COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The Ohio State Fair is expanding its advertising outside central Ohio while portraying itself as more of a vacation destination for the state's families.
The 12-day fair, beginning July 29 in Columbus, is hoping to capitalize on the "staycation" trend, which has recession-battered families making short summer trips close to home.
Fair board member Tom Jackson says the economy is the fair's friend and notes that it's an affordable destination you can visit in one day.
More than 35 percent of the advertising budget for this year's event is being spent in Cleveland, Cincinnati and other markets outside Columbus, versus less than 20 percent in previous years.
The ads stress that the fair is a good value and promote this year's coupons and other deals.
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Information from: The Columbus Dispatch, http://www.dispatch.com
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press
