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Submitted by kpaul.mallasch on Thu, 08/07/2008 - 12:40am.
Area: StateCities: IndianapolisCounties: Marion CountyMFP Tags: Great Indiana State Fair, Indiana State Fair, Indiana State Fair 2008Topics: Entertainment, FamilyTypes: News

Tradition, Trees, and Top Talent Highlight 2008 Indiana State Fair

INDIANAPOLIS - It's the sweet taste of a giant elephant ear.  It's the unmistakable scent of livestock and hay.  It's the sound of excited children spinning around on midway rides.  It's the Great Indiana State Fair - the 12 best days of summer - and it's "Comin' Back Around" August 6 - 17. 

Now in its 152nd year, the fair returns with its annual showcase of agriculture and entertainment to please rural Hoosiers and city folk alike.  The fair's featured commodity this year is Indiana hardwoods, making this the "Year of Trees."  A new covered bridge highlights the long list of tree-related exhibits and entertainment, which also includes:

  • ·        Scheer's Lumberjack Show presented by Toyota Trucks
  • ·        The Trail of Trees (25 species of Indiana trees planted all over the fairgrounds)
  • ·        The Tree Top Gift Shop presented by Wal-Mart
  • ·        Indiana Hardwood Forest Day (Aug. 6)
  • ·        Celebrity cross-cutting saw contest
  • ·        "Tree-via" of the Day
  • ·        Project Learning Tree Artwork Exhibit

Well known for offering top-tier musical entertainment, the fair is once again loaded with a wide variety of popular performers ready to dazzle the crowds in the Hoosier Lottery Grandstand.  It begins with Jessica Simpson August 7 and continues with:

  • ·        Carrie Underwood with Keith Anderson (Aug. 8)
  • ·        Daughtry with Virgin Millionaires (Aug. 9)
  • ·        Backstreet Boys (Aug. 10)
  • ·        Corbin Bleu presented by VOICE.TV (Aug. 11 - Free with voucher)
  • ·        Sugarland with Joe Nichols (Aug. 12)
  • ·        Garrison Keillor with Suzy Bogguss (Aug. 13)

While a great concert makes a lasting memory, it's still just one attraction of many at the state's largest multi-day event.  Some of the new events and exhibits visitors can look forward to include:

 

  • ·        "Indiana's Got Game" An Indiana High School Sports Experience
  • ·        Comcast presents Marcan Tigers of India
  • ·        International Circus Hall of Fame with Rhesus monkeys and Royal Afghan dogs
  • ·        The Wacky Wheeler
  • ·        Garfield presents "Happy Birthday to Me!" (Aug. 11)

In addition to all the new elements, the fair will also be back with popular traditional events and exhibits like the Little Hands on the Farm presented by CollegeChoice 529 Investment Plan, Giant Hot Air Balloon Race presented by Indiana Propane, Livestock Nursery, Pioneer Village, Goat Mountain, National City Daily Parade, World's Largest Drive-thru Breakfast and much more!

And then there's the fair's top attraction:  food!  More than 100 vendors will fill the fairgrounds offering everything from grilled cheese sandwiches to pork chop dinners.  For the third consecutive year, the public has awarded one new item the title of "Signature Food," and this year it is deep-fried bananas foster cheesecake on a stick, which will be available on Main Street in front of the Grand Hall.

The fair has become a great place for Hoosiers to learn more about their state, and for organizations to inform people about what they're doing.  Many of the state's higher education facilities, in particular, have tapped into the informing fairgoers about what they have to offer.  Indiana University, Ball State University, Purdue University, Indiana Business College, Lumina Foundation, College Choice 529 Investment Plan and TripToCollege.org will all have a significant presence during the fair.  Other organizations using the fair to spread their messages include the Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen's Association, Indiana Department of Homeland Security and the Indiana Office of Tourism Development.

There are a variety of ways for visitors to get to the fair, including the WFMS FairTrain, which originates in Fishers, and the State Fair Park & Ride, which keeps shuttles running back and forth from Glendale Mall every 20 minutes from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day of the fair.

Indiana State Fair tickets can be purchased in advance for $7 at all Indiana Wal-Mart stores, CVS/pharmacy stores, The Marten House Hotel, Indiana Farm Bureau offices, the Indiana State Fair box office and at http://www.indianastatefair.com/. Children 5 and younger are free.

For more information, call the Indiana State Fairgrounds at (317) 927-7500 or visit http://www.indianastatefair.com/

Source: State Fair Press Release

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