(July 2021)
Payne County Expo Center Means Business
It only makes sense agriculture plays such an integral role in visitor development for Stillwater given it also played such an important part in our local history and culture. We have a gem on the east side of town that hosts hundreds of events that attract thousands of visitors annually.
The Payne County Expo Center is the largest and most versatile event and meeting space in the Stillwater area and can accommodate anything from livestock events and rodeos to weddings and conferences – sometimes even occurring at the same time.
The Payne County Expo Center is probably most widely known as the home for the Payne County Free Fair. However, in addition to a total of 85,000 square feet of meeting and event space, a rodeo arena was also added, and there are thirty-five RV hook-ups available to visitors.
Thanks to the outstanding facilities and the do-whatever-it-takes attitude of the staff, we are fortunate to also host regional and national shows that draw visitors who often stay a week – or more – in our community.
It’s not unusual to host a variety of community, county, state, and national events that include weddings, banquets, conferences, exhibitions, or just about anything in between. Amenities at the Payne County Expo Center include 24-hour facility accessibility, commercial kitchens, an outdoor arena, and livestock capabilities.
The 107th Annual Payne County Free Fair will be held from August 24-28, 2021. The exhibits at the fair are intended to be representative of the agricultural enterprises found in Payne county, and the three major components should be education, competition, and entertainment.
The Payne County Fair is one of the largest agricultural activities of the year. It brings together individuals and families representing all of the communities in the area who will show off their hard work, check out the exhibits, dine with family and friends, attend the evening entertainment, or enjoy the rides and carnival games.
Wednesday, August 25 will feature the Barnyard Olympics; Thursday, August 26 is the horse and mule team performance, “Power of the Past” antique tractor parade, and draft horse pulling competition; Friday, August 27 is the cattle fitting contest, “Power of the Past” antique tractor parade, and lawn and garden tractor pull; and, Saturday, August 28 features the “Power of the Past” antique tractor parade and the cattle dog event.
To learn more about the Payne County Expo Center, utilize their facility to plan an event, check out the calendar of events hosted there, or to see a schedule of events and download flyers and forms for the upcoming Payne County Free Fair, go to pcexpocenter.com.
For the most current and up-to-date information regarding the Stillwater hospitality industry, go to VisitStillwater.org, “Like” Visit Stillwater on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @VisitStillwater. Cristy Morrison, Visit Stillwater President and CEO, can be reached at Cristy@VisitStillwater.org or by calling 405-743-3697.
