Three beloved Oklahoma State Fair events — “Disney on Ice,” an arena concert and bull riding — will be skating, singing and bucking into a new venue this year.
One of the state’s largest annual events, the 2025 Oklahoma State Fair is set for Thursday, Sept. 11, through Sunday, Sept. 21, and this year’s fair will be the first since the new OG&E Coliseum opened at the OKC Fairgrounds.
In June, Oklahoma City leaders cut the ribbon at the new 216,164-square-foot venue, 301 Gordon Cooper Blvd. It is situated just south of the remains of the partially demolished Jim Norick State Fair Arena, which the coliseum replaces.
“Of all our venues, the Jim Norick Arena has actually been the most significant economic driver, because it is used 52 weeks a year by visitors,” said OKC Mayor David Holt in a statement. “It stands at the center of our status as the horse show capital of the world. But that status was threatened by the decline of the aging facility. This new OG&E Coliseum allows us to maintain this economic impact, which is estimated to be $400 million a year.”
The sprawling new city-owned venue has primarily hosted horse shows since it opened over the summer, said State Fair spokesman J. Scott Munz. So, the 2025 fair offers the first chance for most people who are not equine enthusiasts to attend an event in the new coliseum.
“We’re really excited to debut the crowning new jewel of the Oklahoma State Fair,” Munz told The Oklahoman.
Simba and Nala skate to “Hakuna Matata” in a scene inspired by “The Lion King” as part of “Disney On Ice presents Let’s Dance!”
What events are coming to the new OG&E Coliseum during the 2025 Oklahoma State Fair?
The OG&E Coliseum will host three major events during the 2025 Oklahoma State Fair:
‘Disney On Ice presents Let’s Dance!’
Showtimes: 7 p.m. Sept. 11; 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sept. 12; 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sept. 13; 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sept. 14; and 7 p.m. Sept. 15.
Ticket prices: $20 to $70.
The Oklahoma State Fair annually opens with a new icy extravaganza from the Mouse House, and this year, “Disney on Ice presents Let’s Dance!” is skating into OG&E Coliseum for nine performances Sept. 11-15.
Mickey Mouse and his pals rock the DJ table for this year’s “Disney On Ice” touring spectacle, which remixes favorite Disney tunes into colorful worlds. The compilation showcase features the “Wish” characters Asha and Valentino, the “Lion King” court of Simba, Timon and Pumbaa and the titular heroine of “Moana” and her powerful pal Maui. Plus, Ariel and friends from “The Little Mermaid” harmonize with the “Frozen” crew of Elsa, Anna and Olaf, while guest DJ Stitch sends the party off the charts.
“Disney on Ice” has been a mainstay at the state fair for three decades, dating from 1987 when “Walt Disney’s Snow White On Ice, featuring Mickey Mouse” glided into the annual Sooner State event. But this will be the first time in many years that the full version of the show will hit the ice in OKC, Munz said, as the Jim Norick Arena wasn’t able to accommodate many aerial elements used in recent “Disney on Ice” productions.
Trace Adkins joins Blake Shelton at CMA Fest at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on June 7.
Trace Adkins in concert with Casey Donahew
When: 7 p.m. Sept. 17.
Tickets prices: $45 and $60.
Known for his signature smashes “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” and “You’re Gonna Miss This,” country hitmaker Trace Adkins will play the first concert in the new venue. Texas country singer-songwriter Casey Donahew will open the show.
“It’s the 20th anniversary of ‘Honky Tonk Badonkadonk’ … and it’s a nice combination of traditional country with Trace Adkins and Red Dirt Casey Donahew. But it will be the first concert in there, and it will be a full concert production,” Munz said.
The Jim Norick Arena boasted a long history of hosting concerts, including legendary shows featuring Elvis Presley, Led Zeppelin, Elton John and Metallica. Adkins played the old arena during the 2022 state fair as part of the former Xtreme Bulls & Broncs event.
At this year’s fair, the concert will be staged separately from the rodeo action.
Wildcatters PBR Teams Challenge
When: 7 p.m. Sept. 19, 7 p.m. Sept. 20 and 2 p.m. Sept. 21.
Ticket prices: $35 to $75.
The Oklahoma State Fair has long incorporated rodeo action into its offerings, but this is the first year for the event to partner with the Oklahoma Wildcatters, which launched in 2024 as the Sooner State’s only professional bull riding team. The Wildcatters compete in the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Teams League, which transforms bull riding from an individual sport into one where riders compete in teams.
“We decided to align ourselves with the international brand of the PBR. They are very popular when they do their event down at the Paycom Center,” Munz said. “We’ll have all 10 teams competing.”
The entry to arena floor is shown during a tour of the new OG&E Coliseum at the OKC Fairgrounds on Aug. 5.
How is the Oklahoma State Fair changing its ticketing?
The Oklahoma State Fair will have at least one major change in ticketing policy to go with the new venue: All tickets for OG&E Coliseum events include outside gate admission to the fair, no matter when they are purchased.
In the past, only event tickets bought before the first day of the fair included outside gate admission.
As in previous years, all children ages 2 and older need a ticket for their own seat to events at the new coliseum. Children younger than 2 are admitted free but must sit in the lap of a paying customer.
Tickets for OG&E Coliseum events can be purchased at the OKC fairgrounds box office, online at https://okstatefair.com or by calling 405-948-6800.
Construction crews continue demolishing Jim Norick Arena in Oklahoma City on Sept. 3.
What is left of the old Jim Norick State Fair Arena?
Oklahoma City leaders broke ground on the new OG&E Coliseum in February 2023, making it the first recipient of MAPS 4 tax dollars to begin construction. The new arena also is being paid for through MAPS 3, hotel tax revenue and other funding sources.
The coliseum boasts various seating configurations for up to 7,000-plus people, a lounge, three suites, several upscale concession areas, an A/V suite and a sophisticated catwalk system.
It replaces the aging Jim Norick Arena, which opened in the 1960s and hosted thousands of events, including rodeos, high school basketball tournaments, “Disney on Ice” performances, concerts and more over the decades.
The last event at Jim Norick Arena took place May 3. Crews imploded the venue’s roof on Aug. 11, and demolition continues.
“About half the pillars and half the ring beam is in place. … So, there may be a few remnants still standing of the Norick on opening day and continuing into the fair. But it probably will be down completely by the time the fair completes,” Munz said.
“There’s still rubble and piles of concrete and rebar and all the other elements of the building on the ground. But they’re loading it into dump trucks as quick as they can and hauling it off. But they will be working through the fair.”
Once the debris is hauled off, the plan is to begin construction on the Gateway of Champions Promenade, which will connect the fairgrounds Super Barn to the coliseum with a show arena and exhibit hall.
“Our horse, ag, and sporting events business is extremely important to not only the OKC Fair Park but also to the City of Oklahoma City’s economy. The hospitality industry is bolstered tremendously by the volume of business that passes through Fair Park each year,” said Oklahoma State Fair Inc. President and CEO Kirk Slaughter in a statement.
“This building, with its state-of-the-art amenities, will be a game changer for the numerous national and international horse shows that call the OKC Fair Park home. The Norick Arena served us well, but it was time for a new facility and we’re so very happy that time is now.”
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State Fair brings ‘Disney on Ice,’ Trace Adkins to new venue
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