Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center

While the Indiana State Fairgrounds host a variety of events throughout the year like Indy Fuel Games, Christmas Nights of Lights, Indiana Home and Garden Show, and a variety of expos, the one it's obviously known best for is the Indiana State Fair. Despite large crowds and often times hot weather, the event staff and volunteers do an amazing job hosting the fair every year! They keep buildings up to date with regular upgrades, maintain a clean facility, and direct traffic as efficiently as possible.A few of my Indiana State Fair favorites for those that may be visiting for the first time: the "Taste of the Fair" map they put out every year with a map of unique foods, FFA Pavilion mini golf, walking throughout the animal stalls, and showing up for the free shows and entertainment. This year I loved seeing the Dock Dogs competition and Clydesdale show, but in the past I've also enjoyed the variety of musical acts on the free stage.

Rating some state fair food, 2024: ok, love the state fair exhibits and animals and education and crafts etc etc . My state fair food updates for this year: We didn't do anything too crazy. Hands down best deal is the Dairy Barn. $.75 chocolate milk!!! And a $5 grilled cheese. This one was their daily special, kind of like a cheesy gsrlic bread and marinara. Plus a choc shake for the hubs. Elephant ear from a food cart was piping hot. "Cowboy" half sandwich from the Indiana ribeye tent at $10 was fairly lame: Tender but bread fell apart, not much pepper jack, and was pretty small. What looked good that I didn't eat was the candy and caramel apples, and the corn on the cob. Beer and wine gardens looked great, just not in the mood for that today. ‍ #ReviewsByRL

I've been to the Indiana State Fairgrounds for all sorts of events, including flea markets, dog shows and a light show around Christmas time. But this place is mostly known for being the venue of the Indiana State Fair every year.In my head, I call the Indiana State Fair the "Indiana State Unfair," because it's unfair how much money I end up spending here. Yet, I keep going back year after year. That being said, it is possible to enjoy the fair for cheap if you know where to go. One of my go-to frugal places at the fair is the FFA (Future Farmers of America) barn. It is here where you can play a round of miniature golf for free, play at an indoor playground, and buy snacks for cheap: a bag of popcorn for $1 and a huge soft serve ice cream for $3. Right next to the barn is usually free lawn games, and this year, there were some bounce houses and a bubble machine to enjoy. This area also has an excellent beer garden, so you can get yourself a nice drink while you watch your children play for free and pat yourself on the back for saving money.If you're here for the fair, just know that there is something here for everyone. There are so many things to do and see, it's very difficult to do and see them all in one day. Plus, there are lots of buildings with air conditioning to duck into when the summer sun gets to be too overbearing. During fair time, every nook and cranny of this place has something interesting to discover.

Love the Indiana State Fair. The midway for rides, free stage for music, games, vendors, fun fun fun food! The Dairy Barn is our favorite for food and milkshakes. We also like looking at the 4-H projects. This year we went twice. It's a good savings if you buy your tickets early. But, if you don't, there are still savings nights along the way - we went on $3 rides, admission, and food night for our second night. Parking has been easier going to the north end of the fairgrounds. This year that was a 20+minute experience. Perhaps the 38th street south entrance is now the best???

They always charge for parking for the events they book but then never put staff out to direct parking traffic unless it's officially run by the Indiana state fair grounds. Horribly unprofessional if you ask me. When it's their events, it's ok I guess because they try. To note my other times attending...the beer prices are as if you're watching a Colts or Pacers playoff game, food is basic but again expensive, security is typically rude and acts as if they're volunteering(I'd hope), seats are fine depending on where you're at. Never impressed but maybe I'm always here on the bad days.Had to come back and edit this again after hearing that someone got out of there car and cussed out my father in law that was waiting in line. Promoting dangerous conditions after charging your attendants and not directing them.

Ah, another season at the Indiana State Fair. Thurs. with $3 gate admission and $3 food specials. FYI. This year there is no free shuttle. It took me 30 minutes to park in the infield at 10:30 AM on Thursday.Upon coming from the infield, I first saw the courtyard of basketball games. This year's theme is Indiana basketball. I tried to roll the mini basketball into any of the 6 baskets. I thought the unique basketball games and the gigantic basketballs and goals were very creative and fun to try. Also, I explored the chilled indoor exhibit about basketball and really liked some of the decorated basketballs and the infinity room.Let's talk about the $3 fair food specials! You got to purchase before they sell out. I bought a jumbo soft pretzel (they are working on developing a gluten-free option) at Ben's, 1/3 order of taters at King's Taters, and a new option of (5) Gobble Gobble!'s sweet chili turkey meatballs, which the sauce could have been better. As for dinner, I also tried Gobble Gobble!'s new special creation of $9 Mac Daddy Empanada (mac n' cheese and turkey from the leg); it was good. Along the street of the Expo Hall, I ordered a veggie plate of skinned red potatoes, sautéed onions, and sautéed mushrooms at Sirlion Tips tent; warning: have the mushroom side of the plate away from you as it is in liquid. To the right of Gobble Gobble! food truck is the vendor with 5 for $10 lemon drop drizzle, which was absolutely delicious because the couple behind me would not accept my offer for $2 for one of theirs but was later kind to give me one. There were other new food creations that were probably all about $10 like The Dirty Dog, which I think I should have tried. I did not find the deep fried corn on a stick. On a different note, there is now Barbie Cakes but not for me.Recommendation: Display the price of your seasonal creative food on your big sign so people are not waiting in line to ask about the price!Let's quench our thirst. The DNR water bottle water fountain needed its filter changed so I was guided to the water bottle station west of the street near the corner by the whipped vendor and the free stage. There were 8 hoses filtering warm water; I wish it was cold during that sunny day.Recommendation: I think in this period of Covid and germs that the fairground should upgrade their water fountains to include water bottle fillers for cold water. I like the outside sculptures. The two Indiana signs for portraits were new and interesting.I thought it would be a good weather day for going to the fair. It was not too crowded even with the youth groups so I went inside to cool down while enjoying the activities in the following buildings:The Glass Barn had good activities to learn about farming.Also, I saw some of the two-story 4-H creative contest entries.In a building with vendors, creative cheese designed art, and canned basketball themed designs, I bought local (Mooresville) honey sticks. I was surprised to see doTERRA and learned more about their products. That building closes at 8 PM.I was awed by the mass number of rabbits in the Expo Hall. It was the best to look at the cute and different rabbits!This year, I do not care for the limited size in carry-in bags. I understand why but it was hard carrying two small bags with the small $3 food items for a meal.I was disappointed that there is a $3 admission fee (but kids age 2 and younger are free) to enter the Parakeet Encounter.So how many stars should I give the Indiana State Fair this year? It is all about the fair food, right? And the rabbits? So, I give them 4 stars.

This review is for the Glass Barn:I chaperoned a 6th grade group today. They had very little time. The main thing they wanted to do was the activity so they could get the hat. The women working today were so rude. They told the kids that there were limited or no hats but when adults walked up they would tell them if they filled out the card they could get a hat. I called them on it when my group was finished and they very rudely gave some of the kids in my group a hat, except one who took a ChapStick because of how rude the woman was being. My daughter ended up giving him her hat because of how upset he was. Since when do we limit the amount of FREE hats that we give out? And when did we start deciding that KIDS can't have them and they are only for adults? Shame on you!

Everyone is talking about, and it's totally worth it! Go to the fair and try the pickle pizza! So Good I wish we would've went here first because I was so full I couldn't eat much. It's right by the butterfly garden. We also tried the dilly dog in front of the horse barn(I think). It was huge and piping hot had to wait to let it cool but also a good one. I mean its corn dog with a pickle what's not to love. We also had the mini donuts, tenderloin sliders, funnel cake, cheese curds and ribbon fries. I'm so full and miserable from eating too much. For the first time this year you can walk around with alcohol!!! Way to catch up to the times indiana! We had pink lemonade slushy from Bison and Brews 10/10

We had the best day at the state fair. It was the first day for this year. I loved seeing all of the young people with their animals. They did an amazing job presenting them. The food was great and there was so much to see and do. I would highly recommend coming here for a great fun filled day.

It's fun and well organized fair. The place is clean and lots of food vendors. I love their train shuttle! The parking fee is only $10. The only thing I don't like is that most of the staffs at the kids zone are somehow not really friendly and welcome. They barely greet or even smile. Come on! You works with the kids-please make their day!