Monday morning at the Oklahoma City Fairgrounds looked very different from the bright lights of the night before. After weeks of rides, fried food and games, the Oklahoma State Fair has closed and a dedicated clean‑up crew is already hard at work.
Teardown and Trash Removal
“It takes a while to build it out. It also takes a while to tear it down,” said Scott Munz, a spokesperson for the Oklahoma State Fair. Munz explained that while the fair takes an entire year to plan, the dismantling process will span roughly a week.
Early on Monday, crews began pulling down carnival rides that had been operating through the weekend. “It started last night as soon as the carnival went down. They started tearing carnival rides down. The stuff here on the property started really in earnest very early this morning,” Munz said.
By mid‑week, a professional cleaning crew will be brought in to pick up the trash and debris left behind. “Then we got to get the cleaning crew in because as you can imagine, it leaves behind a lot of mess,” Munz added.
Attendance Numbers and Weather Challenges
Final attendance tallies for this year’s fair are still being counted, but organizers noted that the stretch of 100‑degree temperatures may have taken a toll on visitor numbers. “We think we’re probably going to be on par with last year, maybe down slightly,” Munz said.
Planning for the 2027 Fair
When asked about the timeline for the next fair, Munz confirmed that planning for the 2027 event is already underway. “Do you get a week off?” KOCO reporter Kilee Thomas asked. “No. No time off at all,” Munz replied, noting that booking entertainers begins at least a year in advance.
The fairgrounds will remain busy throughout the week as crews continue to dismantle rides, clear trash and prepare the site for upcoming events. The community’s dedication to maintaining a clean, welcoming space reflects the strong family‑focused values that make Oklahoma City a great place to live and gather.
Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
