areas and make sure that we're doing things the best we possibly can." She noted many sporting events have been moved from the non-air conditioned Buckeye Building to Kasich Hall, which is air conditioned and more centrally located.

The Ohio State Fair starts on July 27 and runs through August 7. Admission is $10, with $8 discounted advanced sale tickets only available through July 26. Free parking is available in the lots north of the Cardinal Gate on the north side of the fairgrounds.