Hype for the Future 51V: The Research Interests of novaTopFlex for Columbus, Ohio

Located within the City of Columbus is The Ohio State University, though the culture associated with the university largely extends into the overall area representing the University District, including Old North Columbus and Glen Echo in the northern part of the area. Further east is the Ohio Expo Center and State Fairgrounds, for which the Ohio RV and Boat Show, the Ohio National Poultry Show, the All American Quarter Horse Congress, Schmidt’s Columbus Oktoberfest, the All American Youth Horse Show, Scott Antique Markets, and the Ohio State Fair, just to name a few.

Typically, the events of the Ohio Expo Center and State Fairgrounds occur at different times throughout the year. In the case of the Ohio RV and Boat Show, mid-January is considered the typical timing. For the Ohio National Poultry Show, early-to-mid-November is the expected time of year. With respect to the All American Quarter Horse Congress, typical timing is late September through mid-October, following Schmidt’s Columbus Oktoberfest earlier on in September. The Scott Antique Markets are typically associated with the ends of November, December, January, February, and March; the All American Youth Horse Show with May; and the Ohio State Fair proper with the end of July and the beginning of August.

Hype for the Future 51O: The Minnesota State Fair

For the twelve (12) days leading up to Labor Day, within the same neighborhood as Hamline University in Falcon Heights, a suburb between Minneapolis and Saint Paul, the State Fair of Minnesota is typically the busiest state fair by daily attendance in the nation, especially as the numbers at the State Fair in Texas have dwindled somewhat in recent years. In the near future, the Texas Fair may no longer receive as many people, thus resulting in the larger dominance of the Minnesota State Fair, which already maintains a higher daily count than any other state fair.

As a percentage of the total population of the State of Minnesota, the Minnesota State Fair typically hovers around 40% of the population of the entire state, with around two million total people attending over the cumulative course of the twelve-day event. The vast majority of the population of the State of Minnesota already lives within a fair proximity to the Minneapolis—St. Paul area, including the areas around notable and prestigious colleges and universities associated with the area. Augsburg and Macalester are each located in the inner core of the metropolitan area, though Augsburg is associated with Minneapolis and Macalester with Saint Paul. The aforementioned Hamline University also plays a large role in the area, especially in between the Twin Cities. Further south, St. Olaf College and Carleton College alike are associated with Northfield, located in the northern part of Rice County, Minnesota, north of Faribault.

Hype for the Future 39A: Northwest Missouri

Two of the largest communities along U.S. Highway 136 within northern Missouri, Maryville and Bethany, are located on the western side of the State, with similar cultural traits to the Iowa state line nearby. Unionville, Missouri, is located further east along Route 136 and Route 5 within Putnam County. Even though Unionville is located in Putnam County, county fair tickets for the county are also typically sold in Milan in Sullivan County and in Centerville in Appanoose County, Iowa. A very similar situation occurs when Iowans appear at the Northwest Missouri State Fair on occasions. However, while the fair and the university both have “Northwest Missouri” in the title, the fair is located in Bethany while the university is located in Maryville.

Hype for the Future 33B: Different State Fair Satellites in New England

While all six (6️⃣) New England states are represented within the scope of the Big E at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts, individual states may also host fairs within the region, most notably the Vermont State Fair in the City of Rutland, Vermont; and the Fryeburg Fair in Fryeburg, Maine. Within Contoocook, New Hampshire, the Hopkinton Fair is notable for being the largest in-state fair in New Hampshire, largely serving a more local area within the State as the Eastern States Exposition serves the entire New England region. Additional satellite fairs of regional significance include locations in Bangor and Skowhegan, both also located within the State of Maine.

Hype for the Future 33A: Texas State Fair Satellites

Apart from the mainstream Texas State Fair on the eastern side of the City of Dallas, serving approximately two million people as of the 2025 session. The satellite fairs of Texas, typically serving anywhere from 125,000 to 250,000 people, are located in Abilene (West Texas), Tyler (East Texas), Denton (North Texas), and Beaumont (South Texas).