Columbus, Ohio – A new regulation prohibiting young people under eighteen from entering the busy Ohio State Fair without adult supervision has been put in place an effort to increase safety. Anticipating attendance that could go above a million visitors, this decision comes ahead of the exhibition, which runs from July 24 to August 4.
Assistant general manager for the Ohio Expo Center & State Fair Alicia Shoults notes that this regulation corresponds with safety precautions taken by other major events and venues including malls and amusement parks.
“”We regularly review our protocols to align with industry best practices and recommend adjustments based on data and trends,” Shoults stated.
The policy’s terms mandate that all young people arriving at the fairgrounds after 6 p.m. have to be accompanied by a sober adult 21 or older. This could be a parent, family, legal guardian, or another appointed adult. Each chaperone can also supervise no more than six young people. Fair officials will also implement ID checks at points of entrance, therefore verifying age by requiring genuine, government-issued identity from every visitor.
The policy applies to all entry methods—whether visitors have pre-purchased tickets or are re-entering with a hand stamp from earlier in the day. Underage concert attendees with valid tickets are exempt from this regulation; they will be let into the concert but must either meet up with a chaperone or leave right away after the performance. Minors working at the fair or engaged in animal care—as long as they have the necessary credentials—are also excluded.
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“Although new for the Ohio State Fair, procedures like this aren’t new to many of our visitors, as many fairgoers experience curfews or chaperone policies at other eventsk,” Shoults said. She added that the fair will closely monitor feedback and the effectiveness of the new policy during this year’s event.
The fair will keep other accepted safety precautions in place, therefore strengthening security. These include specific screening processes for concertgoers arriving at the W COL Celeste Center, checks of bags including handbags and backpacks, and magnetometer use for visitor screening at doors. The fair strictly forbids anything including guns, illegal drugs, and several personal transportation tools such skateboards and bicycles. Visitors caught with these forbidden items have to either turn them in to the highway patrol or return them to their vehicles.
This tightening of rules is a result of a larger initiative to guarantee that the Ohio State Fair stays a safe and fun place for all visitors, therefore highlighting the fair’s dedication to maintaining public safety among its increasing attendance.
