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10 New Things at the 2021 Indiana State Fair @indystatefair
By Sharon Smith
Indiana State Fair
10 NEW Things Added to Your 2021 Indiana State Fair
July 22, 2021, INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The Indiana State Fair, July 30-August 22 (CLOSED Mondays and Tuesdays), is full of traditions and memories for Hoosiers, but equally important, are the exciting, NEW experiences to enjoy. Sign up for a yoga session with goats and pigs, be amazed as Mighty Mike bends horseshoes, or sit back and relax at the new Backyard Outdoor Bar. The 2021 Indiana State Fair is back in an even bigger way and has something for everyone! These are just some of the interactive new experiences that will be at your 2021 State Fair:
- Budweiser Clydesdales
Known for their extreme strength and striking appearance, the iconic Budweiser Clydesdales are some of the most recognizable animals in the country and now you can see them while visiting your 2021 Indiana State Fair from July 30 through August 8! Visit these majestic horses located just inside Gate 12 north of the Farm Bureau Building or catch them in the Daily Parade. - Forever Forest
Explore how our lives are connected to forests in the all-new Forever Forest exhibit. Presented by Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association, Forever Forest is an interactive exhibit where children can play and learn about sustainability, selective harvesting, transportation needs, and the every-day products we use that are made from trees. This exciting new exhibit is located at the Farm Bureau Building and is open daily from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM. - Double Decker Carousel
The 2021 Indiana State Fair will feature a brand new ride: it’s the Double Decker Carousel! Located just west of the Hoosier Lottery Grandstand, the Double Decker Carousel features two levels of beautifully handcrafted figures, completed with tigers, zebras, and giraffes. Don’t miss a ride on this timeless classic, now twice as nice! - The Mighty Mike Show
Step right up! The Mighty Mike Show is coming to the 2021 Indiana State Fair. Witness Mighty Mike juggle bowling balls and sledgehammers as if light as a feather while dressed in a 1920s- style bathing suit. Prepare to be amazed as he bends horseshoes and tears decks of cards but try not to laugh at his goofy dance routines. Shows will take place daily in Hoosier Spirit Park at 1:00, 2:30, 4:00, 5:00, and 6:30 PM.
- Bubble Tower
Come visit the Family Fun Park to witness the world’s BIGGEST bubble toy in action! This machine is a solar-powered attraction sure to delight fairgoers all day, every day. Stop by for some bubble popping fun and to soak in the beauty of shiny bubbles floating through the hot summer air. Just follow the bubbles! - Backyard Brats & Brews
Looking for a shady spot to sit back and relax during your visit to the 2021 Indiana State Fair? Located in Hoosier Spirit Park, Backyard Brats and Brews is the perfect place to grab a cold beverage, grilled brats, and other snacks while enjoying live music and yard games. With its unique “backyard barbeque” atmosphere, this family-friendly area is great for all ages. Stop by Backyard Brats & Brews open from 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM daily during the Fair. - The Great American Duck Race
One water track, four racing lanes, unlimited smiles! Whether you’re chosen to participate or not, everyone’s a winner at the Great American Duck Race. Learn about Mallard ducks and watch them splash to the finish line while you cheer on your favorite. Located in the Family Fun Park, this unique and educational show takes place at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 2:30 PM, 4:30 PM, and 6:00 PM daily beginning August 4. - Street Drum Corps
Street Drum Corps is a world-renowned, high energy, drum and percussion show, as seen on America’s Got Talent, American Idol, Master Chef, Glee, MTV, and numerous professional sporting events. The group has a punk-rock sound and uses unique instruments, such as garbage cans, rain barrels, kitchenware, recycled products, and even power tools. Catch their daily performances at the Fair, starting at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM, and 4:30 PM. Shows will take place at the Family Fun Park July 30-August 1 (Opening Weekend) and will take place at the Gate 12 Kids’ Zone for the remainder of the Fair (August 4-22). - The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show
Filled with action-packed competition and lots of laughs, it’s the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show! The show features quality lumberjack competitors known throughout the world for their strength, skill, and athletic ability. Stop by the WGU Indiana Parklet to see them compete in events like log rolling and axe throwing. Shows start at 12:30, 2:00, 3:30, 5:30, and 7:00 PM daily.
10. Animal Yoga
The Indiana State Fair is excited to offer animal yoga this year, featuring some of your favorite animals including goats, pigs, bunnies, and lambs! These cute animals will climb, cuddle, and entertain as you partake in a 45-minute beginner-level yoga session. Yoga sessions will take place July 31 at 10:00 AM and 11:30 AM, August 1 at 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM, August 12 at 6:00 PM, August 18 at 6:00 PM, and August 19 at 6:00 PM. Each session costs $35 per ticket and includes admission to the Fair. Space is limited, so make sure to register today at IndianaStateFair.com and secure your spot
ABOUT THE INDIANA STATE FAIR
The Indiana State Fair is the state’s largest multi-day event celebrating Hoosiers’ spirit and agricultural heritage. These 18 days celebrate Indiana agriculture and promote it to hundreds of thousands of people across Indiana, and beyond. Nationally recognized for offering great entertainment, showcasing 4-H youth, interactive agriculture education programs, premier facilities and a variety of unique, fun foods, the Indiana State Fair has been an annual attraction for generations of Hoosiers since 1852. The 2021 Indiana State Fair will be held July 30-August 22 (CLOSED Mondays and Tuesdays). The theme for this year’s fair is Celebrating the Hoosier Spirit.
One of the best ways to save money at the fair is to order tickets in advance. Tickets purchased online before 11:59 PM on July 29 are only $10 plus convenience fee, while general admission tickets purchased at the gate during the Fair are $13. Value packs of tickets, including the Family 4-Pack and Super Family 4-Pack, are available online only through July 29 at 11:59 PM. The Family 4-Pack includes 4 tickets and a parking pass for just $40 and the Super Family 4-Pack includes 4 tickets, a parking pass, and 50 Fair Bucks for $90. And don’t forget that children 5 and under get in FREE! Purchase tickets at IndianaStateFair.com today.
For more information, visit www.indianastatefair.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Indiana Pork BBQ Split at the State Fair @indystatefair @IndianaPork @INporkproducers
The Indiana Pork BBQ Split is coming to the Indiana State Fair, Aug. 2-18, 2019.
Photo provided by the Indiana Pork Producers Association and used with written permission.
By Jeanette Merritt
Indiana Pork Producers Association
Indiana Pork will showcase a new food item for the 2019 Indiana State Fair “Taste of the Fair” contest.
The Indiana Pork BBQ Split features three delicious items; a scoop of pulled pork, macaroni and cheese and coleslaw. The BBQ Split resembles a banana split and will be served with a pickle on the side.
2019 Indiana State Fair: August 2-18 @indystatefair
The State Fair Sky Ride at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
AroundIndy.com staff photo, (c) 2017, all rights reserved.
By Bob Burchfield, Editor
AroundIndy.com, LLC
Heroes in the Heartland presented by the Indiana Donor Network is the theme for the 2019 Indiana State Fair which opens on Friday, August 2, 2019, and continues daily through Sunday, August 18, at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 East 38th Street, in Indianapolis.
The 2019 Indiana State Fair will salute Heroes in the Heartland including Hoosier Farmers, First Responders, Educators, members of the Armed Forces, and many others who keep us safe and make us proud.
With no disrespect to any other annual event in Indiana — and there are many outstanding ones — this is my #1 favorite event each year. I first attended the State Fair in 1952 (I was still in diapers!) and have attended almost every year since. I love the tradition and vibe and atmosphere, the exhibits, the animals, the music events and concerts, band day, the Midway, the balloon race, the harness racing, the shuttle train around the fairgrounds — just to name a few — and I love the great variety and selection of fair food (a State Fair milk shake from the Dairy Barn and a State Fair tenderloin are two must-do’s as far as I’m concerned). And speaking of food…
TASTE OF THE FAIR
The 2019 Taste of the Fair features some amazing and incredible food options, including Bison Hush Puppies, Angry Pretzel Poppers, Buffaloaded French Fries (see photo herein), the Hawaiian Hamanator, the Indiana Pork BBQ Split, Lamb Tacos, Hoosier Hometown Hash at the Dairy Bar, and many more mouth-watering and tempting treats. Be sure to vote for your favorite! For information, see https://www.indianastatefair.com/state-fair/taste-of-the-fair/.
Buffaloaded French Fries at the 2019 Indiana State Fair.
Photo provided by the State Fair and used with written permission.
TICKETS
General admission tickets this year are $13 each (under age 6 free). You can get a ticket online for just $8 (plus $1 convenience fee) — through August 1 — at https://indianastatefair.com. Discounted advance sale tickets are also available at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum Box Office through August 1.
A Family 4-pack is available online only for $35. This includes four tickets and one parking pass. This offer is good through August 1.
Onsite parking is available for $8 either online or at the gate.
GENERAL FAIR HOURS
Gate Hours
Friday, August 2, 2019: 8 am to 9 pm
Saturday, August 3: 7 am to 9 pm
Sunday-Thursday: 9 am to 9 pm
Friday-Saturday, August 9-10 and 16-17: 9 am to 9:30 pm
Building and Exhibit Hours
Every Day: 9 am to 9 pm
Midway Hours
Mon, Wed, Thu: 12-10 pm
Tue, Fri: 12-11 pm
Sat, Sun: 11 am to 11 pm
Sunday, August 18: 11 am to 10 pm
DISCOUNTS AND SPECIAL PROMOTION DAYS
Sunday, August 4
Ride Safe Indiana Day: First 100 motorcyclists who enter Gate 6 off Fall Creek Parkway can park along Main Street.
Monday, August 5
Chevrolet Military Day: Current and former military and their families receive free admission with valid ID presented at the gate.
Tuesday, August 6 and 13
$2 Tuesday presented by the Indiana Secretary of State: $2 gate admission, $2 midway rides, $2 food options at each food stand.
Wednesday, August 7
Indiana Pork Day: Free admission with IndyStar ticket. Seniors ages 55+ ride the shuttles for free.
Thursday, August 8
BMV Discount Day: $6 admission with printed voucher from https://www.in.gov/bmv/.
Saturday, August 10
Hoosier Lottery Day: Visitors 18+ with paid admission and a Hoosier Lottery gate flyer can receive a free Hoosier Lottery scratch-off ticket at Hoosier Lottery Town under the Hoosier Lottery Grandstand, or at Hoosier Lottery Expo Hall (while supplies last).
Sunday, August 11
Cancer Survivors Day: Fairgoers are encouraged to make a donation to Little Red Door Cancer Agency to benefit cancer survivors.
Monday, August 12
First Responders Day: First responders and their families receive free admission when ID or badge is presented at the gate.
Wednesday, August 14
Farmers’ Day presented by Union Carpenters: Seniors ages 55+ ride the shuttles for free.
Thursday, August 15
AAA Day: AAA cardholders receive free admission with a valid AAA membership card presented at the gate. One valid card per person.
STATE FAIR FREE STAGE CONCERTS
Included with admission to the fair. Seating is first-come, first-served. Located in Celebration Park on the northwest side of the fairgrounds. All shows begin at 7:30 pm except Sunday, August 18.
Friday, August 2: Ace Frehley
Saturday, August 3: TBA
Sunday, August 4: Chase Rice
Monday, August 5: Air Supply
Tuesday, August 6: Indiana Wind Symphony
Wednesday, August 7: Switchfoot
Thursday, August 8: KC and the Sunshine Band
Friday, August 9: Pop 2000 Tour hosted by Lance Bass
Saturday, August 10: David Nail
Sunday, August 11: Matthew West with Francesca Battistelli
Monday, August 12: Happy Together Tour with The Turtles, Chuck Negron, Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, The Buckinghams, The Classics IV, and The Cowsills
Tuesday, August 13: Sixteen Candles
Wednesday, August 14: Boyz II Men
Thursday, August 15: Melissa Etheridge
Friday, August 16: Everclear
Saturday, August 17: The Guess Who
Sunday, August 18 (3 pm): Gospel Music Festival with headliner Mary Mary
KC and the Sunshine Band is scheduled for August 8, 2019.
Photo provided by the State Fair and used with written permission.
ENTERTAINMENT
From Goat Mountain to Go-Karts to the Indiana Grown Marketplace to the Wine Garden to the Daily Parade to Putt-Putt Golf to the Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest — and much, MUCH more — there’s lots to see and do every day at the Indiana State Fair. The events mentioned above just barely scratch the surface of this year’s fair.
So for complete information about the 2019 State Fair, visit https://www.indianastatefair.com/state-fair/ or call 317-927-7500. See you there?
DISCLOSURE NOTICE: The Indiana State Fair provided AroundIndy.com, LLC with complimentary tickets to the 2012 Indiana State Fair; 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 annual media passes; and media passes to the 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 Indiana State Fair.
162nd Indiana State Fair, Aug. 3-19, 2018 @indystatefair #indystatefair
Image provided by the Indiana State Fair and used with written permission.
By Bob Burchfield, Editor
AroundIndy.com, LLC
With no disrespect to any other Indiana organization or event, the Indiana State Fair is simply my most favorite event of the year — and has been for more than six decades!
I started attending the Indiana State Fair in 1952. Yes. 1952! I was still in diapers. But my mother was a quilter and loved to visit the quilt display in the Indiana Arts Building. So away we went to the State Fair each summer.
An impressive quilt at the 2015 Indiana State Fair.
My most vivid memory of the State Fair is the band contest. My brother played trombone in the Anderson High School marching band that won three consecutive state championships in 1957, 1958, and 1959 — and finished 2nd in 1960! I’ll never forget the announcement of 2nd place in 1960: “And 2nd place goes to — (dramatic pause) — A – N – D” and the crowd went wild. Ben Davis won that year.
And so I’ve attended the State Fair almost every year since then, except when I was serving in the military after college and was stationed out of state.
This year is no exception. 66 years after my first State Fair, you know I’ll be there as “Step Right Up! The Greatest 17 Days of Summer” features a circus theme, August 3-19, 2018.
That’s right! New to the 2018 Indiana State Fair is a single-ring, world-class circus. Located on the north side of the fairgrounds, there will be three shows per day (included with fair admission) showcasing a variety of world-famous performers, including Bello Nock, the International Circus Superstar. The Big Top Circus is presented by Bee Window.
The Big Top Circus. Photo provided by the Indiana State Fair and used with written permission.
There are a few activities at the State Fair that I simply must observe each year out of family tradition:
- The first thing I always do is get on the Shuttle Train and take a ride all the way around the fairgrounds. It’s the best way to get a quick overview of what’s going on and where everything is located, at least IMO.
- A stop at the Dairy Barn for a State Fair Milk Shake is mandatory for me. I prefer vanilla, but there’s strawberry and chocolate, too.
- I still like to stop at the Victorian-era Hook’s Drug Store Museum and take a step back in time at the historic soda fountain and pharmacy.
- Even though my cardiologist would not approve, a State Fair tenderloin is a must. Nobody makes ‘em like the ones at the State Fair!
- And I always pay homage to my mother, who died in 2011, by visiting the quilt display as previously mentioned. A sentimental and nostalgic tradition.
In the past five years, I’ve even conquered my fear of heights (at least somewhat!) by finally mustering the courage to ride the giant ferris wheel, and last year by riding the Subaru Skyride (which was new in 2017). The Midway is so colorful and full of visual appeal, especially after dark!
The Midway at the 2015 Indiana State Fair.
Subaru Skyride. Photo provided by the Indiana State Fair and used with written permission.
I like to go through the DNR Building and view the fish aquariums. I like to go through the Agriculture-Horticulture Building and see the exhibits. I like to go through Pioneer Village and see all the vintage and antique farm equipment. I like to walk through the animal barns—it’s always interesting to look for the world’s largest hog in the Swine Barn. I like to hang around for the daily parade each evening at 6:30 pm.
And curiously, I like to walk through the underground tunnel from the infield to State Fair Main Street, because that’s my earliest memory and recollection of the fair.
But that shouldn’t dictate YOUR itinerary! There is so much to see and do at the State Fair that you simply can’t take it in all in one day. So I try to get out to the fair at least 3-4 times each year.
The Chevrolet Free Stage has some great entertainment this year, including Rick Springfield, Natalie Stovall, Anthony Hamilton, Tyler Childers, Randy Houser, Kool and the Gang, Hanson, the Happy Together Tour, Grand Funk Railroad, Hunter Hayes, the Gospel Music Festival with Kirk Franklin, and more. See the entire Free Stage schedule on our Web site at https://aroundindy.com/fairgrounds.php.
The giant hot air balloon race kicks off the fair on Friday, August 3, at sunrise (weather permitting), with the Illuminated Tractor Parade and Balloon Night at 9 PM that night. And the aforementioned State Fair Band Day is Saturday, August 4.
This year’s State Fair Queen is Audrey Campbell from Fountain County. Congratulations, Audrey!
2018 State Fair Queen Audrey Campbell. Photo provided by the Indiana State Fair and used with written permission.
The gates open daily at 8 am and are open until 9 pm Sunday-Thursday and 9:30 pm on Friday and Saturday. Exhibit and building hours are 9 am to 9 pm.
Onsite parking is $5 until the fairgrounds parking is full. Or you can park at Glendale Mall’s Rural Street lot and ride the Indiana State Fair shuttle for free. There are also $5 lots located south of 38th Street across from the Main Gate and at the Indiana School for the Deaf on 42nd Street. And you can save $1 off fair admission when you bike to the State Fair and use one of the secured bike racks available on the Monon Trail at 38th Street.
General admission is $13 (under 6 free). You can get advance tickets for $8 before August 3. The Chevrolet Free Stage concerts are included with admission. Discount tickets can be purchased online at https://indianastatefair.com and at the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center Box Office, located inside Indiana Farmers Coliseum, now through August 2.
By the way, there are several free admission specials:
- Monday, August 6: Current and former military, and their families, receive free admission with ID presented at the gate.
- Monday, August 13: Statewide Firefighters, Police Officers and EMT personnel and their families receive free admission when ID or badge is presented at the gate.
- Wednesday, August 8 and 15: Free admission with IndyStar ticket.
- Thursday, August 16: AAA cardholders receive free admission with valid AAA membership card presented at the gate.
And there are discounted admission offers on other days throughout the fair.
It’s almost impossible to write a blog post of any length and cover everything at the fair. So visit the State Fair Web site at https://www.indianastatefair.com/state-fair/ for complete information, or call 317-927-7500.
I hope to see you at the fair this year! And I hope this is the year we crack one million in attendance.
A view of the State Fairgrounds from the top of the giant ferris wheel. See, I finally did it! [grin]
DISCLOSURE NOTICE: The Indiana State Fair provided AroundIndy.com, LLC with complimentary tickets to the 2012 Indiana State Fair; 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 annual media passes; and media passes to the 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 Indiana State Fair.
Potatchoes at the Indiana State Fair, Aug. 3-19, 2018 @indystatefair @indianapork
Potatchoes at the Indiana State Fair. Photo provided by the Indiana Pork Producers Association and used with written permission.
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