My brother likes to make this joke that the only reason people go to Indiana is to get someplace better. It's always difficult for me to disagree since I've only ever traveled through Indiana to get to Chicago. This summer I was given the most amazing opportunity to work as a camp counselor at Ripfest Diving Camp in Arcadia, Indiana (just 45 minutes from Indianapolis). On the weekends, we've found it quite painless to come up with fun activities for the children to partake in—which I found surprising since I always believed there was nothing to do in Indiana. Over the weekend, we decided to take our campers to the Indiana State Fair, located in Indianapolis, which proved a success for all ages.
We started our adventure by traveling through crowds of people. Although we were given the option to ride a gigantic tractor tram car, we decided to take the trip by foot. We waded through people and the delicious scent of fried foods. There were so many food booths that I couldn't believe my eyes. They seemed to go on for miles. There were beverages galore from the sentimental favorite of lemonade to frozen beverages. There was the usual funnel cake and anything imaginable was being fried including Oreos, dough (elephant ears), and pickles. There was so much fried food that I was surprised I didn't fall into a food coma just looking at it. A friend of mine and I tried the Elephant ears, fried Oreos, and dirty shakes (half lemonade, half sweet tea). After eating these treats, we not only felt extreme bliss but three pounds heavier. These treats were well deserved from all the walking we had to do to get around.
Next, we ventured to the rides they had set up. Each ride was three to four tickets, and tickets were about $1.25 each. There were certain deals going on like 24 tickets for $25, but I only wanted to ride two rides. My friend and I got eight tickets for $10 and made our way to the log flumes. It was an extremely hot day, and we needed cooling off, so we went on this water ride that got us extremely soaked (and cooled off). After that, we made our way to the Ferris wheel set up 200 feet away. When stopped at the top, we could see the span of the fair. It was absolutely phenomenal. It seemed to stretch on for miles. How they managed to fit so many cool things in one place was beyond me. There were also some pretty entertaining games that kept the kids busy for hours (and cost them pocketfuls of money)!
After experiencing the Indiana State Fair, I can honestly say it was one of the nicest fairs I've been to. The food was fantastic. The grounds were well kept and very clean because it was all on blacktop. There were many benches to sit on in case someone got tired, and there were many water-spraying fans set up so people didn't get overheated. It was not only extremely fun but very informational. There was a lot to learn about Indiana, farming equipment, agriculture, and animals. It's definitely a family-friendly event that I would go to again and again.
The fair is in town from Aug. 7 until the 23. Admission for adults is $12 and free for children under the age of five. Parking is $5.
Attractions at the fair include:
- State Fair Program
- Car Show
- 2015 Queen Pageant
- Indiana Beer & Wine Exhibition
- Trip Tips - Your Guide to the Fair
- Hoosier Lottery Grandstand
- Dow AgroSciences Celebration Park
- Free Stage
- Dance Stage
- Band Day Results
- Subaru Main Street Stage
- Midway
- Family Fun Park
- Signature Food of the Fair
Competitions at the fair include:
- Open Livestock
- 4-H
- Home & Family Arts
- Purdue Extension Agriculture / Horticulture
- Farmers Care County Food Drive
- Indiana Brewers' Cup
- Celebration of Champions
After journeying through the maze that was the Indiana State Fair, I can honestly say I've had the time of my life. There was so much to do, and I was able to truly get a feel for the culture in Indiana. In the six weeks I've lived here, I've come to the conclusion that Indiana isn't just a state you go through to get someplace better, it's a state of mind—a state of mind that makes for an unforgettable experience.
To learn more about the Indiana State Fair visit:
http://www.in.gov/statefair/
