A Look At The Tulsa Fair's 117-Year History

Before the first bridge was built over the Arkansas River, before the first public school was built in the city and before KVOO's first broadcast, there was a Tulsa County Free Fair.

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With a population of only a few thousand, it's safe to say many who gathered for the fair in 1903, before Oklahoma was even a state, knew one another. The celebration of family traditions, delicious food, good company, and thrilling rides would grow into the Tulsa State Fair we know and love today.

"4th Thursday after Labor day, you know where you're going to be for 11 days," said Expo Square CEO Mark Andrus.

Andrus is the mastermind behind the Tulsa State Fair. Much of what you and your family have enjoyed over the past 40 years in large part is thanks to him.

"I've been involved with the fair starting in 1979," Andrus said. "That was a time in the last century when life was different, but the fair never changes."

Perhaps it doesn't change, but it sure does evolve. In 1926 the fair moved from a street fair to the grounds we know today near 21st and Yale.

In 1935 the Free Fair became the State Fair, a name that puzzles many people considering Tulsa isn't a state.

"I think it was named the Tulsa State Fair because it's a fair, and it's one of the state fairs and, well, this is Tulsa; but other than that I have no idea," said Andrus.

Speaking of names, the evolution of the fair came with the rise of some of the biggest names in music. Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, and Toby Keith have all performed at the Tulsa State Fair.

Keith even kept his word to perform after the release of his first album in 1993, which made the young artist a household name.

"People were saying, there's no way he's going to show up," Andrus said. "He's going to call in with a sore throat or something because he can make 5-6 times as much as you're paying him. And Toby Keith came here and did a great 80-minute show for what we agreed to pay him; and 25 years later, I'm telling that story."

And now because of the pandemic, for the first time since perhaps World War II, there won't be a Tulsa State Fair.

"When you do something since 1979, and you only miss 3 days and you brag about that as opposed to saying, 'Oh, poor me, wah, wah.' I tell people when you're depressed, there's a lot to be depressed about in 2020," said Andrus.

And while canceling the fair is having a financial impact, there's also an emotional impact for people missing out on their traditions. Cristina Lillian-Masters has celebrated her birthday at the Tulsa State Fair nearly every year.

"Most kids got a birthday party on their birthday, I got the fair," said Lillian-Masters. "I remember one birthday especially. My brother won nothing and there's a picture; I remember this old picture of him and I. I'm standing there all smiles with all my stuffed animals, and he's over there pouting in the pictures."

Cristina's birthday will roll around again on September 29th, this time without her favorite corn dogs and cinnamon glazed pecans. And without the thrill rides that she enjoys with her daughter.

"It was always kind of a joke with me and my friends on the way to the fair; I would always say, 'First, we've got to find a corn dog stand, then we've got to find the funnel cake stand'," Lillian-Masters said.

"I love the Tulsa State Fair," said Nanci Hooper.

Hooper also uses the fair as an excuse to celebrate another year around the sun.

"Since I hadn't been in a couple years, I thought a birthday present to myself would be coming to the fair. It's great memories and just a great place to celebrate, to me, a milestone and unfortunately that's not going to happen; and I'm really bummed about that," Hooper said.

Both Hooper and Lillian-Masters said during these uncertain times of 2020, they don't know how they'll celebrate their birthdays this year. Andrus is in a similar situation, looking to fill what were supposed to be 11 Days of Fun.

"I hope our kids that are going to enjoy the fair next year can, and I hope they look back on 2020 as an anomaly," Andrus said.