11-Day Tulsa State Fair Wraps Up Sunday

Eleven days later, and the Tulsa State Fair is wrapping up another year.

The week and a half-long event made a big comeback after most of it was canceled last year.

The fair included around 160 food vendors, more than 60 rides, dozens of games and all kinds of live entertainment.

Coleman and Shelby Harris made the trek from Sallisaw on Sunday for the last day.

"Our work schedules are a little crazy, so just whenever we can go do something we go do it,” Coleman said.

The couple says it's their first time going as a family of three.

Coleman's favorite part is the food, Shelby's is shopping, but this trip also included multiple visits to the petting zoo for their 18-month old son Creed.

"He just goes crazy at the petting zoo,” Coleman said.

“He screamed when we put him back in the stroller,” Shelby said.

Chief Operating Officer Amanda Blair says organizers estimate attendance this year will be nearly the same as the last fair in 2019.

In 2020, the fair was only five days long with most of the activities canceled.

"And so it was just a good mixture all around to have people come out and get back to normal and make memories at the Tulsa State Fair,” Blair said.

She says each year, the fair makes a more than $50 million impact on Tulsa County and surrounding areas.

There were some changes like the free shuttle service getting canceled. Tulsa police saw a record number of people parked illegally near the fairgrounds.

Blair says she won't know the total numbers on attendance and money until later this week.

"We're very enthused that we'll be able to support our community, provide jobs for people that live in our community and then just be able to give back,” Blair said.

Blair says they'll start booking entertainment soon for the fair in 2022 since planning takes a year.

Now, the Expo Square will clear and get ready for the National Arabian Horse Show starting in two weeks.