While the month of August means it’s time for Hoosier students across the state to head back to school, it also signals something a little more fun: the Indiana State Fair.
This year the fair runs Aug. 3-19 and pays homage to the state’s circus heritage with the theme, “Step Right Up to the Greatest 17 Days of Summer.” A single ring big-top tent, custom-built by Bee Window, will feature performances from acrobats, clowns and trapeze artists daily. The circus won’t feature exotic animals.
In addition to the Big Top Circus, the fair offers attendees several new attractions. A new rollercoaster, BulletTrain, which climbs 33 feet high before making sharp turns, quick changes and drops offers an adrenaline rush to daredevils. Animal Town is an interactive animal exhibit to educate fairgoers on barnyard animals. The exhibit will feature beef and dairy cattle, chickens, goats, draft horses, llamas, rabbits, sheep and swine. Joey Chestnut, world champion competitive food eater will try to break last year’s record in the World’s Ice Cream Eating Championship. Chestnut is the current hot dog eating record holder. Chef Ted Allen, host of the Food Network TV show “Chopped” will be the keynote speaker at the Indiana State Fair Foundation fundraising event, the Harvest Dinner, at 5 p.m. Aug. 15 at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Proceeds award cash prizes to 4-H youth winners. Reserve tables at IndianaStateFairFoundation.org.
While the rides and attractions are always a big draw to the Indiana State Fair, let’s be honest: the food is a fan favorite. Just when you think you’ve seen it all and the food vendors can’t do anything new, another creative (often decadent and calorie laden) food item hits the fair — and we’re here for it! Sixteen new food items will be introduced this year. A few standouts include a deep fried chicken and waffle sandwich: chicken strips stuffed inside a fluffy waffle and topped with maple syrup and powdered sugar; deep fried sugar cream pie: Wick’s sugar cream pie deep fried in funnel cake batter, topped with powdered sugar and chocolate sauce (What’s a state fair without tons of powdered sugar?): inside out grilled cheese: sourdough bread with mild cheese on the outside and gouda cheese inside, and dessert nachos: ice cream, strawberries and chocolate sauce. Wash it all down with a peach cider slush, a frozen mixture of cider and peach sauce. You’ll definitely need to walk around the fair after eating.
The Indiana State Fair runs Aug. 3-9. Advance tickets are available for $8 through Aug. 2. Tickets are $13 at the gate. A family four-pack, which includes four general admission tickets and one parking pass, is $30. A super family four pack featuring four general admission tickets, one parking pass and $50 in food vouchers is $80. For more information in specials, visit IndianaStateFair.com.
Fair food
