Fun at Tulsa State fair

Corby Sorrells, 12, hit the midway running Thursday afternoon. Looking high and low, he saw more rides than the Tulsa State Fair has ever had in its 104-year history.

   "I think it'll be better this year," he said.

   The fair opened Thursday for its annual 11-day run. Expo Square officials hope it sees 1 million visitors before it ends Oct. 7.

   Expo Square CEO and President Rick Bjorklund kicked off the festivities by boasting of the fair's nearly 60 rides -- including four or five that are new to rr  Oklahoma. He also was proud that this year's event will have more free offerings than in years past.

   "I remember talking to Denny (Tuttle, the former Expo Square CEO who died last year) about adding more things that are free," Bjorklund recalled. "We've seen fairs decline because they forgot that."

   He believes that Tuttle would be proud of this version of the Tulsa  State Fair, he said.
Not only are we surviving, but we're thriving," he said.



   The weather was perfect -- and maybe even a little warmer than usual -- for the fair's first day. However, rain earlier this week put state inspectors behind schedule in getting rides approved before the gates opened.