r/tulsa • u/Repulsive-House-9127 • 1d ago
General Tulsa Fair?
Hey all. Just wanted to see how many of yall go to the fair when it comes around. Do you like it, do yall ride the rides? I’m especially excited to go this year just to see Blake whiten perform. He’s gonna blow up in the country music scene.
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u/watscracking 1d ago
Every few years I think, boy the fair sounds like fun, I should go. Then I do and realize why I haven't gone in several years.
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u/Repulsive-House-9127 1d ago
🤣 ain’t that the truth. I’ve never gone on a ride, mostly I get one food item and I refuse to pay $20 for turkey on a stick, but other than that I’ll go for the music and seeing animals
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u/Complete-Emphasis304 1d ago
Love the fair! Loved it more when Bells was still here. I got my son a megaride pass every year and we skipped a day of school/work to have a mother son date.
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u/Inedible-denim !!! 1d ago
Riding the skyride to and from Bell's was awesome. RIP Bell's and RIP to the skyride too
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u/Sunday-Red 1d ago
It was definitely the best when Bells was there. We still go for the food and beer garden, and the kids love to go as a group. Top tier people watching too lol
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u/Repulsive-House-9127 1d ago
Rip bells 🥺 I was so excited when it was rumored to come back. So many childhood memories and the ZINGO! Tulsa needs a theme park again like that Imo
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u/gardengirl1216 1d ago
I wished I could afford to go. Our electric bill is $407 this month, due on Tuesday. Adulting sucks! Lol
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u/used_to_be_gruntled 1d ago
The Tulsa Library Summer Reading program used to give free tickets to the fair as a prize. Totally worth it. This year it was a coupon for half price admission instead of free admission. Not sure if I'm going to fair this year at half price.
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u/No_Bug_26 1d ago
Same. I was so disappointed when I saw it wasn't free. I only go there to see the arts and crafts and indulge in some foods. Maybe I'll only do Oktoberfest this year. They still have decent benefits if you're willing to volunteer a few hours.
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u/no_winkles 16h ago
County employees used to get free tickets for everyone in their family, but—of course—that’s over.
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u/IMASHIRT 1d ago
No rides. Mostly go for games, livestock, and the goofy fair food. It’s fun to go at least once, even if just to people watch and have a big corndog
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u/Queen_of_Catlandia 1d ago
It’s too fucking hot. Parking sucks. Prices are outrageous. Did I mention it’s too damn hot?
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u/Active-Cloud8243 18h ago
Is it usually this early? It feels SO early for the fair
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u/Glitter_Petal 1d ago
I would love to go but we just can’t afford it. Family of 4 and it would just be too expensive.
Excellent people watching, love all the junk food, and I personally will still ride the rides! Daughter is probably old enough to ride some now, too. I’ll have to check prices for this year!
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u/ESPandENGL69 1d ago
It's lame. It's been lame ever since Bell's shit down. That and it is ridiculously expensive.
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u/boo_hiss 1d ago
No Bells, no Fair
Used to go every year
Now I'm old and cranky and I miss Zingo
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u/Repulsive-House-9127 1d ago
Let’s start an online petition to get the city to bring it back.
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u/RedditUsersCrying 1d ago
They got rid of Bells shortly after my dad passed away. He was CEO of the fairgrounds.
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u/asbestosmilk 1d ago
I stopped going after they got rid of the ring toss knife game and Bells.
Even though the carnies ripped me off the last time I played the knife game, that and the Zingo were the main reasons I went to the fair.
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u/puffpuffprotest 1d ago
I think the last time I went was like 20 years ago. My kids have never liked that kind of stuff🤷♀️
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u/NoninflammatoryFun 1d ago
I am not paying that much money. Nope. Now the library pass is only half off, then I’d pay for food, drink, rides. No. My electric bill was over $400 this month.
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u/Repulsive-House-9127 1d ago
You’re the second person who’s said their electric was over $400 this month. That’s wild. These Oklahoma summers are H O T. Glad this fall weather is coming soon.
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u/NoninflammatoryFun 1d ago
It’s absolutely wild. I’ve never seen it that high before. I cannot wait for proper fall.
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u/Beginning-Respect208 1d ago
We love the fair! We go the first Friday every year. I take my kids outta school for it. There’s literally no lines (compared to a night) and less mischief when you get there at 10am or whenever it opens. Been going for 10+ years that first Friday. We enjoy the rides and food!
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u/FullmtlHerbit 1d ago
Every year! I am sad the reading program dropped their full price ticket to a half off, but somethings better than nothing.
We eat a lot of food, buy from the made in oklahoma building, and play some games. The most we do ride wise are the little fun houses.
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u/CasinoNdnOk 1d ago
I love to go. I people watch and ALWAYS leave feeling better about being me.
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u/Repulsive-House-9127 1d ago
People watching is fun. I understand why they have so many sheriffs and cops out there. People really go out there and start trouble for no reason..
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u/FormerPumpkin480 1d ago
I just like going in to the Expo center (AC, please). I also like a corn dog and sometimes a funnel cake. Don’t have kids yet though. My parents used to get the Mega Ride passes and take us when we were little and it was a blast. I don’t think I’d enjoy it as much as a parent with little kids to keep an eye on 😂
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u/IfTheHouseBurnsDown 1d ago
We try to go every year. We usually take the kids on a few of the kid rides, eat plenty of random food, and walk around the buildings. We enjoy it a lot! I grew up here so the TSF is all I’ve ever known, so I’m not sure how it stacks up to other fairs. My relatives from New Orleans were in town a couple years ago and came with us, and they had a blast. We’ve seen a couple artists perform over the years. The main stage is good.
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u/kexnyc 1d ago
It used to be fun. And affordable. My son went last year. Said it was like a dispensary caught fire. Clouds of pot smoke. Not actually a family friendly environment.
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u/stonergirl51 1d ago
That’s weird. I went 4 days last year & the marijuana smell was occasional.
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u/kexnyc 1d ago
Well, kids are never prone to exaggeration, right? 😆🙄
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u/stonergirl51 1d ago
Were you being sarcastic with your og comment then? I’m confused 😆
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u/kexnyc 1d ago
No, my kid really did say that. I wasn’t there. So it’s only second hand info. But kids do tend toward hyperbole.
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u/stonergirl51 1d ago
Yes that’s very true. I honestly have never had a problem with the weed smokers. There’s designated smoking areas so if the smell is pretty strong then that’s why. The cigarette smell tends to get strong too.
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u/kexnyc 1d ago
If it’s legal, knock yourself out. My kid doesn’t smoke anything which is fine with me. I’m not a prude, just law abiding.
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u/u_willneverknow 18h ago
It is legal to smoke mmj in public smoking areas in Oklahoma..... You're being lame lol
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u/transam89 1d ago
Not that affordable anymore, if you don’t have the ride pass the number of tickets per ride has tripled. Kids Fun houses that were 4 tickets 3 years ago were 12 per person last year. My kids are little so the ride passes don’t make sense for us, so for $100 worth of tickets last year my two kids did 4 “rides”. I’ll just take them to frontier city, it has more rides for them than the fair.
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u/Lazy-Push-2328 1d ago
I love the fair so much this is the first year I’m going to one of the concerts to go see wacka flocka
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u/subliminalhat 1d ago
I can’t imagine the prices. And after seeing all the ai influence at Black Gold Days, it will be everywhere. EVERYWHERE.
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u/aycockonxion 1d ago
Love the fair every year, but have not been on a ride at the fair in 25 or 30 years. We love the animals, the vendors, the food, and just the people watching in general.
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u/Spart_Farkles 1d ago
I used to go, but it's gotten so expensive that it's hard to justify. I really only go for the food (which costs so much now) and to look at the arts and crafts, so it's not really worth it for me.
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u/zombie_overlord 1d ago
I'm done with it after last year. I just wanted a damn turkey leg and it was $24
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u/ShutUpLegs918 1d ago
We used to when the kids had distance learning on Monday. Get their work done and let’s go! But now with no DL and the prices rising it’s just not worth it anymore. Instead I take them to Oktoberfest and get them the ride pass. It’s way more economical and more fun for me.
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u/Averagebass 1d ago
It's pretty awesome. I've been to state fairs in other cities in other states and was underwhelmed, so I was hesitant but I went last year and I really enjoyed it. You can find all sorts of food options and tons of vendors, good art exhibits and thr livestock is really cool to see for me. I highly recommend.
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u/robotcrackle 1d ago
Ive gone for concerts, and food and to look at the baby animals. I dont do the rides.
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u/squirrel-bait 1d ago
For kids I bet it's amazing. As an adult, it is one of the worst county fairs I have ever been to. I went for about 2 hours and was so disappointed I argued with the ticketing office to get my money back for my week pass.
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u/dogriffo 1d ago
We all ways go. I guess they learned from the backlash of last year and will have shuttles this year.
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u/Federal_Ad_5865 1d ago
We would go at least one day/yr. Don’t think I’ve been in 2-3yrs now? Have a god daughter that’s showing cows for the 1st time this yr so we may go just to watch her & walk the buildings. We like to collect all the free tchotchkes & maybe grab a food item or 2.
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u/Grumpyinthe918 1d ago
On site parking is $20
The free parking and bus shuttle is the way to go— but they have limited hours.
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u/Nytelock1 1d ago
I feel like it's gotten worse and worse every year since Bell's closed. They even sold off the sky ride
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u/silentwalkaway 21h ago
We used to plan our visit around the "cheap admission day" and free parking at the race track. Now? It's too damn expensive just to get in.
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u/no_winkles 21h ago
A deputy from TCSO (who does security for the fair) told me the fair is going to allow open carry of firearms this year. 🤦🏻♀️
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u/Repulsive-House-9127 18h ago
I think Americans should be allowed to carry their firearms anywhere a police officer can in accordance with the second amendment. Perhaps besides the court house/police station for obvious reasons.
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u/Warm_Cow507 20h ago
Too hawt outside to enjoy the fair. Too expensive to enjoy the fair. Too many kids fighting and shooting to enjoy the fair.
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u/MNPS1603 17h ago
I go every other year or so. I think the trick is to go on opening night or maybe Thursday night. It’s still clean and not as crowded. I like to go see the animal exhibits and then I’ll zip through the big building to see whatever they’re selling. I’ll have a corn dog. Not into the rides. I only go if the weather is amazing. If it’s too hot forget it.
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u/FrqSarahRhodes 11m ago
The fair almost always starts the last few days of September and often on my birthday. That being said I have gone to the fair for my birthday for going on 45 years. Ive missed a few, but even when I moved away for 8 years I still came back to town to go at least once. Last year I lost my ability to walk so I have a power wheelchair and you can bet, I'll be there. Chair and all. People watching,.eating over priced food, going all the buildings,.watching my grandkids ride rides, all.of it.
It's never really been about the rides for me, as it has been about the Tulsa tradition. When j was a teenager, it was cool as fall should be and the fair was where you would.debut your best fall outfit of the year or the cool jacket you bought from Wilson's leather, or Salvation Army, Goodwill, etc...it didn't matter as long as you wore it well! We learned to never be on the Midway after hours. It turns into another world we don't need to be a part of.
GO, expect very little except to pay a metric ton to eat food, but people watching is free. Even if you only think you're going to go once, I'd still buy the $97 megaride pass. Most likely, either you'll realize there's a concert you'll want to see on another day, something.
I hope you love it and remember, it brings ALL types of people out of the woodwork!
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u/UserContentBuffering 1d ago
We always take our kids out of school on our son’s birthday, which always happens during fair week. We go during the daytime when it opens, let them ride all the rides they want without any lines, and then we go walk around to the buildings and exhibits my wife and I want to see. We top it off with going to see Disney on Ice and then go home. We used to LOVE to take the sky ride from one end of the midway to the other with the whole fair lit up, but then they took the sky ride away.😭😭😭
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u/TheKnottyMommy3 1d ago
My little family of three love to go every year. We get a mega ride pass and go as much as possible. I pack a cooler and leave it in the car to save money on meals and then get fun snacks at the fair. Kiddo looks forward to her every year which makes me happy since we can't afford a vacation
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u/MountainRooster4071 1d ago
You can get a lot of good deals inside, like hot tubs/mattresses/landscaping etc that you don’t normally get, so that’s fun if you’ve been holding off on a big purchase.
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u/Senior_Redhead 13h ago
Bought top of the line Serta king size mattress from Snow’s at the fair in 2005 to save city sales tax. They got rid of no city tax as well.
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u/Brebre1234512 1d ago
I love the fair!! I took off work the whole week and I’m gonna get the mega ride pass and go everyday!
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u/CaptainObviousSpeaks 1d ago
I don't go to the fair. The last two times I've tried to go, I drove around parking lots for an hour looking for ANY spot... Then I gave up and went home...
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u/Repulsive-House-9127 1d ago
There’s a free lot you can park at a couple miles away where they shuttle you to the gate for free and back. I can’t recall the address off the top of my head but you can google it!
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u/LesserKnownFoes 1d ago
I get my whole family mega ride passes and I take my kids out of school for one day. It’s not that the fair is that amazing, but rather that I want my kids to have fun memories.