Disney on Ice, unique food and people watching remain Oklahoma State Fair favorites
In between crunching bites of a rainbow snow cone, a small, smiling princess in a pale blue gown eagerly twirled, then paused to admire her billowing skirt.
"She likes all the princesses," said Oklahoma City mother Kaelyn Terral, grinning at her spinning daughter, 2-year-old Kaesyn Adams.
Despite the numerous attendees in shimmering finery, the occasion wasn't a royal gathering. It was the opening day of the Oklahoma State Fair, where Disney on Ice has been a favorite event for more than 30 years.
"She's liked it for the most part. Loud noises she's not too sure about ... but it's so much fun," said Terral, whose daughter was dressed as Cinderella for opening night of "Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures."
"It's cool how it's changed, obviously, from when I was younger ... and how she's so excited about all of it."
From little girls costumed as their favorite movie characters to hungry foodies sampling deep-fried delicacies, the excitement was palpable Thursday across the OKC Fairgrounds as the Oklahoma State Fair started its 2022 run. The fair continues through Sept. 25, offering its usual assortment of familiar favorites, plus some new attractions.
"I'm a food person, any type of food ... and we like to try new things," Terral said.
Terral and her daughter were among the many fair attendees, vendors and staffers who shared their state fair favorites on opening day.
People watching and treat tasting are among Oklahoma State Fair favorites
For longtime fair spokesman Scott Munz, who has worked for the Oklahoma State Fair since 1988, watching people experience the "sensory overload" never gets old.
"I know this sounds a little corny: My favorite thing about the fair — besides the food — is to sit at an intersection or at one of the entrance gates and just watch the joy on especially small kids' faces as they walk into the fair on the arm of their parent. There's so much sensory overload between the sights, the sounds, the smells — especially if a kid has never been to the fair before. They just come in and their eyes just light up with wonderment," he said.
"It really just validates what we do all year round, because we are known as Oklahoma's premier family attraction. And what better way to exemplify that than to see the smiles on kids' faces when they first walk in the gate."
At her Gram's Sweet Treats food booth inside the Bennett Event Center, Yukon resident Jessica Cox spent Thursday afternoon handing out free samples of Freeze-Dried Skittles and watching people's faces as they sampled the trendy treats. A new vendor this year, Gram's Sweet Treats won third place in the fair's Sweetest of the Sweet competition with its Freeze-Dried Milk Dud.
"It'd be really fun if we had a camera at the top of our booth that caught the reaction and we could show them ... because it'd be hilarious," she said.
"I enjoy visiting with people. We have a lot of fun. ... People get so excited when they see the Skittles and say, 'Freeze dried! We've seen it on TikTok: Let's try it!'"
Standing under the large Made In Oklahoma Store sign, Yukon denizen Terence Ransom also was handing out free samples Thursday inside the Bennett Event Center. A longtime fairgoer, it's his first year to have his all-natural Ransom's BBQ Sauce in the state fair's MIO Store.
"I enjoy making the sauce ... and I enjoy sharing it with everybody. I'm a talker. I'm a friendly person," Ransom said. "I've been cooking probably since I was 6 or 7 years old, making concoctions in the kitchen and having people come over and taste."
Within a couple of hours, Ransom had convinced about 200 people to try small spoonfuls of his original and spicy barbecue sauces.
"I like the food, the people watching and just smelling all the aromas," he said, breathing in the scents from the nearby The Nut Shack TX booth. "That's got my stomach just bubbling. Every day I might have to go buy some roasted nuts if I don't manage my taste buds."
Helping local businesses feeds fair experience for MIO Store manager
Situated in the southeast corner of the Bennett Event Center, the 3,000-square-foot MIO Store is showcasing 52 Sooner State companies selling more than 700 products, ranging from jams and jellies to candles and soaps.
"I love this store specifically because it takes a huge burden off of our members," said Jenna Brinlee, the Made In Oklahoma program coordinator. "Typically in an event setting, they have to set up their own booth and run it for the duration of the fair. But here, we get to help them out in a huge way by really stocking the store and running it for them. So, I can't tell you how many appreciation texts I get from our members saying how grateful they are. ... Helping them out is probably my favorite thing about this."
Every company went through an intensive application and jury process to be included in the popular store, which stayed packed opening day with shoppers, including many seeking an air-conditioned break from the still-summery afternoon temperatures.
"Almost like at the Creative Arts Show or the equine show, these are the best of the best companies that you're going to see that are showcased here," said Alexandra Philbrick, who manages the MIO Store for the Oklahoma State Fair. "I think that's the most exciting part is just seeing people coming back and getting their favorites, and then just experiencing the store. ... We're seeing people say things like, 'Oh, I didn't realize that was made in my own back yard.'"
Browsing through the MIO Store on Thursday, OKC resident Stefan Kovash said he has been coming to the state fair multiple times a year since he was a schoolboy. Since he was born on Sept. 22, the state fair has become part of his birthday traditions.
"I really just love the people that come to the fair. The people here are genuine, and they're comfortable with who they are — and I love seeing all these folks out here," Kovash said.
"I guess the second favorite would be the corndogs. ... I just love state fair corndogs. As long as it's fried in some really nasty grease, it's a good corndog."
Families make memories with carnival rides and Disney on Ice
The corndogs also keep OKC resident Debora Jordan Neal coming back to the Oklahoma State Fair. But the Ponca City native said she also cherishes the chance to make family memories: She typically makes multiple visits to the fair every year with various relatives; on Thursday, she was enjoying some one-on-one time with her grandson, Shannan Eddings, a 3-year-old with big eyes and an even bigger smile.
"I hadn't been in years for the first day until he was old enough to ride something this year," she said, adding that he liked riding the giant ladybugs the best.
"They spin!" the boy said with a grin.
Back at Jim Norick Arena, children dressed up as their favorite animated characters milled around the concession stands and souvenir booths during intermission of "Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures." Performances continue through Monday at the fair.
Dressed as "The Little Mermaid" Elliana Glasgow, 2 1/2, of Oklahoma City, stared at the display of light-up toys from her perch in her mother's arms. It was the girl's second Disney on Ice outing, but her mom, Bethany Edwards, and grandma, Sherri Decker, have been attending the show at the state fair for 25 years.
"Her first one was when she was 6 weeks old," Decker said, smiling at her now-grown daughter. "We've been every year since ... except 2020 because they didn't have it."
"We always get a snow cone, so I have 20-something snow cone cups," Edwards added. "But we were just talking and with the acrobats and and everything, this show is probably the best one we've ever been to."
OKLAHOMA STATE FAIR
When: Through Sept. 25.
Where: OKC Fairgrounds, 3001 General Pershing Blvd.
Information and tickets: https://okstatefair.com.
Features Writer Brandy "BAM" McDonnell has covered Oklahoma's arts, entertainment and cultural sectors for The Oklahoman for 20 years. Reach her at bmcdonnell@oklahoman.com, www.facebook.com/brandybammcdonnell and twitter.com/BAMOK. Support her work by signing up for her See & Do Oklahoma newsletter and subscribing to The Oklahoman.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: What's the best part of the Oklahoma State Fair? Fans share favorites
