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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWatch 2025 Ohio State Fair: Things you need to know<\/p>\n
The 2025 Ohio State Fair will have many new features like chainsaw carving and free concerts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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- A variety of paid and free concerts will be offered during the 2025 Ohio State Fair, which runs July 23-Aug. 3.<\/li>\n
- Headliners include KIDZ BOP, Foreigner, T-Pain, AJR and Trace Adkins, among others.<\/li>\n
- Paid concert tickets include admission to the fair.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Columbus, are you ready to rock?<\/p>\n
Or would you rather \u201cShake it Off\u201d Swiftie style? Perhaps time-travel back to 1983 and do \u201cThe Bird\u201d?<\/p>\n
Whatever your footwork of choice (or maybe you\u2019re just a head-bobber), the chance to groove and bust a move to the sounds of world-known and homegrown artists will be yours at the Ohio State Fair<\/a>.<\/p>\n
With 10 paid concerts and a brimming schedule of free performances offering a medley of musical styles, the fair runs from July 23-Aug. 3 at the Ohio Expo Center, 717 E. 17th Ave.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s the lowdown on who\u2019s coming to the fair, plus some entertaining and informative tidbits of information!<\/p>\n
Seeing stars: Big acts span several genres<\/h2>\n
The Ohio State Fair will kick off its paid concert series with a family-friendly act that\u2019s perfect for your little pop star\u2019s first live show.<\/p>\n
Sanitized for your protection, KIDZ BOP<\/a><\/strong> will perform G-rated covers of pop hits at 6:30 p.m. July 23. (Who wants to bet they\u2019ll sing Chappell Roan\u2019s ubiquitous \u201cPink Pony Club\u201d?)<\/p>\n
See KIDZ BOP at the fair<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
Whether you\u2019re \u201cHot Blooded\u201d or \u201cCold as Ice,\u201d you\u2019ll want to be front and center at 7 p.m. July 24, when jukebox heroes Foreigner<\/a><\/strong> comes to the fair for the second time since 2022<\/a>.<\/p>\n
The band\u2019s lead singer, Kelly Hansen, announced in May his plans to leave Foreigner<\/a> after their summer tour, when he’ll pass the mic to guitarist Luis Maldonado.<\/p>\n
See Foreigner at the fair<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
Flap your arms and squawk as Morris Day and The Time<\/a><\/strong> heat up the stage with hits like \u201cThe Bird\u201d and \u201cJungle Love\u201d at 7 p.m. July 26, with special guest Con Funk Shun.<\/p>\n
If Day looks familiar, you\u2019re probably Gen X or a Prince fan \u2014 or both. With The Time, the 1980s funkmaster had a starring role as a musical rival of The Kid (Prince) in \u201cPurple Rain.\u201d<\/p>\n
See Morris Day and The Time at the fair<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
At 7 p.m. July 30, tune in \u2014 or rather, Auto-Tune in \u2014 to T-Pain<\/a><\/strong>, whose electronic-style vocals influenced artists such as Lil Wayne and Kanye West. The rapper\u2019s special guest will be DJ Montay.<\/p>\n
T-Pain showed off his considerable singing skills in 2023 with \u201cOn Top of the Covers.\u201d \u00a0The non-Auto-Tuned album features renditions of songs by artists including Chris Stapleton, Sam Cooke, Journey, Frank Sinatra and Black Sabbath.<\/p>\n
See T-Pain at the fair<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
August will start with a \u201cBang!\u201d \u2014 which just happens to be the name of the biggest hit by AJR<\/a><\/strong>, who will perform at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 1 with special guest Valley.<\/p>\n
An acronym for the first initials of founding brothers Adam, Jack and Ryan Met (n\u00e9e Metzger), AJR\u2019s breakthrough came after Ryan tweeted a link to a video of their first single, “I’m Ready,” to some 80 celebrities, including \u201cChandelier\u201d singer Sia.<\/p>\n
After Sia told her manager about the song, he contacted Steve Greenberg, founder and CEO of S-Curve Records, who became the band\u2019s manager for a time.<\/p>\n
See AJR at the fair<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
Country superstar Trace Adkins\u2019 \u201cWhat Color’s Your Wild\u201d tour will stop at the fair for a concert at 7 p.m. Aug. 2. Special guest Alex Miller will open.<\/p>\n
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of his line dance-inspiring megahit, \u201cHonky Tonk Badonkadonk,\u201d Adkins teamed up with Dutch-born electronic dance musician Moonlght and country-meets-EDM artist Country Night on a remix of the song, released in May.<\/p>\n
See Trace Adkins at the fair<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
Stage names: More notable acts<\/h2>\n
The paid concert series also will feature an award-winning contemporary Christian artist, a stand-up comic and some stars on the rise, including:<\/p>\n
See Warren Zeiders at the fair<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
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- Tauren Wells<\/a><\/strong>, host of the Gospel Music Association\u2019s Dove Awards for the last three years and former tourmate of Lionel Richie and Mariah Carey, with special guest Josiah Queen; 7 p.m. July 28<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
See Tauren Wells at the fair<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
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- Comedian-actor Leanne Morgan<\/a><\/strong>, whose self-titled sitcom is set to premiere on Netflix on July 31; 7:30 p.m. July 29<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
See Leanne Morgan at the fair<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
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- Quinn XCII and Chelsea Cutler<\/a><\/strong>, frequent collaborators on tracks including the gold-certified \u201cFlare Guns\u201d and \u201cStay Next to Me\u201d; 7 p.m. July 31<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
See Quinn XCII and Chelsea Cutler<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
The free zone: These concerts won\u2019t cost you<\/h2>\n
There\u2019s no price tag on these performances and you won\u2019t need a ticket to enter and enjoy:<\/p>\n
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- All-Ohio State Fair Band<\/a> & Youth Choir<\/a><\/strong>, 1 p.m. July 27<\/li>\n
- \u201cLet\u2019s Sing Taylor<\/a>,\u201d<\/strong> an unofficial live tribute to the music of Taylor Swift, 7 p.m. July 27<\/li>\n
- 16 Candles<\/a><\/strong>, \u201880s pop show by Chicago-based band, 1 p.m. July 29 (Senior Day)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The paid concerts and the three free shows will be held in the air-conditioned comfort of the WCOL Celeste Center at the fairgrounds.<\/p>\n
Concert tickets bought in advance include admission to the fair. Children 2 and younger will be admitted to paid concerts for free when sitting on an adult’s lap.<\/p>\n
The home team: Lots of local talent in store<\/h2>\n
If you\u2019re craving even more ear candy, a full slate of other free entertainment will satisfy your musical sweet tooth. Three stages will showcase more than 20 acts, most of them Columbus-based, as well as musicians from other regions of Ohio and a fair favorite that returns each year from Atlanta.<\/p>\n
From cover artists and tribute bands to neo-soul and roadhouse rock \u2018n\u2019 roll, daily performances will take place on the Ohio Lottery Gazebo Stage and in the Natural Resources Park Amphitheater and Taste of Ohio Pavilion & Beer Garden.<\/p>\n
For more details about entertainment at the Ohio State Fair, visit ohiostatefair.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n
- \u201cLet\u2019s Sing Taylor<\/a>,\u201d<\/strong> an unofficial live tribute to the music of Taylor Swift, 7 p.m. July 27<\/li>\n
- All-Ohio State Fair Band<\/a> & Youth Choir<\/a><\/strong>, 1 p.m. July 27<\/li>\n
- Quinn XCII and Chelsea Cutler<\/a><\/strong>, frequent collaborators on tracks including the gold-certified \u201cFlare Guns\u201d and \u201cStay Next to Me\u201d; 7 p.m. July 31<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Comedian-actor Leanne Morgan<\/a><\/strong>, whose self-titled sitcom is set to premiere on Netflix on July 31; 7:30 p.m. July 29<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Tauren Wells<\/a><\/strong>, host of the Gospel Music Association\u2019s Dove Awards for the last three years and former tourmate of Lionel Richie and Mariah Carey, with special guest Josiah Queen; 7 p.m. July 28<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n