Dates: September 15th-18th, 2016
Location: The Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds, North Commercial Building, a 35,000 square foot Pavilion. There will be banners on the designated building and direction by attendants.
Hours: Thursday 9/15 – Saturday 9/17, 8:30am-7:00pm
Sunday 9/18, 10:00am-3:00pm
Note: the Fairgrounds do not open prior to 7am daily.
GPS Address: Ohio Expo Center and State Fairgrounds
717 East 17th Ave., Columbus, Ohio, 43211
Special Promotional Perks:
We are offering a perk to our very loyal customers. At the Expo Center, parking is not free. Customers must pay $5 to park in one of the Expo Center’s parking lots. However, if you bring your parking pass into the sale with you, you will receive a $5 credit towards your first purchase of $100 or more.
With there being over a dozen colleges in the Columbus area, we want to show these students a get to know us perk! Therefore, every college student who shows their student ID at check-out will receive 10% off their purchase.
Please note, due to safety concerns, no strollers or children under the age of twelve are permitted in the dinnerware stocked areas.
We hope you are as excited for this sale as we are! Keep checking both our Facebook and blog, as we will continue to inform you on this sale as we find out more information.
Columbus Fiesta Tent Sale Q&A
What is the tent sale?
The tent sale is an event in which we sell our second quality Fiesta® dinnerware at a discounted price. We hold these sales twice a year at our Factory Retail Outlet in Newell, WV and Everything Fiesta in Sutton, WV, and this year at the Ohio Expo Center and State Fair in Columbus, OH.
What are seconds?
Seconds are Fiesta dinnerware items that have minor flaws in them, some you may not even notice.
How do I get to the tent sale?
This tent sale will be held at the North Commercial Building at the Ohio Expo Center. The address for this location is 717 East 17th Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43211.
If you are traveling from the North, take I-71 South to 17th Avenue/Exit 111.
If you are traveling from the South, take I-71 North to 17th Avenue/Exit 111.If you are traveling from the West, take I-70 East to I-71 North. Then take I-71 North to 17th Avenue/Exit 111.
If you are traveling from the East, take I-70 West to I-71 North. Then take I-71 North to 17th Avenue/Exit 111.
If you are traveling from within Columbus, you can reach the Ohio Expo Center by taking North Fourth Avenue (from the South) or Summit Street (from the North) to 17th or 11th Avenues.
Once you have arrived at the Ohio Expo Center, signs and parking attendants will direct you where to park.
This map will show you exactly where to go once you arrive at the Ohio Expo Center and State Fair. To view a larger version of this map, click here:
Where do I park my car and how much does it cost?
Parking is provided at the Ohio Expo Center. There are large parking lots all around the area, and there are parking attendants who can assist with directions. Parking is $5 per day, but if you bring your parking slip to the tent, we will credit the $5 towards your first purchase over $100. You will only receive the discount if you show proof of your parking slip.
Where can I get a price list?
Price lists will be handed out while you are in line. There will also be price lists hanging up throughout the tent. Expect to see a wide variety of Fiesta items discounted at 57-83% off retail sale suggested price.
Will you publish the price list online?
Unfortunately, no. Price lists will be handed out while you are in line.
What are the prices like?
The prices can be up to 57%-83% off retail sale prices. We listed a few examples below:
These are deals you can’t pass up!
What colors will be in the tent?
The color selection will vary each day. You might even be lucky enough to find some discontinued colors, such as Marigold, Flamingo, Peacock, and Plum. Slate and Sage are the newest colors to be released in seconds, and will be available at this tent sale. Claret will not make its tent sale debut until next year.
We will also have tons of Scarlet and Slate dishes for all you Buckeyes!
Can I purchase first quality Fiesta during the tent sale?
Unfortunately, at this sale no, as it is not being held at one of our outlet locations.
What items will be at the sale?
We will have over 55 different items in the tent! The earlier you get there, the wider the selection of ware. New items have to be available for a year before they are released in seconds.
Due to liabilities, we are unable to sell you any broken pieces for any reason.
How are the items sold?
Every item (with the exception of our canisters) is sold individually, unless you find a matching lid. Even items that are typically sold in a set will be sold individually, such as the extra large butter dish.
Do I need to get there on the first day to get the best item/color selection?
Due to the size of the facility, all ware that we are bringing will be in the venue each day, therefore the best selection will be on the first day. However, if we see that ware is going fast, we will send for more to be brought down from our factory on Friday.
Do I need to get there early to get the best item/color selection?
Trust us, we will not run out of ware! The tent will always have a good stock of plates, bowls, and mugs no matter what time you get there. Getting there early will give you an advantage if we only have one bin of a certain item. However, if we only have a few pieces of an item we try to limit the amount you can purchase to just a few to give everyone a chance!
Are my purchases boxed for me, or do I need to bring something to pack them in?
All ware that you purchase will be wrapped in paper and packed securely in boxes/bags for easy transportation.
What happens if I return home and discover an item wasn’t packed or I want to exchange a purchased item?
Make sure to watch your items as they are being packed. Sometimes our packers work so quickly that they miss packing an item. All of our sales on second quality items are final, regardless of whether it is during the tent sale or not. Therefore, if an item is unfortunately left behind or what you no longer desire, we are unable to refund or exchange the item. Also, make sure to check if your cashier or packer has put stoppers in your salt and pepper shakers, cheese shakers, and toothbrush holders. Make sure that your soap/lotion dispensers are given a pump too!
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and cash. We do not accept American Express or checks.
If you are paying with a credit card please have your ID ready.
Do you accept gift cards/gift certificates during the tent sale?
Since we do not have an outlet store in Columbus we cannot accept gift cards/certificates during the tent sale.
What do I need to bring?
We will provide you with shopping carts; however, you can bring a dolly with you. If you bring a dolly with you we provide you with up to four milk crates when you enter the tent. The dolly makes them much easier to carry. If you are using our shopping carts there are no need for milk crates.
There is a good chance the ware will be a little dirty. Therefore, we highly recommend bringing an old hand towel or a sock to wipe off the factory dirt and dust from the dishes.
…and of course we recommend you bring a friend!
Can I bring my child with me? What if my child is in a car seat or if I’m holding them?
Unfortunately, due to safety concerns, no strollers or children under the age of twelve are permitted in the dinnerware stocked areas.
What happens if it rains?
The show must go on! The sale will happen come rain or shine. Fortunately, this tent sale is being held under a 35,000 square foot pavilion. However, if there is lightning and thunder, we will evacuate the area until the weather has cleared and it has been deemed safe to continue.
What do you do with the ware left over after the sale?
Any ware left over during the sale will be donated to a non-profit, not for resale organization. We feel it is better to return to the community than to return leftover ware to the factory.
Hi. Would you please confirm the date of the first day of the 2016 Columbus tent sale? I have seen both September 14 and 15 on this site. The event center has said the 14th since January. It makes a huge difference on how we approach our trip. We made hotel reservations in January based on it starting on Wednesday. My mom and sister and I take a trip in the fall and this year we picked the tent sale and a couple of other stops. We are really looking forward to attending and already have our shopping lists.
Thank you.
LoriAnne Weaver