Weekly View » Marion County Fair http://weeklyview.net Serving your community from Downtown East to Greenfield, North to Lawrence & Geist, and South to Beech Grove, New Pal & Southport Thu, 23 Apr 2026 05:11:02 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5 88th Marion County Fair Opens June 15 http://weeklyview.net/2018/06/07/88th-marion-county-fair-opens-june-15/ http://weeklyview.net/2018/06/07/88th-marion-county-fair-opens-june-15/#comments Thu, 07 Jun 2018 05:11:01 +0000 Weekly View http://weeklyview.net/?p=19341 Continue reading →]]> INDIANAPOLIS – The gates to the Marion County Fair swing open for its 88th annual edition Fri., June 15 through Sun., June 24 at 7300 E. Troy Ave. with a full complement of fun and entertainment for all ages on the agenda.
Headlining this year’s event are the “fair-well” performances of Twiggy the Waterskiing Squirrel. The world-famous rodent demonstrates her skills on skis and spreads her water safety messages June 15 through June 19 in what is one of her final bookings before she and trainer Lou Ann Best retire the act. Twiggy is back by popular demand after her 2017 performances packed the fair’s Administration Plaza with fans.
Other special features on this year’s schedule are Elite Performance K9s (June 16-17 & June 22-24), Pork Chop Revue (June 20-24), two Kids’ Days (June 16 & June 23), the always popular Gospel Music Celebration (June 16), Opening Night Fireworks (June 15), and chainsaw carver Jason Emmons (June 15-17).

submitted photoTwiggy, the waterskiing squirrel, will be entering retirement later this year. Be sure to head out to the Marion County Fair to see his act!

submitted photo
Twiggy, the waterskiing squirrel, will be entering retirement later this year. Be sure to head out to the Marion County Fair to see his act!

The grandstand will be action-packed with a wide variety of events including Supercross Racing (June 15), Truck Drag Racing (June 16), Draft Horse & Pony Pull (June 17), Outlaw Kart Races (June 19), TQ Midget Racing (June 20), and Demolition Derby (June 22-23).
The Park Stage offers continual free entertainment throughout the fair. Among performers scheduled to appear are RC Blues Band, Wayne Ellis Watson, Carly Brooke, Linda Smith Band, Rural Route 3, 45 RPMs, Heaven Canster, Greg Rhodes, Nicoles Bridgens, Vinny & the Moochers, Chris Canas Band, Indianapolis Municipal Band, and more.
The Marion County Fair Midway — the event’s centerpiece operated by North American Midway Entertainment — brings a brand new ride to the fair along with familiar favorites. Ride discounts are plentiful, and described on the fair’s website at www.MarionCountyFair.org.
The fair’s car show returns in 2018 in a brand new format: the fair has joined forces with Church Brothers Collision Repair to present the 5th annual Church Brothers Collision Repair Car Show to Benefit the Gary Dudley Memorial Scholarship Foundation on Sat., June 16. The event will be held off-site at the Church Brothers east side shop, 751 N. Shadeland Ave. The first 200 entrants will receive two tickets to the Marion County Fair; those who elect to go directly from the car show to the fairgrounds on June 16 will be parked in a special, secured lot. The Dudley foundation provides college scholarships to children of Indiana law enforcement personnel who have died in the line of duty. More car show information and pre-registration can be found at www.church-brothers.com.
Back on-site at the fairgrounds, guests will enjoy displays and demonstrations in Family Arts, the Marketplace, 4-H, and more. The Horse Arena will be a busy venue with 4-H competition; other animal competitions and displays are scheduled throughout the fair’s run. A new Queen and Princess will be crowned, talent shows will be held, and concessionaires return with a dazzling variety of favorite fair foods.
The complete 10-day schedule can be found on the Marion County Fair’s new website, www.MarionCountyFair.org.
Gates are open from 12 noon to 11 pm on Saturdays and Sundays, and from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday. General admission is $5; children 5 and under, and members of the military with valid ID, are admitted free. Parking is free in large, convenient lots.

]]> http://weeklyview.net/2018/06/07/88th-marion-county-fair-opens-june-15/feed/ 0 85 Years of the Marion County Fair http://weeklyview.net/2015/06/18/85-years-of-the-marion-county-fair/ http://weeklyview.net/2015/06/18/85-years-of-the-marion-county-fair/#comments Thu, 18 Jun 2015 05:11:58 +0000 Weekly View http://weeklyview.net/?p=8431 Continue reading →]]> INDIANAPOLIS — A large roster of brand new entertainment events, a long list of familiar favorites and a venue that continues to undergo significant enhancements are on tap for the 85th annual Marion County Fair presented by Ray Skillman Chevrolet.
The fair runs Friday, June 19 through Sunday, June 28 at the Marion County Fairgrounds, 7300 East Troy Ave. in Indianapolis (just off the I-465 & Southeastern Avenue interchange). Hours are 5 to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
General admission is just $5 per person. Children ages 5 and under are free, military with valid ID are free, and parking is free in convenient fairgrounds lots. In celebration of the fair’s 85th anniversary, on Thursday, June 24, free general admission will be offered to fairgoers who are 85 years old, were born in 1985, or were born on August 5 (8/5).
“Our board of directors has worked diligently since last year’s fair, overseeing additional upgrades to the fairgrounds, exploring new and exciting entertainment options and scheduling all of the events fairgoers will enjoy at the 85th annual Marion County Fair,” said Ron Phillips, president of the board. “We’re also pleased to welcome several new sponsors to our fair family, including our new presenting sponsor, Ray Skillman Chevrolet.”
Phillips noted that a newly designed web site, www.marioncountyfair.org, will help fairgoers keep up to date with all the action during the 10-day run, and also encouraged fans to like the fair’s Facebook page for even more event information.
Phillips said that the fairgrounds themselves have had significant upgrades and repairs, including electrical, plumbing, and landscaping upgrades. Visitors will likely notice the new paving on Main Street more than the new bathrooms in the Marketplace (formerly known as Expo Hall). However, the upgrades are a key part of the long-term vision for the fairgrounds: to be a year-round campus for organizations and groups. At the moment, Peaceful Grounds operates year-round on the fairgrounds, offering a “growing” education  in their demonstration gardens and markets. Phillips said that they hope to attract more conferences to the upgraded facilities. “We need to become self-sufficient,” he stressed.
Phillips is very excited about this year’s Marion County Fair activities. Four radio stations will be broadcasting live from the grounds, plus lots of great activities for everyone. “We’re calling this the year of the dog,” he said, with lots of dog-related activities like Elite Performance K9 demos, Kasey the Fire Dog Safety program, Indiana Dock Dogs, Police K9 demonstrations, capped off with the 4-H Dog Show on June 27 and 28 at 10 a.m. It wouldn’t be a county fair without the farm animals, either — sheep, swine, horses, and the 4-H families who raise them. However, he noted that due to the threat of avian flu, the poultry shows have been cancelled. Instead, visitors can enjoy educational activities using toy chickens and illustrated talks. The chickens of Peaceful Grounds will be on view. “We’ll be pretty much the only fair — including the State Fair — with chickens!”
This year’s generous sponsorship from Ray Skillman Chevrolet, in addition to the many other sponsors such as Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Elanco, O’Reilly, and State Farm, plus the new 503-C non-profit designation is helping the fairgrounds, as well as the fair. “We are so fortunate that the community has embraced us,” Phillips said.
The fun begins on Friday, June 19 with a wide range of events including the Fred Astaire Dance Party with the Indianapolis Jazz Orchestra, Queen & Princess Pageants, 4-H horse events, Ray Skillman Chevrolet Tent Sale, fireworks provided by Circle City Pyrotechnics, and Elite Performance K9 demos sponsored by Elanco and presented by Noah’s Animal Hospitals and the Central Indiana Kennel Club. The fair’s midway, operated by Indiana-based North American Midway Entertainment, will feature unlimited rides for $25.
Also, for the first time, there will be a  Father’s Day Celebration presented by Fred Astaire Dance Studio on June 21. Men receive $2 off admission, and there will be all sorts of things Dad will enjoy, including an open class car show, and a father-daughter dance.
“It will be a fabulous fair,” Phillips promised, “and we are looking forward to welcoming long-time fairgoers as well as first-time guests to our 85th anniversary party!”
For additional information about the 85th annual Marion County Fair presented by Ray Skillman Chevrolet, visit www.MarionCountyFair.org. You will find a full listing of daily activities and special shows online.

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