Starting this year, the Ohio State Fair will be implementing a new safety protocol. According to the protocol, visitors who are under 18 years old will not be allowed entry after 6 p.m., unless they are accompanied by an adult chaperone.
Fair officials prioritize safety as tens of thousands, or even over a million people, are expected to visit the fairgrounds from July 24 to Aug. 4. They work closely with the Ohio State Highway Patrol to evaluate and execute new safety measures.
If you’re wondering when the Ohio State Fair is, look no further. The fair is held annually, but the exact dates change slightly from year to year. As for the famous butter cow display, you can expect to see it at the fair as well. Don’t miss out on this unique attraction!
According to Alicia Shoults, assistant general manager for the Ohio Expo Center & State Fair, they consistently assess their protocols to conform with the best practices in the industry and suggest modifications based on data and trends. She added that other events, amusement parks, and malls have implemented comparable procedures.
Minors are now required to be accompanied by a responsible adult aged 21 or older when entering the fairgrounds after the designated time, as per the new policy. This responsible adult could be a parent, relative, legal guardian, or any other competent adult. Unsolicited youths will not be allowed to enter and will be either asked to leave or return with a chaperone.
Fairgoers, regardless of age, may be asked to present a valid government-issued ID to verify their age. Additionally, chaperones are limited to accompanying no more than six patrons per day.
Starting today, the fair’s new rule will be enforced on a daily basis. It applies to all attendees, irrespective of how they entered the premises, such as using a pre-purchased ticket or re-entering with a hand stamp from earlier in the day.
According to Shoults, unaccompanied minors causing trouble and misbehaving is a matter of concern in several venues and events, including the Ohio State Fair.
She emphasized that enhancing the overall safety of the event is directly proportional to minimizing the chances of any hazardous practices.
If you’re under 18 but have a valid concert ticket, you’re in luck. You’ll be allowed to enter the fair and attend the concert without an adult, but only after 6 p.m. However, after the show is over, you’ll need to leave the fair “in a timely manner” unless you’re with a chaperone.
If young individuals have valid credentials and are caring for animals or working at the fair, they are exempt from the curfew.
According to Shoults, the new policy is not expected to receive a lot of resistance from the public.
While this procedure may be new to the Ohio State Fair, it is not unfamiliar to many of our visitors. In fact, numerous fairgoers have already encountered similar curfews or chaperone policies at other events.
She mentioned that the consumer feedback and safety at this year’s Ohio State Fair would be closely evaluated.
The fair has additional safety measures in place, which include but are not limited to:
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- Magnetometers: Visitors are screened by metal detectors upon entry.
- Bag searches: Purses, backpacks, book bags, coolers, strollers, etc., are allowed, but are subject to search.
- Concert screening: All guests entering the WCOL Celeste Center for concerts must undergo an additional weapons-detection screening and are subject to additional screening and bag searches before entry.
You cannot bring several items onto the fairgrounds, including weapons like knives, chains, bats, and sticks. Illegal substances and alcoholic beverages are also prohibited. Two-wheeled vehicles like bicycles, Segways, hoverboards, skateboards, roller blades, roller skates, mopeds, and motorcycles are not allowed. Drones or unmanned aircraft systems, laser pointers, selfie sticks, and glass bottles and containers are also on the list of prohibited items.
Highway patrol requires individuals to either return prohibited items to their vehicle, dispose of them, or surrender them to the authority.
Furthermore, visitors who are in possession of firearms, regardless of whether they are carrying them openly or concealed, are restricted to accessing only the outdoor areas of the Ohio Expo Center & State Fair. In the event that an individual carrying a firearm desires to enter a building, they are required to return the firearm to their vehicle before receiving an admission hand stamp to reenter the fair.
