Oklahoma State Fair organizers evaluate what went well, wrong
The fun is over and now it is time to tear down the fairgrounds
The fun is over and now it is time to tear down the fairgrounds
The fun is over and now it is time to tear down the fairgrounds
Oklahoma State Fair organizers are evaluating what went well and what went wrong during the 2022 fair that just ended.
Now, it’s the not-so-glamorous side of the state fair: Cleanup week. State fair staff members will evaluate this year's fair as they look toward the next.
"We’ll build on the positives and try to change the negatives or maybe eliminate them altogether," said Scott Munz, fair spokesperson.
Munz said the cloud that hung over last year’s fair was the pandemic and burnout from it. This year had another cloud: The impact of inflation.
That’s why they upped the number of discount days. They’ll decide whether they stay going forward.
So, what worked?
Munz said each year’s fair layout is based on fairgoers' walking patterns and the popularity of different attractions and foods.
"The Chickasha Entertainment Stage was very popular this year," Munz said. "There were good crowds for virtually every night. The sky-high wheel behind us was a very popular attraction. It’s the largest portable Ferris wheel the in the country. It’s 155 feet in the air."
After all the fun, hundreds of people lend a helping hand to break down and clean up. With piles and piles of trash across the fairgrounds, it will take about a week to be cleaned up.
"A little challenge this year with the heat and no rain, you know. If we get some rain in the fair, then it will help wash some of the streets down and helps settles some of the dust," Munz said. "So, without any rain this year, there’s 11 days’ worth of dirt and debris we are challenged to clean up."
Next year's fair will be held Sept. 14-24.