The Fair's vast programme offers concerts, sports competitions, exhibitions, a horse show, rides, and food stalls.

Even so, the superintendent of grounds, Darius Lapham, died of the disease just a few weeks before the opening date.

Special rates were offered whereby exhibits were transported without charge, and the exhibitor rode for half fare.

Several Central Ohioans contributed to the support of the first Fair, including Alfred Kelley, owner of the Columbus and Xenia Railroad.

[6] Cash premiums at the first Fair did not exceed $20, with the exception of an award of $50 given to essayists on the topic "Improving the Soil."

[citation needed] During the early State Fairs, winners received medals, not ribbons, as awards.

From 1874 until 1885, the site of Columbus' Franklin Park served as home to the Ohio State Fair.

[13][14][15] Preliminary findings by KMG found that the failure was caused by "excessive corrosion on the interior of the gondola support beam" over the life of the 18 year-old unit.

[12] 1853 – Entertainment crept into the Fair programming with the first pony rides for children and monkeys dressed in hats that danced to minstrel tunes.

1884 – In July, prior to the Fair's opening, a racing mare kicked over a lantern, resulting in 100 stalls being burned.

1924 – Earliest records of the Ohio State Fair Queen contest date back to this year.

Today, Ohio is proud to host the nation's largest Junior Fair with more than 17,000 youth participating.

1942–45 – The Board of Agriculture canceled the Ohio State Fair and allowed the War Department to use the grounds and buildings for handling airplane parts and equipment.

The Bee Gees, Bob Hope, James Brown, Johnny Carson, and Sly and the Family Stone performed.

1972 – Fire struck the Ohio Expo Center in October during the American Dairy Show.

Three connected barns were burned, killing three head of cattle and destroying virtually all the exhibitors' belongings.

Bob Hope, Kenny Rogers, Mac Davis, Roberta Flack, The Osmonds, and Ike & Tina Turner performed.

1976 – In celebration of the United States Bicentennial, a time capsule was buried in the gardens near the 11th Avenue gate.

Bob Hope, Mac Davis, the Osmonds, Pat Boone, Tanya Tucker, Johnny Cash perform.

1983 – Michael Stanley Band, Sheena Easton, The O'Jays, Dionne Warwick, The Gatlin Brothers, Kool And The Gang, Melissa Manchester, Juice Newton, Danny Thomas, The Beach Boys, Reba McEntire, Mel Tillis, Air Supply, America, The Dazz Band, Midnight Star, Anne Murray, and Kenny Loggins performed.

[20] The Celeste Center replaced it as the site for the Fair's big-name entertainment, as well as a venue for many Expo events each year.

Willie Nelson, Vince Gill, Travis Tritt, Rascal Flatts, Michael W. Smith, and Lifehouse performed.

Bow Wow, Alan Jackson, Uncle Kracker, Terri Clark, The Oak Ridge Boys, and Diamond Rio performed.

[22] 2021 – The fair returned after last year's hiatus, but limited to livestock & educational contests.

The general public was forced to hold on to their 2020 tickets in 2021 due to the continued uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic that year.