Sharks, sword swallowers, sheep-herding monkeys … the Great Indiana State Fair has had it all over the years, but the 2013 fair will offer something the event has never had before — an outdoor ice show.
Rosstyn Ice Shows, which has been touring the world for nearly 20 years presenting a variety of action-packed, family-fun shows, will have three to four daily performances at next year’s Indiana State Fair, Aug. 2 — 18. Each performance will take place on a 40-by-40 skating rink in Dow AgroSciences Celebration Park on the fairgrounds’ northwest side. The rink will be covered by a clear-span, engineered tent with bleacher seating for up to 800 spectators.
All of the shows will feature a number of skaters performing entertaining stunts that combine music, artistry, pageantry and comedy. A video of past performances can be viewed at http://bit.ly/USbDXR. The shows will be free to visitors with their paid admission to the fair.
Another new, free attraction coming to next year’s fair is “Get Animated,” an 8,000 square foot exhibit that explores the fascinating world of animation. The interactive experience takes visitors back to the classics of traditional hand drawn celluloid animation and highlights current day computer animation, including well known stories and characters from Pixar, Walt Disney, DreamWorks and Sony Animation.
A large-scale custom 3-D Zoetrope, a device that produces the illusion of motion from a rapid succession of static pictures, will be the centerpiece of the exhibit. By spinning at more than 30 miles per hour, it brings static cartoon characters to life right before viewers’ eyes! Another popular feature is Animation University, an interactive learning experience where visitors learn to draw classic cartoon characters from an on-site instructor.
“Get Animated” will be open every day of the fair inside the Grand Hall on Main Street.