It鈥檚 fair season in Ohio. Anyone planning on going may encounter more than fried food, rides and livestock; they could also see an increase in security.
That's true at the Summit County Fair, which runs through Sunday, according to Howard Call, a fairgrounds spokesperson.
鈥淲e鈥檝e also increased our security presence on the grounds as well as at the gates,鈥� Call said. 鈥淲e are doing bag checks just to ensure we have a family atmosphere here.鈥�
The fairgrounds decided to up its security after a large fight at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds last week and a shooting at a festival in Macedonia in June, Call said.
鈥淲e want people to come to the Summit County Fair and feel safe and not have to worry about rowdyism,鈥� he said.
Related: Ohio State Fair 2024 features cotton candy cream puffs, new young fairgoers policy
The fair has a safety plan set in case something goes array, according to Call.
鈥淲e have a shots fired plan; a lost child plan and we also have a fire plan , which are all coded out,鈥� he said. 鈥淓very board director, including our sheriffs who are on duty and our fire department who鈥檚 on duty are on this com channel. So that when we have any of those things happen everyone hears it at the same time.鈥�
The Lake County Fair, underway through Sunday, has also upped its security this season, said Wade Crofoot, president of the board of the Lake County Fairgrounds.
鈥淚 think we鈥檙e pretty well prepared with security,鈥� Crofoot said. 鈥淲e had some training with the chair and with the sheriff鈥檚 department. We鈥檝e upped security.鈥�
The decision had to do with recent events in Ohio, but Crofoot said he鈥檚 not worried.
鈥淭he fairgrounds are fenced in and in a controlled area,鈥� Crofoot said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e done different trainings and things, because of this. We are prepared the best we can be. Regardless of if, when or where it happens.鈥�
Concerns over security have even prompted changes at the Ohio State Fair, now underway in Columbus. After 2 p.m., minors will only be admitted to the fairgrounds if they鈥檙e accompanied by an adult 21 or older.
The changes come after seeing other similar events add the same restrictions, said Adam Heffron, the state fairgrounds executive director.
鈥淲orking in another fair that instituted the same policy, it becomes extremely positive. Very positive,鈥� Heffron said in an interview.
The state fair runs through August 4.
But not every fair is increasing security.
Carl Cooley, president of the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds said they鈥檝e made no changes in security for their county fair which runs from August 6th to the 11th.
鈥淲e are more aware, but we haven鈥檛 increased our numbers,鈥� Cooley said. 鈥淭he county sheriff started patrolling our fairgrounds last year. But we have never had the kind of crowds that places like Medina have. Our fair is more family-oriented, we鈥檙e not big on groups of teenagers like some other festivals.鈥�
