Tickets, parking, performances: Everything you need to know about the Indiana State Fair
Lace up your high tops and comp your tickets – this year’s Indiana State Fair is set to be a slam dunk.
The fair returns in July with the theme “Celebrating Basketball: The State that Grew the Game,” a tribute to Indiana’s love of basketball. New exhibits, a packed free concert schedule and more are in store for the month of festivities.
This year, the fair will institute new and updated safety policies, parking guidelines and other directives. Here’s everything you need to know for your day at the fairgrounds.
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When is the Indiana State Fair open?
The State Fair will open July 28 and close Aug. 20. Its hours of admission are 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday and Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, and last entry is 8 p.m. for each day. The fair is closed Monday and Tuesday.
The midway is open noon to 10 p.m. Wednesday, noon to 11 p.m. Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday to Sunday. It will open at 11 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. Aug. 20, the last day of the fair. Wristbands will not be sold after 8:30 p.m. or accepted after 10 p.m.
More information on hours is available at bit.ly/3XrXc12.
How much are tickets to the Indiana State Fair?
Advance general entry tickets are $11 and only permit single-day admission. Midway wristbands are available online for $25 and are only valid Wednesday, Friday and the last Sunday of the fair.
A family discount pack, which includes four general entry tickets and a parking pass, is $44. Children under 5 can enter for free.
Tickets and wristbands are available online at indianastatefair.com/p/tickets.
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How can I get to the Indiana State Fair?
The fairgrounds are located at 1202 E. 38th St. and accessible via interstates 65, 69, 70 and 74.
Parking passes, which allow entry into the Fairgrounds Infield, the South Lot on 38th Street and the Indiana School for the Deaf at 1200 42nd St., are available in advance for $8. The westbound side of 38th Street will close on or after July 11, but drivers can still access the open eastbound lane via Emerson Avenue, 46th Street and Keystone Avenue.
IndyGo routes 4 and 39 will drop passengers off close to the fair’s entrance on 38th Street. Far is $1.75 for a single trip and $4 for all-day rides, and passengers under 18 and over 65 may be eligible for discounted fare with proper ID.
Visitors who bike to the fair will receive $1 off the price of admission with the “pedal and park” deal, which is offered from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Sunday or 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday and Saturday. Cyclists can park their bikes at racks at the Monon Trail.
Directions, guidelines and more information are available at indianastatefair.com/p/visit/parking.
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What can I bring to the Indiana State Fair?
Two new safety policies will take effect at this year’s fair.
No one younger than 18 is permitted to enter the fair after 6 p.m. without a chaperone 21 or older. Adults can chaperone up to six minors and must remain at the fairgrounds with them, per the policy. Anyone – adults or children – may be asked to provide a valid ID.
Indiana State Fair curfew: New policy requires youth under 18 to be chaperoned after 6 p.m.
The fair has also implemented a new bag policy, which prohibits any bags larger than 9” x 10” x 12” from the fairgrounds. Bags under this size are permitted, and attendees can bring an unlimited number of them. Diaper bags of any size are permitted on the fairgrounds. All are subject to search.
Items for medical or family care purposes – snacks, medical supplies, diaper bags and others – are permitted with no proof or note required. The fair encourages visitors to bring only necessary items.
Here’s everything allowed:
Diaper bags (any size)
Cameras
Empty cups, water bottles or plastic hydration packs
Unopened plastic water bottles
Lawn chairs and folding chairs
Bags and soft-sided coolers 9” x 10” x 12” or smaller
Service animals
Strollers and wagons
Umbrellas
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And everything you should leave at home:
Alcoholic beverages
Pets or emotional support animals
Bags or soft-sided coolers larger than 9” x 10” x 12”
Hard-sided coolers of any size
Weapons or firearms
Bicycles, tricycles, unicycles, skateboards, roller skates
Electric scooters
Aerosol cans
Banners, signs, flags on poles
Drones
Drug paraphernalia or other illegal substances
Fireworks, sparklers, explosives
Lasers or noisemakers
Sticks, bats, poles
Balloons or beach balls
What new foods are at the 2023 Indiana State Fair?
There are dozens of new food offerings at this year's state fair. Some of the highlights include the Buffalo Pork-N-Mac from Nitro Hog BBQ (macaroni and cheese topped with pulled pork, buffalo sauce and ranch dressing, of course), the Wicked Chicken n Waffles from Urick Concessions (chicken tenders with hot honey between two waffles, topped with Flamin' Hot Cheetos) and Sun King's Deep Fried-Sandwich Cookie Ale (an oatmeal milk porter made with oats, lactose, chocolate malt and 300 pounds of chocolate sandwich cookies).
See them all here: New foods at the 2023 Indiana State Fair
What new exhibits are at the 2023 Indiana State Fair?
The fair will present several new exhibits this year to match its theme, “The State that Grew the Game,” a celebration of Indiana's hoops history. Among them are the Indiana Basketball History Exhibit, the Pacers Sports and Entertainment Exhibit and Chuck Taylor and Indiana Basketball at the Indiana History Train.
This year, the fair will also debut its first-ever augmented reality exhibit: Space Ham, which will allow users an interactive fair experience through their phones. Other new exhibits include Otter Adventure, Parakeet Encounter and Swiftly Swine Racing Pigs.
Who is playing on the free stage at the 2023 Indiana State Fair?
The fair’s free concert series recently rounded out its lineup with Quiet Riot, Three Dog Night and Samantha Fish. Other acts include Styx, Gin Blossoms, Buddy Guy and The Taylor Party: Taylor Swift Night dance party.
Indiana State Fair's free stage: Here's a full list of performances happening in 2023
Here’s when you can catch every act:
July 28: Clint Black
July 29: Samantha Fish featuring Jesse Dayton
July 30: Peppa Pig Live! Peppa Pig’s Adventure (11 a.m. and 2 p.m. shows)
July 30: Home Free (7:30 p.m. show)
Aug. 2: Keith Sweat
Aug. 3: Retro Rewind '90s Night featuring DJ Kurt Streblow
Aug. 4: Styx
Aug. 5: Quiet Riot
Aug. 6: TobyMac
Aug. 9: Three Dog Night
Aug. 11: Gin Blossoms
Aug. 12: The Taylor Party: Taylor Swift Night
Aug. 13: Skillet
Aug. 16: Happy Together Tour 2023 featuring The Turtles, Little Anthony, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, The Vogues, The Classics IV, The Cowsills
Aug. 17: Latino Fest en la Feria del Estado de Indiana presented by Radio Latino 107.1 FM with Noel Torres
Aug. 18: Buddy Guy: Damn Right Farewell
Aug. 19: Breland
Aug. 20: Gospel Music Festival featuring CeCe Winans, presented by WTLC AM & FM
Contact Pulliam Fellow Heather Bushman at HBushman@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @hmb_1013.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 2023 Indiana State Fair Guide: Dates, parking, concerts, tickets & more
