The Indiana State Fair runs August 5-21 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th St. This year, celebrating the 200th “birthday” of Indiana, the State Fair will be offering more, bigger, and better attractions and events to keep Hoosiers of all ages entertained.
The 2016 Indiana State Fair is celebrating 200 years of Indiana’s statehood. Fairgoers can look forward to several exhibits and special features that highlight our state’s history, art and tradition. Visit the Bicentennial Train, see First Lady Karen Pence’s watercolor paintings in the Indiana Arts Building, visit Indiana’s Largest Bison Art Display, meet the Featured Farmers presented by Dow AgroSciences, tour the Visit Indiana Bicentennial Pavilion and much more during this year’s run.
An expanded free concert series includes first rate performers such as Night Ranger, Blues Traveler, Anthony Hamilton, and 38 Special. The Happy Together Tour on Aug. 10 features Baby Boomer favorites The Turtles, Mark Lindsay, Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, the Cowsills, and the Spencer Davis Group. On Aug. 7, there will be a Hispanic/Latino Music Festival; Aug. 14 the Contemporary Christian Music Festival is on stage, and on Aug. 21, The Mountain Dew Gospel Music Festival is featured. In all, 17 free shows will be on the concert stage.
photo courtesy Indiana State Fair and Events Center
Stay up to date with the Indiana State Mobile app for your smartphone, available free from app stores. The app will allow you to vote for the Grand Champion of the Taste of the Fair competition, keep you socially networked in, and much more.
This year, guests will be able to vote for the best food at the fair, selecting the Signature Food that will be announced Aug. 17. In addition, the wildly popular Beer, Wine and Spirits Exhibition returns, and on select days visitors can indulge in educational tastings of Indiana’s growing distilled spirits movement.
No visit to the Indiana State Fair is complete without a visit to the Biggest Boar and baby pigs, the chickens, horses, and the cows. New this year is the Miniature Herefords competing in the Coliseum. The State Fair will host the prestigious National Percheron Show, Belgian Show, the Clydesdale Show, and the Haflinger Show over nine days, Aug. 13-21.
Hailing from Los Angeles, California is a group of young, emerging taiko drummers that will bring a dynamic sound to Dow AgroSciences Celebration Park daily. TAIKOPROJECT seeks to create a truly American style of taiko, blending traditional forms in which they were raised, with an innovative and fresh approach to the Japanese drum.
The Grandstand features the Hot Air Balloon Night Aug. 5 at 9 p.m. and an Illuminated Tractor Parade, Knights of Valour Jousting Aug. 14-17 and much more. Visit www.indianastatefair to reserve tickets to Grandstand events.
Food, farm animals, midway rides, interesting Indiana history, and music — there’s something for everyone at the Indiana State Fair.
General admission is $12 at the gate, and parking is $5 per car. Children under 5 are free.
Park n’ Ride is available from Glendale Mall from 10 a.m.-11 p.m., departing every 20 minutes.
Fair hours are Sunday-Thursday 8 a.m.-11 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.-midnight, and Saturday 8 a.m.-12:30 a.m. Exhibit building hours are 9 a.m.-9 p.m. and the Exposition Hall is open daily from 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
