A beautiful final weekend of weather and a diverse line-up of free concerts throughout its 17-day run helped the Indiana State Fair finish as a tremendous success. For just the second time since the fair went to the 17-day format, the fair attracted more than 70,000 visitors on three different days. Overall, 853,941 people attended the event.
“We went all out to celebrate the ‘Hoosier Spirit’ this year, and people really loved it,” State Fair Executive Director Cindy Hoye said. “Our partnership with the American Dairy Association of Indiana was fantastic – I’ve never seen the Dairy Bar so crowded for so many days! This was a very special fair.”
An extended line-up of nationally known performers like REO Speedwagon, Allstar Weekend, Easton Corbin, MC Hammer and David Crowder made the Free Stage a very popular attraction. The nearby SuperDogs show also played to capacity crowds throughout the fair.
A wide variety of events at the Hoosier Lottery Grandstand kept fairgoers entertained. From the Timberworks Lumberjacks to the Great American Wild West Show, visitors were treated to fun, interactive shows day after day. Motor sports fans also had a lot to see in the grandstand with four different events, including the Lucas Oil Indy Mile AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National motorcycle race on Saturday.
Four days of 90 degree weather and six days of rain and thundershowers kept attendance down on certain days, but special discounts and promotions continued to draw families to the fair. The new $18 three-day advance admission pass was an instant success and the fair’s $2 Tuesday specials were a big hit.
The fair expects to announce next year’s featured agricultural commodity in the coming weeks. Next year’s State Fair runs Aug. 2 – 18.
For more information on the Indiana State Fair, visit http://www.in.gov/statefair/.
About Mel McMahon
