INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana State Fair is full of traditions and memories for Hoosiers statewide, and this year fair organizers have added several new features to enjoy.
On the midway, fairgoers can try out the BulletTrain, a new roller coaster that climbs 33 feet in the air before launching riders into sharp turns and banking curves with fast transitions and drops.
An Indiana State Fair ticket also allows visitors access to the Big Top Circus. Headlined by American daredevil and circus performer Bello Nock, shows run daily at 1, 4 and 7 p.m. (no 1 p.m. show on Thursdays). To complement the Big Top Circus, a “Celebrating Indiana’s Circus History” exhibit offers an interactive, educational experience based around the circus.
Animal Town invites fairgoers to an interactive exhibit featuring several species of animals including beef and dairy cattle, chickens, goats, draft horses, llamas, rabbits, sheep and swine. Located at the east end of the Hoosier Lottery Grandstand, the exhibit is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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Also new to the 2018 fair is an appearance by world-champion competitive food eater Joey Chestnut. Chestnut will attempt to break the record for the World’s Ice Cream Eating Championship on Aug. 5 at 2 p.m. At last year’s fair, the world record was broken by Miki Sudo who will return to defend her title. Chestnut currently holds the world hot dog eating record.
Celebrity chef and TV host Ted Allen of Food Network TV will also be this year’s keynote speaker at the Harvest Dinner on Aug. 15 at 5 p.m. in the Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Harvest Dinner proceeds benefit the Celebration of Champions, which awards cash prizes to 4-H youth winners at the Indiana State Fair. Tables can be reserved at IndianaStateFairFoundation.org for this Indiana State Fair Foundation fundraising event.
Fair attendees will probably want to map out an eating plan for the new foods offered at this year’s fair. The list includes deep-fried sugar cream pie, inside-out grilled cheese, fried chicken and waffle sandwiches, strawberry milkshakes with Fruity Pebbles, pork potachoes (roasted potatoes smothered in pulled pork, barbecue, cheese and sour cream), green chili meatballs, cheese curd cups and caramel apple elephant ears.
The Indiana State Fair is the state’s largest multi-day event in celebration of Hoosiers’ spirit and agricultural heritage held Aug. 3-19. For more information, visit indianastatefair.com.
