Ohio State Fair opens with rain, but visitors excited for first full fair since 2019

Despite rain and muggy weather, the Ohio State Fair kicked off Wednesday morning with a flurry of activity.

For the first time since 2019, a full-capacity fair opened following a ceremony at Kasich Hall that included performances of "Sweet Caroline" and "Hang On Sloopy" by the All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir and Band, as well as speeches from state officials including Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted.

The fair was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, and the following year it was open only for livestock competitions.

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This year's installment, which runs through Aug. 7, is a welcome return to normalcy for people like Jerry Bale, 73, of Centerburg.

"We were just so hungry for the fair after three years," Bale said. "I've been coming here since I was a little kid and have a farm background myself."

Bale said the importance of the fair was only heightened by a recent cancer diagnosis.

"I had a recent diagnosis of terminal cancer, and this is one of the few things that I want to do with the time I have left," he said.

2022 Ohio State Fair 'special'

Maleka Smith, 45, and her husband, Ernest, 69, of the South Side, said going to the fair is always special — and even more so this time around.

"We come out every year for the first day to see the ribbon cut, hear the band, see the kids and what they're doing," Maleka Smith said. "Today was also my husband's birthday, so today wanted to be his birthday gift."

Ernest Smith said that for him, opening day is about nostalgia for fairs gone by.

"That just makes me go back to the day when I was probably 9 or 10 coming up here," he said.

Heather Imler, 36, of Logan, brought her children to the fair, where her father owns a concession stand.

"It just feels good to be doing anything normal," she said. "We're gonna watch a couple of the shows. We're definitely gonna take in the hog and steer shows later in the week."

Imler and her children arrived at 9:30 a.m., shortly before the gates opened.

"I've been coming since I was little," she said.

Tradition was a recurring theme among visitors. That includes Sue Tracey Baker, 71, of North Ridgeville, near Cleveland — whose stand had all the fried food one could ask for, from corn dogs to cheese on a stick.

"This year, we have a nephew here working, two brothers here working with their families, and there are lots of cousins — we have nine or 10 of our grandkids working, but we have four generations here."

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Baker said that while things have changed at the fair, so much remains the same.

"It feels like we never left," she said.

As for the rain?

"We're having a good time here," she said. "It's nice, and it came on the first day, so we'll get it over with with the rain. It always comes through here."

The rain isn't expected to last forever, according to the National Weather Service. Thursday's forecast calls for a chance of showers and thunderstorms with a high of 85 degrees, with more of the same Friday, when the high is expected to be 80. Things are expected to dry up over the weekend with highs in the low 80s.

Blake Martin, 16, of Attica, southeast of Tolwas at the fair Wednesday preparing his sheep to be shown and reflecting on having crowds back at the event.

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"I've been showing since I was 8," he said. "It feels good (being back), better than it was before. I didn't like how it was before, with no one here. This is a big part of our community, and it's very very important for everyone to get out and see what the livestock is all about."

Even DeWine got in on the fun, heading to Schmidt's and ordering a Bahama Mama — a hickory-smoked sausage made from beef and pork — and a cream puff.

Other food options available at the fair include familiar favorites, such as fried Oreos, lemon shake-ups, elephant ears and corn on the cob. New items included cajun waffle dogs and alfredo-stuffed turkey legs.

"There's so much to do, so much to eat at the Ohio State Fair," DeWine said. "It's a great day, and we're so glad to be back at the Ohio State Fair."

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State Fair 2022: Rain can't dampen visitors' spirits