For nearly three weeks in August, the Indiana State Fair delivers a family-friendly good time full of honored traditions and familiar favorite activities. However, visitors get excited to see — and taste — what’s new each year to keep the experience fresh. In 2024, there’s plenty to look forward to.
After dark, ILLUMINATE! lights up the Backyard with 14 gorgeous giant lantern structures for guests to walk through and interact with. Another creative installation, the Artscape! Where Imagination Grows immersive exhibit curated by Newfields in the Harvest Pavilion celebrates the intersection of art and nature with demonstrations, performances and hands-on play areas.
Baby animals are always a popular attraction at the fair, and this year, visitors can help with their feedings at Goat Mountain. Meanwhile, Momma Town at the Mac Reynolds Barn educates observers on the joys of animal parenthood with adorable chicks and piglets.
In conjunction with the 2024 Paris Olympics, the WTHR Olympic Zone keeps viewers up to date on all the latest happenings abroad by sharing the spirit of the sports. And on hot summer days, the new State Fair Splash Pad (part of the MHS Family Fun Park) proposes an excellent opportunity to cool down.
Then, of course, there’s the food. In addition to my usual corndogs, here’s what I’m most looking forward to tasting this year. It’s not a state fair trip without a lemon shake-up, and the Indiana Rib Eye tent is adding boba to its recipe for a new twist. Or go even bolder with a dill pickle variation at R&W Concessions.
In addition to its traditional chocolate, vanilla and strawberry flavors, the American Dairy Association is offering a Blue Ribbon Blueberry milkshake at the Dairy Barn. Blueberry cheesecake also makes an appearance stuffed into elephant ears at The Bakerman booth.
Sample several Hoosier flavors at once with a fried sugar biscuit garnished with apple butter and filled with BBQ from Nitro Hog. Yum! Or, go vegan with the Happy Jack (jackfruit) BBQ at Black Leaf instead. I can’t tell if the peanut butter and jelly chicken wings from Urick Concessions sound strange or delicious. Maybe both?
Is your mouth watering yet? The 2024 Indiana State Fair runs Aug. 2 through Aug. 19 (closed Mondays). For tickets and more information, go to indianastatefair.com.
