“The Year of the Coliseum” at the Indiana State Fair Aug. 1-17

Weekly View — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 05:11:55 +0000

INDIANPOLIS — After seven years of celebrating Indiana homegrown products, the Indiana State Fair is celebrating the “Year of the Coliseum” during the fair’s 17-day run Aug. 1 – 17. The 18-month, $63 million Coliseum Complex renovation that wrapped up in April is the largest project in the fairgrounds’ 123-year history.
Much of the structure’s 75-year history was preserved by reinstalling 96 original seats; recreating the original terrazzo floor; and leaving original walls and steel support beams exposed. The renovation finished three months ahead of schedule and includes the adjoining Youth Arena, a 30,000 sq. ft. multi-purpose facility that opened last August.
The renovation did little to change the outside appearance of the Coliseum, but the inside has been completely transformed and now boasts several amenities that include a spacious lobby with elevators, more than 70 wall-mounted flat-screen TV monitors, double-tiered seating with great sight lines, an overhead LED video scoreboard, and new sound system.
The $63 million renovation makes the Coliseum complex the only modern, mid-sized multi-purpose facility in Central Indiana.
State Fair headline concerts are returning to the Coliseum for the first time in 30 years, and there’s a wide variety of shows to check out. The 2014 Shane Co. Coliseum Concert Series includes Phillip Phillips – Aug. 5 at 8 p.m.; $25 and $35; American Idol Live! 2014 Tour – Aug. 6 at 7:30 p.m.; $25, $39.50 and $59.50; Pitbull – Aug. 8 at 8 p.m.; $35, $45 and $75; Hunter Hayes – Aug. 9 at 8 p.m.; $35 and $45; Jim Gaffigan – Aug. 17 at 8 p.m.; $25, $35 and $45. Shane Co. Coliseum Concert Series tickets can be purchased at the Indiana State Fair Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, www.ticketmaster.com or charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000.
In between the concerts, the Coliseum will be alive with a lot of livestock shows, Draft horse shows and other special events. Check out the Coliseum “Selfie Stations,” souvenirs, and a free Digital History Book that people can find at www.indianastatefair.com.
Another new feature of this year’s fair is the Indiana Beer and Wine Exhibition located in the Grand Hall on Main Street. The new exhibition, open only to adults 21 and older, will be open every day of the fair, Aug. 1 – 17, from 1 to 9 p.m. with a wide variety of Indiana wineries and Indiana craft brewers on hand to offer tastings and educate consumers on their products. It will also include an educational display from the Indiana State Museum’s American Spirits exhibit. This is the first time the State Fair has offered alcohol for sale since 1946 following a state law that was created to ban it due to a littering issue during the fair. The exhibition will offer Indiana beer and wine for sale by the glass as well as smaller tasting samples to allow visitors a chance to try a wide assortment of drinks. Each patron will be limited to a strict three drink maximum that will require a token in exchange for each 12 ounce beer or 5 ounce glass of wine. Tokens will be available for $5 each. In addition, all glasses of beer and wine sold must be consumed inside the Grand Hall; there will be no roaming the fairgrounds with alcohol.
The Indiana State Fair is open daily at 8 a.m. Exhibition halls and buildings are open from 9 a.m.- 9 p.m. General admission is $10 with kids under 5 free. Discount tickets are available online at www.indianastatefair.com and various retailers. Fairgrounds parking is $5 a vehicle on a first-come-first served basis. Park at Glendale Mall’s Rural St. lot and take the shuttle to the fair for free, or take the Fairtrain from Fishers for $12 (adults) or $8 (children) for a round trip journey. Visit www.itm/events/fairtrain for more information and schedule.

Front Page Profile: Ride a Train To or From the Indiana State Fair This Year

Weekly View — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 05:09:40 +0000

(Paid Business Advertorial)

Volunteers and staff of the Indiana Transportation Museum are wrapping up preparations for this year’s FairTrain™ the historic passenger train has run to the Indiana State Fair for 30 years.
The Museum’s authentic train from the 1940’s is a big part of the non-profit’s educational program and the FairTrain is one of its biggest fundraising projects. Riding it is also a way experienced Fair-goers beat the traffic and parking congestion.
The train travels the Nickel Plate Railroad from the Fairgrounds through Castleton to Fishers. Trains are scheduled every hour and a half in each direction. Details can be found on the Museum’s website at: ITM.org
“Boys and girls love the train,” said Museum Board member and professional librarian, Lavonne Stage. “It’s a great opportunity for families to spend time together. The anticipation and excitement of the journey fires up kids’ curiosity about the history, science and art of the railroad.”
“One of the big things we want to emphasize this year,” said Museum Chairman Jeff Kehler, “is that people can board the train at the Fairgrounds station and ride to Fishers and back. Studies found many people in Indianapolis didn’t know that was possible.” To increase accessibility, the Binford neighborhood group, BRAG, worked with the Museum to open a stop at 71st Street.
For those who ride to Fishers, a short stopover lets people stretch, look over the train and visit the Museum’s store in the station.
The Fishers station is located on 116th Street 5 blocks west of the I-69 Interchange. The Indianapolis station is on the east edge of the Fairgrounds at 39th Street. The 71st Street stop is located one block west of Graham Road just off Binford Boulevard. Free parking adds to the train’s convenience and is available at both the Fishers station and the 71st Street Kroger store, a block from the train stop.
Reservations are not needed. Space is available on a first-come basis. Tickets can be purchased at the Fishers station, at the 71st and Binford Kroger store and on the train at the Fairgrounds station. All tickets are round trip. Adult fares are $12, Youth fares for ages 2 to 12 are $8 and children under 2 who don’t occupy a seat ride free.
There’s nothing like the FairTrain. While historic trains run elsewhere, no other organization has ever run 18 trains a day, now for 17 days in a row, for 30 years. Museum staff proudly claim their railroad schedules as many daily trains and moves as many people during the Fair as some commuter railroad routes.
For over 100 years railroads were the biggest most important industry in America. They exerted a powerful influence on peoples’ imaginations and helped give rise to Americans’ characteristic determination and can-do attitude. They shaped many aspects of modern life from science and technology to finance, law and the arts. The train helps bring the railroads’ stories to life so they can inspire future generations with the ingenuity, daring and dedication of the past.
The FairTrain runs from 8:45 a.m. to 10:15 p.m. throughout the run of the Indiana State Fair, August 2-18. For more information visit ITM.org

Weekly View » FairTrain

“The Year of the Coliseum” at the Indiana State Fair Aug. 1-17

Front Page Profile: Ride a Train To or From the Indiana State Fair This Year