A state fair is an annual competitive and recreational gathering of a U.S. state 's population, usually held in late summer or early fall. It is a larger version of a county fair , often including only exhibits or competitors that have won in their categories at the more-local county fairs.
19-628: The Indiana State Fair is an annual state fair that spans 15 days in August in Indianapolis , Indiana , U.S. The Indiana State Fair debuted in 1852 at Military Park in Indianapolis and is the sixth oldest state fair in the U.S. It is the largest event in the state, drawing between 730,000 and 980,000 visitors annually since 2010. In 2015, readers of USA Today ranked the Indiana State Fair among
38-441: A century. The AAA National Championship and USAC National Championship hosted car races in 1946 and from 1953 to 1970, traditionally under the name Hoosier Hundred . The USAC Silver Crown Series sanctioned the event since 1971. However, the track will be converted to a harness racing facility with an all-weather surface of crushed limestone. The half-mile dirt track in the infield will also be eliminated to allow more parking for
57-448: A speech to a crowd of 40,000 on a day known as "Big Thursday." Over the years, Presidents George W. Bush , Bill Clinton , John F. Kennedy , Franklin D. Roosevelt , Barack Obama , and Donald Trump have all made appearances at the fairgrounds. State fair State fairs began in the nineteenth century for the purpose of promoting state agriculture , through competitive exhibitions of livestock and display of farm products. As
76-592: A variety of other gatherings, including trade shows, sporting events, and concerts. In February 1851, at the urging of Governor Joseph Wright , the Indiana General Assembly passed an act intended "to encourage agriculture" growth in the state, which also included the formation of a State Board of Agriculture. A primary goal of the board was to organize an Indiana State Fair. Indiana was the sixth state to begin holding an annual statewide agricultural fair. On October 20–22, 1852, Indiana's first state fair
95-897: A week or two. The oldest state fair is that of The Fredericksburg Agricultural Fair , established in 1738, and is the oldest fair in Virginia and the United States. The first U.S. state fair was the New York , held in 1841 in Syracuse , and has been held annually since. The second state fair was in Detroit, Michigan , which ran from 1849 to 2009. Events similar to state fairs are also held annually in each state capital in Australia , known as royal shows. Australian royal shows are organized by state agricultural and horticultural societies, and are described further in
114-693: Is a marching band competition held at the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis every August. The contest serves as the championship for the Central Indiana Track Show Association, an organization that governs high school track show marching band contests in Indiana each summer. First held in 1947, it is one of, if not the oldest, high school marching band contest in the United States . The 77th Indiana State Fair Band Day competition
133-523: The agricultural show article. Several state fairs maintain their own police departments, including: A few annual exhibitions in the summer in Canada are similar to state fairs in the United States: State and county fairs are famous for a variety of competitions that award ribbons . Awards are generally given according to the following scale: As of 2019, the largest attendance at a state fair in
152-639: The State Fair and other events. The conversion was originally scheduled to occur after the 2019 race, but the conversion was delayed until 2021; the 2021 race was originally scheduled to still be run at the Fairgrounds, but was moved to the Terre Haute Action Track . The Midway is the area of amusement park rides and games. Fairgoers can either buy single-ride tickets or unlimited ride wristbands. Midway rides operate from noon until 10 or 11 pm depending on
171-401: The U.S. evolved from a predominantly agrarian to an industrial society in the twentieth century, and the more service economy of the 21st century, modern state fairs have expanded to include carnival amusement rides and games, display of industrial products, automobile racing, and entertainment such as musical concerts. Large fairs can admit more than a million visitors over the course of
190-627: The US is in Texas with the fair having attracted 2,514,637 visitors. Even though it is longer than an average state fair, any advantage is negated by the size of the physical state since those days would be required for the states citizens to have equal opportunity to attend. The largest average per day attendance is at the Minnesota State Fair averaging just under 200,000 people per day. Indiana State Fair Band Day The Indiana State Fair Band Day
209-463: The cancellation of the 2020 fair. The fair resumed in 2021 with some social distancing measures, but masks were not required. During each annual run of the Indiana State Fair, several competitions take place. The 4-H has a large participation in the fair and competitions are held in numerous areas for 4-H youth members. 4-H winners at county fairs can progress to the state fair with their livestock, crafts, gardening, or other exhibits. The winner at
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#1732884229972228-479: The day. Numerous nationally known entertainers have performed at the Indiana State Fair. On September 3, 1964, The Beatles performed two sold-out shows to a total audience of nearly 30,000 and, in 1989, New Kids on the Block set a Grandstand attendance record with 18,509 audience members. The fair also presents Latino/Hispanic entertainment for Indiana's Hispanic population. In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson gave
247-637: The larger state fair. In 1865, the fair was held in Fort Wayne . The gates opened at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on East 38th Street for the first time on September 19, 1892. Since then, the fair has continually been held in Indianapolis. The Indiana State Fair has been held in Indianapolis for the majority of its existence. Other Indiana cities hosted the event during the 19th century, including Lafayette (1853); Madison (1854); New Albany (1859); Fort Wayne (1865); and Terre Haute (1867). There
266-512: The state fair can, in some cases, advance to a national competition. The winners receive scholarships and other awards. Other competitions also occur including art contests, a hot air balloon race, and a high school marching band contest, the Indiana State Fair Band Day on " Band Day ". Adult competitions also occur in various farm-related categories. The Indiana State Fairgrounds' mile-long oval track has hosted auto races for over
285-404: The ten best state fairs in the country. The Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center has been the host site of the fair since 1892. Located about 4 miles (6.4 km) north of downtown Indianapolis , it encompasses 214 acres (87 ha), 72 buildings, a 6,000-seat grandstand, and a 1-mile (1.6 km) racetrack. The complex is home to year-round tenants and is used throughout the year for
304-633: Was expanded to 17 days (2009–2019), and then to 18 days (2021-2023). Starting in 2024, the event has been condensed down to 15 days. On August 13, 2011, high winds from an approaching thunderstorm collapsed the roof over the grandstand stage just before Sugarland was about to perform, killing seven people and injuring 58. Concerts were moved indoors to the Fairgrounds Coliseum , and, during that building's renovation in 2013, events were moved to Bankers Life Fieldhouse and Lucas Oil Stadium . The coliseum reopened in 2014. The COVID-19 pandemic caused
323-657: Was held on 2 August 2024. Indiana high school marching bands participate in the Indiana State Fair Band Day every year. Bands are categorized into three classes—Class AAA, Class AA, and Class A—based on band size. Each band is allowed up to six minutes to perform, two minutes for entry and one minute to exit the performance area. Preliminary competition takes place in the morning, with awards for first through third place in each class, along with caption awards for best music, visuals, auxiliary (guard), and percussion. The 16 top scoring bands, regardless of class, compete in
342-475: Was held on the grounds of what is now Military Park , west of downtown Indianapolis. In 1860 a new location for the fairgrounds was established on approximately 38 acres (15 ha) along Alabama Street, north of the city. During the American Civil War , the county fairgrounds was converted into Camp Morton , a prison camp for captured Confederate soldiers. In 1864, a sanitary fair was held as part of
361-499: Was no fair held in 1917 and 1918 because of World War I nor from 1942 to 1944 because of World War II . On October 31, 1963, a propane tank exploded in the Indiana State Fair Coliseum , killing 54 at the scene; another 27 died due to their injuries, with a total of 81 people killed. Around another 400 were injured. It is the deadliest disaster in Indianapolis history. Historically, the fair lasted 12 days; however, it
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