'Something almost magical about your local county fair.' Ohio season underway

More than 6 million people attended a county fair last summer in Ohio.

Fair officials expect that number to increase this year, with high fuel costs limiting travel options for individuals and families.

"If you go back in history, whenever we've had difficult period of time with high gas prices, people have stayed home. They have not traveled as far," said Howard Call, executive director of Ohio Fair Managers Association.

There are 94 county fairs in the state — plus, the Ohio State Fair — that take place over a five-month season. The season opened June 11 in Paulding County. The last fair takes place in Fairfield County in early October.

The state fair starts July 27.

"I grew up in 4-H and came through the Summit County Fair," Call said. "To me, (the fair) is a chance to allow our youth to exhibit their projects. And it gives people a chance to see agriculture."

2022 Fair: Stark County announces grandstand entertainment lineup

'What makes a fair special is the fair itself.'

For some, the county fair is nostalgia or simpler times. For others, it is a chance to reunite with the community and share an experience.

Look back in 2021: Traditional Carroll County Fair is back

"What makes a fair special is the fair itself — going, walking around, eating, playing games, watching the main state attraction, said blogger Leah Heffner.

Heffner and her husband, Matt, run the website Rooted in Ohio which creates guides and other content on the Buckeye state.

In February, they highlighted 24 fairs — mostly county fairs — that were must-sees this summer. The Carroll County Fair made their list. As did the Canfield Fair in Mahoning County — the largest county fair in Ohio and one of the largest in the nation. It drew 285,000 people in 2021.

"Each fair has its little quirks, its little hidden gems," Heffner said. "There's something almost magic about your local county fair."

Here's a look at county fairs in and near the Akron-Canton area (in chronological order):

Carroll County

When: July 18-24

Where: 160 Kensington Road NE, Carrollton

Highlights: Tractor pull, harness racing, motocross, ATV rodeo, pony pulls and demolition derby. Included in the admission.

Tickets: $10 single-day pass; $30 weekly pass (does not include rides)

Entertainment: Ashley Best and the Set 'Em Up Band

Website: https://www.carrollcountyfairohio.com/

Summit County

When: July 26-31

Where: 229 East Howe Road, Tallmadge

Highlights: Motocross, demolition derby, truck pulls and monster trucks. Extra fees for these grandstand events.

Tickets: $3 (ages 2-8), $3 (65 or older), $10 (ages 9-64). Presale online tickets until July 25 are $7. Discounts available.

Entertainment: Cloggers, square dance, magic shows and the Dominguez family (shown on America's Got Talent)

Website: https://www.summitfair.com/faireverything.html

Columbiana County

When: Aug. 1-7

Where: 225 Lee Ave., Lisbon

Highlights: Demolition derby, truck and tractor pulls, bull riding, mutton busting, horse pull and drag racing. Most grandstand events are free, but not all.

Tickets: $6 general admission Monday; $10 general admission Tuesday-Sunday. All children under 3 and military veterans in uniform are free.

Seniors (62 and older) and veterans with proper ID are free Tuesday. Free admission for rider on Bike Night.

Entertainment: The Real Country Music Band, Pure Gold Band, The Brent Berger Band. Ashley Best and Gospel Fest.

Website: https://www.columbianacountyfair.com/

Medina County

When: Aug. 1-7

Where: 720 West Smith Road, Medina

Highlights: Fireworks, demolition derby, bull riding, rough truck, motocross and autocross, farm and tractor pulls and draft horse and pony show. Some events cost extra.

Tickets: $3 for ages 2 and 11; $3 for 65 and older; and $7 for 12 and over. Children under 2 are free.

All-day wristbands for rides are $13 (kids day) and $18. Fun House attractions are extra. Discounts available.

Entertainment: Extreme Illusions and Escapes Show, Made in America Band, Farmer Travis Show, Karissa Ella Band, The Whiz Bang Science Show, Caliber Band, Jersey Beat Show Band and Legendz Band.

Website: https://www.medinaohiofair.com/

Holmes County

When: Aug. 8-13

Where: 8880 State Route 39, Millersburg

Highlights: Full rodeo, drag racing, motocross, truck and tractor pull, demolition derby and bulls and barrels rodeo.

Tickets: $6 general admission; children 10 and under are free. Senior citizens are $5 for ages 65 and older. Early bird and other discounts available.

Rides are priced separately.

Entertainment: The Whiz Bang Science Show, Hiland Marching Band, New Pointe Worship Band, Blackout and Dirty Deeds (AC/DC tribute band).

Website: https://www.harvestridgeohio.com/holmes-county-fair/

Portage County

When: Aug. 23-28

Where: 4215 Fairground Road, Atwater

Highlights: Demolition derby, truck and tractor pulls and rough truck events. Extra costs.

Tickets: $8 general admission, children under 10 are free. Senior citizens (60 and older) are free. Season pass and discounts available.

Entertainment: Southern Cross Band, American Steal Band, Flat Earth Rambler, cloggers, COSI Science Show, Granpa Cratchet, and Swifty the Clown.

Website: https://randolphfair.com/

Stark County

When: Aug. 30 to Sept. 5

Where: 305 Wertz Ave. NW, Canton

Highlights: Tractor and truck pulls and demolition derby; cost extra.

Tickets: $7 general admission; kids under 3 are free. Single ride tickets are $1.50.

Entertainment: Country music singer Chris Lane and comedian Trey Kennedy

Website: https://starkcountyfair.com/

Canfield Fair, Mahoning County

When: Aug. 31 to Sept. 5

Where: 7265 Columbiana-Canfield Road, Canfield

Highlights: Full rodeo, drag racing, motocross, truck and tractor pull, demolition derby and bulls and barrels rodeo.

Tickets: $3 to $10 general admission based on age and fair day; children 6 and under always are free. Passes are $20 for three days to $40 for six days.

Entertainment: Sam Hunt, John Fogerty, Ryan Hurd, Lily Rose and Hearty Har. Buy tickets on Ticketmaster.

Website: https://www.canfieldfair.com/

Wayne County

When: Sept. 10-15

Where: 199 Vanover St., Wooster

Highlights: Tractor pulls, Buckeye rodeo and demolition derby. All events cost extra.

Tickets: $4 general admission; $20 for season tickets. Children 6 and under are free. Does not include ride prices.

Entertainment: County musicians Lonestar, Zach Williams and Sara Evans. Tickets go on sale June 25.

Website: https://waynecountyfairohio.com/

Tuscarawas County

When: Sept. 19-25

Where: 259 S. Tuscarawas Ave., Dover

Highlights: Demolition derby, rodeo, tractor pulls and Ohio Mod Rods. All grandstand events, except Mod Rods, are $10 plus a service fee.

Tickets: $5 general admission; ride tickets and passes sold separately.

Entertainment: Band-O-Rama — local high school bands; no extra charge. More entertainment in the works, but no announcement.

Website: https://www.tusccountyfairgrounds.com/fair-information-2022.html

Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com

Follow on Twitter @bduerREP

When is your county fair?

The following is a complete list of all county fairs in Ohio for 2022: 

JUNE

• Paulding County - June 11 to 18

• Pickaway County - June 18 to 25

• Putnam County - June 20 to 25

• Harrison County - June 20 to 25

JULY

• Marion County - July 4 to 9

• Clinton County - July 9 to 16

• Lawrence County - July 9 to 16

• Madison County - July 9 to 16

• Adams County - July 10 to 16

• Logan County - July 10 to 16

• Montgomery County - July 10 to 16

• Lucas County - July 11 to 17

• Trumbull County - July 12 to 17

• Jackson County - July 18 to 24

• Franklin County - July 18 to 23

• Crawford County - July 18 to 23

• Fayette County - July 18 to 23

• Perry County - July 18 to 23

• Warren County - July 18 to 23

• Ottawa County - July 18 to 24

• Carroll County - July 18 to 24

• Clark County - July 22 to 29

• Knox County - July 24 to 30

• Union County - July 24 to 30

• Butler County - July 24 to 30

• Clermont County - July 24 to 30

• Shelby County - July 24 to 30

• Vinton County - July 24 to 30

• Seneca County - July 25 to 31

• Lake County - July 26 to 31

• Summit County - July 26 to 31

JULY INTO AUGUST

• Ohio State Fair - July 27 to Aug. 7

• Pike County - July 29 to Aug. 6

• Preble County - July 30 to Aug. 6

• Auglaize County - July 31 to Aug. 6

• Greene County - July 31 to Aug. 6

AUGUST

• Gallia County - Aug. 1 to 6

• Columbiana County - Aug. 1 to 7

• Medina County - Aug. 1 to 7

• Wood County - Aug. 1 to 8

• Champaign County - Aug. 5 to 12

• Athens County - Aug. 5 to 13

• Ross County - Aug. 6 to 13

• Licking County (Hartford) - Aug. 7 to 13

• Richland County - Aug. 7 to 13

• Holmes County - Aug. 8 to 13

• Scioto County - Aug. 8 to 13

• Seneca County (Attica) - Aug. 9 to 13

• Cuyahoga County - Aug. 9 to 14

• Erie County - Aug. 9 to 14

• Ashtabula County - Aug. 9 to 14

• Hamilton County - Aug. 11 to 14

• Henry County - Aug. 11 to 18

• Mercer County - Aug. 12 to 18

• Miami County - Aug. 12 to 18

• Muskingum County - Aug. 14 to 20

• Jefferson County - Aug. 14 to 21

• Meigs County - Aug. 15 to 20

• Huron County - Aug. 15 to 20

• Allen County - Aug.. 19 to 27

• Darke County - Aug. 19 to 27

• Defiance County - Aug. 20 to 27

• Lorain County - Aug. 21 to 28

• Monroe County - Aug. 22 to 27

• Portage County - Aug. 23 to 28

• Sandusky County - Aug. 22 to 28

AUGUST INTO SEPTEMBER

• Noble County - Aug. 29 to Sept. 3

• Morrow County - Aug. 29 to Sept. 5

• Stark County - Aug. 30 to Sept. 5

• Van Wert County - Aug. 30 to Sept. 5

• Hancock County - Aug. 31 to Sept. 5

• Canfield Fair, Mahoning County - Aug. 31 to Sept. 5

• Richwood Independent, Union County - Aug. 31 to Sept. 5

• Geauga County - Aug. 31 to Sept. 5

SEPTEMBER

• Washington County - Sept. 3 to 6

• Fulton County - Sept. 2 to 8

• Highland County - Sept. 4 to 10

• Morgan County - Sept. 6 to 10

• Belmont County - Sept. 5 to 11

• Hardin County - Sept. 5 to 11

• Albany Independent, Athens County - Sept. 7 to 11

• Wayne County - Sept. 10 to 15

• Williams County - Sept. 10 to 15

• Hocking County - Sept. 12 to 18

• Guernsey County - Sept. 12 to 18

• Wyandot County - Sept. 12 to 17

• Bellville Independent, Richland County - Sept. 14 to 17

• Delaware County - Sept. 17 to 24

• Ashland County - Sept. 18 to 24

• Tuscarawas County - Sept. 19 to 25

• Barlow Independent, Washington County - Sept. 22 to 25

SEPTEMBER INTO OCTOBER

• Brown County - Sept. 26 to Oct. 1

• Coshocton County - Sept. 30 to Oct. 6

OCTOBER

• Loudonville Independent, Ashland County - Oct. 4 to 8

• Fairfield County - Oct. 9 to 15

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Ohio boasts 94 county fairs, along with the Ohio State Fair