The Indiana State Fair opens Aug. 7, and then you’ve got just over two weeks to visit and make the most out of your experience. But the funnel cakes, fries and rides can add up fast.
If you want to experience this year’s baseball-themed fair for a lower price, buy tickets early and check out the discount days. And inside the gates, you can find free, fun activities — the stacked lineup on the Hoosier Lottery Free Stage, baseball movies inside Rewind: A VHS Revival or a fiddle contest in the Pioneer Village.
Cheaper tickets, parking, food and Midway wristbands
If you plan ahead and buy parking, tickets or wristbands for the rides, you can get the early bird discounts. You have to buy each of these options before 11:59 p.m. Aug. 6 to get the discount. Here’s what the fair is offering:
- 22% off fair admission
- 20% off parking passes
- 38% off Midway wristbands
- 30% off admission for a Family Four Pack, which includes one parking pass and four admission tickets
- 30% off admission for a Foodie Family Four Pack, which includes one parking pass, four admission tickets and $50 in fair bucks
If you bike to the fair, you can also get $1 off of admission. There are bike racks at the corner of 38th Street and the Monon Trail. You can also avoid paying for parking by taking the bus. IndyGo routes 4, 39 and the Purple Line will take you to the fairgrounds.
Corporate groups can get discount tickets for between $10 and $12, but it must be for a group of 50 or more.
Five daily gate discounts
- $2 Tuesdays: On Aug. 11 and 18, get $2 admission, $2 rides and $2 options at each food vendor.
- Military and first responders’ day: On Aug. 12, first responders, active military members, veterans and their families get free admission when they show ID.
- Indianapolis Indians family day: On Aug. 13, download a voucher for $9 admission. You can print it out or show the digital version.
- IndyStar free ticket day: Grab a copy of the Monday, Aug. 17, edition of the IndyStar to clip a ticket for free admission on Aug. 19. You can find locations to grab a paper here.
- AAA day: On Aug. 20, show your AAA membership card to get free admission. Each card grants admission to only one person.
Free and affordable fair experiences
Eat your way around the fair with the $5 value menu, including vegan options and classics like funnel cakes and fries. If you want to splurge, check out the full menu with 50 new options.
Grab a lawn chair and watch free rock, gospel and country concerts at the Hoosier Lottery Free Stage each day.
Inside the Rewind: A VHS Revival exhibit, watch classic baseball movies, buy Indianapolis Indians merch, shop in the Indy CD & Vinyl pop-up or see an artist paint live.
Take a step back in time at the Pioneer Village to see a liar’s contest, antique tractors or a fiddle contest, where musicians perform a waltz, a hoedown and a tune of their choice.
Ride a train around the fairgrounds for $5 to take a 15-minute break and do a little sight-seeing along the way. There are ADA-accessible compartments, too.
Cool down in the air conditioning and get your mind blown in the Big-Top Circus with aerialists, a clown and more gravity-defying performers.
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Mirror Indy reporter Sophie Young covers services and resources. Contact her at sophie.young@mirrorindy.org.
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