2025 Oklahoma State Fair features new attractions ranging from dog shows to mermaids

Between the blasts of of fake gunfire coming from the Tumbleweed Crossing Wild West comedy stunt show and the rumbling engines of pickup trucks revving through an obstacle course , the sound of an accordion playing a jaunty tune drifted through the steamy Oklahoma City afternoon.

Costumed in a royal purple suit and the white face paint of a classic European clown, John "Jay" Walther deftly played the squeezebox outside the snowy tent of the Piccolo Zoppé Circus . Flanked by a pair of jugglers, the musical jester, who goes by the clown name "Papino," encouraged passers-by on Thursday, Sept. 11, to venture under the big top and catch the circus' first show of the 2025 Oklahoma State Fair .

"Our family was started in 1842; we built the bleachers in 1843. So, please, take your time climbing to the top," Walther wisecracked as he greeted the circus' first Oklahoma State Fair audience.

One of the state's largest annual events, the Oklahoma State Fair continues through Sept. 21 at the OKC Fairgrounds, 3001 General Pershing Blvd. As usual, the longstanding fall tradition is packed with 11 days of entertainment, from familiar favorites like the towering Sky Eye Wheel and the AGtropolis agriculture exhibition to new attractions like the charming, European-style Piccolo Zoppé Circus and the action-packed, as-seen-on-TV Canine Stars Stunt Dog Show .

"Each year we dedicate ourselves to honoring the traditions of fairs past, while also ensuring the event features new attractions," said Holly Kinyon, integrated media manager for the state fair, in an email.

"Fairgoers will enjoy free concerts, dozens of creative arts, livestock and equine competitions, and hundreds of vendor booths as always, as well as brand-new entertainment, culinary creations and events like the Wildcatters PBR Teams Challenge ."

The Canine Stars Stunt Dog Show features trainers spotlighted on 'American's Got Talent'

Not far from the circus tent, fairgoers relaxed in the air-conditioned comfort of the new hot spot The Lounge inside The Pavilion. Attendees of all ages played Music Bingo, tuning in to snippets of radio favorites ranging from Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" and Pharrell Williams' "Happy" to Three Dog Night's "Joy to the World" and Shania Twain's "Any Man of Mine," hoping to line up five hits in a row on their bingo cards.

The newly installed 72-foot sculpture titled "Bolt Tower " speared up catty-corner from the shiny new OG&E Coliseum , which is hosting its first state fair events this year, starting with "Disney On Ice presents Let's Dance! ," which is playing through Monday, Sept. 15. In between the new sculpture and the coliseum, just a scanty framework remains of the old, partially demolished Jim Norick State Fair Arena .

Across from the livestock barns on the Gordon Cooper Lawn, trainers Ethan Wilhelm and Whitney McNatt urged their first Oklahoma State Fair crowd to cheer for their team of talented rescue pets as the dogs snagged soaring toy discs, leaped over obstacles and splashed into a swimming pool. The Canine Stars Stunt Dog Show was featured on NBC's hit competition show "America's Got Talent" in 2021.

"We did this stunt on Nickelodeon 'Unleashed.' We did it on Sarah Silverman's 'Stupid Pet Tricks, ' and we also did it live on the quarterfinals of 'America's Got Talent' — only over 6 1/2 (feet), though. Today, we're gonna try 8," Wilhelm said, hyping up the OKC audience as he introduced a dog named Shazam!, like the DC Comics superhero .

The fairgoers cheered obligingly as the high-flying border collie launched off McNatt's back and sailed over the 8-foot bar to land in Wilhelm's arms.

"We're really excited to be here. We love doing (these). We just came from the New York State Fair, which is a lot of fun. So, we're super excited. I hear tell a lot of people come here," Wilhelm told The Oklahoman after the show. "Our main mission is to promote pet adoption, so. So, (we go) anywhere we can get our message across to the most amount of people. State fairs usually have a lot of people."

"And the food's really good, too," McNatt added with a grin.

2025 Oklahoma State Fair new events and attractions

• Piccolo Zoppé Circus:Daily, Centennial Plaza — Featuring acrobats, aerialists, clowns, trained horses and dogs, the one-ring Arkansas-based traveling boutique circus performs twice every weekday and three shows on weekends.

• Canine Stars Stunt Dog Show:Daily, Gordon Cooper Lawn — Spotlighted on "America's Got Talent" in 2021 , the world-class team of dog trainers and their adopted dogs from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, The Netherlands and South Korea will perform agility, showmanship and dock-diving feats multiple times daily.

• The Lounge:Daily, The Pavilion — Fairgoers can sit down, relax, grab a cocktail, beer or glass of wine, play Music Bingo by AMP Entertainment and hear live music by local entertainers.

• The Moving Mermaid:Daily, Plaza Stage and The Circle — The mobile mermaid floats through the fairgrounds on her wheeled Shell Throne, with a trail of bubbles following her, as she chats with attendees and poses for photos.

• FAIRway Mini Golf:Daily, Family Fun Zone in the Bennett Event Center — For an added fee, family or friends can compete against each other on the nine-hole mini golf course.

• 'Bolt Tower:'On permanent view, northwest corner of Bennett Event Center — Fair attendees will be the newly installed 72-foot sculpture that pays homage to the fairgrounds' 118-year history, from livestock shows and 89er baseball games to concerts and former landmarks like the monorail and Space Tower .

• THINK PINK for Women's Health:2 to 6 p.m. Sept. 12, Modern Living Building — Fairgoers can meet exhibitors who provide screenings and for women and take part in special activities for women. It will culminate in a Beautiful Bras Contest and a presentation by television chef Sandra Lee , who will share her journey as a breast cancer survivor .

• Dairy Goat Costume Contest:5 p.m. Sept. 16, Super Barn Arena — What's cuter than show goats? Goats that put on a show all dressed up to compete.

• Trace Adkins and Casey Donahew in concert:7 p.m. Sept. 17, OG&E Coliseum — The new OKC Fairgrounds arena continues the old Jim Norick Arena's long history of hosting concerts. Adkins played the former arena, which is now partially demolished , during the 2022 state fair as part of the former Xtreme Bulls & Broncs event. At this year's fair, the concert will be staged separately from the rodeo action.

• Rooster Crowing Contest:7 p.m. Sept. 19, Barn 4 — Fairgoers can watch and listen as roosters go crow-for-crow in this auditory competition.

• Stock Dog Trials:10 a.m. Sept. 19, Barn 8 — The Oklahoma Stock Dog Association returns to the state fair, as dozens of talented canines are judged on their performance herding sheep.

• Wildcatters PBR Teams Challenge:7 p.m. Sept. 19-20 and 2 p.m. Sept. 21, OG&E Coliseum — For the first year, the state fair is partnering with the Oklahoma Wildcatters , which launched in 2024 as the Sooner State's only professional bull riding team. The Wildcatters compete in the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Teams League , which transforms bull riding from an individual sport into one where riders compete in teams. All events in the new OG&E Coliseum require separate event tickets that include outside gate admission to the fair.

• Heavy Horse Show Round-Y-Round:6 p.m. Sept. 19, Performance Arena — Farm horses of draft breeds maneuver in a course in a special demonstration.

• Heavy Horse Show Farm/Team Ride-A-Long:1 p.m. Sept. 20, Performances Arena — A few lucky spectators will get a rare opportunity to ride on the sleds of exhibitors as they perform various maneuvers with their hefty farm horses.

• OKC Pow Wow Club exhibition:Noon to 6 p.m. Sept. 19-20, Modern Living Building — The long-running club showcases authentic Native American dancing, music and storytelling.

• Accessibility Expo:Noon to 6 p.m. Sept. 21, Modern Living Building — The new celebration of inclusion, innovation and community will include organizations, artists, vendors, and advocates working to support and empower disabled Oklahomans and their families. Exhibitor booths, demonstrations and sensory-friendly interactive art activities are planned.

The 2025 Oklahoma State Fair at a glance

• When: Through Sept. 21. 

• Where: The OKC Fairgrounds, 3001 General Pershing Blvd. 

• Admission: Regular outside gate admission is $16 for adults and children 12 and older; $10 for children 6 to 11; and free for children 5 and younger. To buy tickets, go to the ticket booths outside each gate, call 405-948-6800 or go to https://okstatefair.com .

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Dogs, roosters and mermaids top new shows at 2025 Oklahoma State Fair