Confession—I haven’t been to the Indiana State Fair since I was a child! An award-winning, baton-twirling child, thank you very much. This year? I’m taking my girls, courtesy of Indiana Family of Farmers. They don’t even know enough about it to be excited. (Hello, Mom Fail!)
So, why have I avoided the fair? It’s partly laziness (um, hello? It’s far.) and partly frugality.
That’s why I’m excited to share info on discount tickets, freebies, free events & special offers. The Indiana State Fair arrives August 5th and lasts through August 21st in Indianapolis. In addition to the traditional featured concerts on the Grandstand stage, they are presenting plenty of free, live entertainment for your family to enjoy.
Turns out? You can enjoy the fair inexpensively! I’ve rounded up all the details to finish off your free summer fun.
- Tuesdays 8/9 & 8/16: Turkey Hill Tuesdays—$2 admission with printable coupon
- Wednesday/Thursday 8/10-11—IndyStar FREE tickets in 8/8 issue
- Thursday 8/11: State Employee Day—free admission, with State employee ID card
- Monday 8/15: IPL Carload Day—$15 admission per vehicle, for up to 10 people with printable coupon
- Wednesday 8/17: BMV Day—$4 admission with printable coupon
- Thursday 8/18: AAA Day—free admission with valid AAA membership card
- Thursday 8/18: Military Family Day—free admission for former & current military & families with military ID
- Sunday 8/21: Pepsi can Day: $2 off gate admission with any Pepsi brand can
Free Entertainment:
- Sunday 8/7: Lucas Oil Indy Super Pull
- Monday 8/15: Hoosier Rodeo Series Finale
- Daily: Celebration Park Free Stage
- Daily: Main Street Stage
- Daily: Dance for Health Stage
More Deals:
- Tuesday 8/1: Golden Hoosier Day—FREE Tractor Shuttle Ride for seniors
- Saturday 8/13: Hoosier Lotto Day—adults 18+ may redeem admission tickets for a lottery ticket
- Daily—redeem your admission ticket for $1 off Make a Meal Deal at any pork concession tent
- Walmart Midway Voucher—pickup your voucher for $17 midway wristbands
- CVS/pharmacy stores
- Indiana Farm Bureau offices
- Indiana State Fairgrounds Box Office
- The Marten House Hotel
- Walmart stores
Unlimited midway ride days:
- Fri., Aug. 5, Noon – 10pm: $25 Ride Survival
- Mon., Aug. 8, Noon – 10pm: $22 Family Day
- Wed., Aug. 10, Noon – 10pm: $22 Family Day
- Thurs., Aug. 11, Noon – 10pm: $22 Family Day
- Fri., Aug. 12, Noon – 10pm: $25 Ride Survival
- Mon., Aug. 15: $10 Munchkins Midway (kiddie rides only)
- Mon., Aug. 15, Noon-10pm: $22 Family Day
- Wed., Aug. 17, Noon – 10pm: $22 Family Day
- Thurs., Aug 18, Noon – 10pm: $22 Family Day
- Fri., Aug. 19, Noon – 10pm: $25 Ride Survival
- Sun., Aug. 21, Noon – 10pm: $25 Last Blast
Plus, you have the chance to win 2 free admission tickets right now! Simply leave a comment here, and tell me your favorite part of the State Fair. I need to know what I’ve been missing! You can earn additional entries by:
- Subscribing to our site by email or RSS
- Following Inexpensively on Twitter
- Following @FamilyofFarmers
- Liking Inexpensively on Facebook
- Liking Family of Farmers on Facebook
- Writing about this giveaway (blog, forum, public Facebook note)
- Tweeting about this giveaway: Can you believe @JustHeather’s never been to @IndyStateFair? Win your tix from @INinexpensively & @FamilyofFarmers! http://bit.ly/q6DNhW
For your extra entries to be counted, be sure to leave an additional comment directing us to your entry. Only one additional entry per method (i.e. While multiple tweets are appreciated it, only one will count as a drawing entry.) The contest runs until 8/7 at 11:59pm est. One winner will be notified by email on 8/8 and receive two Indiana State Fair admission tickets. Winner will have 48 hours to complete the claim form or a new winner will be chosen.
I was provided with admission tickets for my family to join Family of Farmers for a special event on Monday August 8th, but all opinions are 100% mine.
Photo by Moosh in Indy, used with permission
Jen says
My favorite part of the fair is the food!!! Lemon Shake-ups, cotton Candy, Elephant ears…anything you want fried! We only live once!
Jen S says
Funnel cakes and Lemon shake-ups!
Jen S says
I follow you with RSS
Jen S says
I “like” you on facebook!
Denise Wilson says
My favorite thing about the State Fair is the PINEAPPLE WHIP!!
Denise Wilson says
Email subscriber
Denise Wilson says
FB Fan of Inexpensively
RobertandDenise Wilson
Denise Wilson says
FB Fan of Indiana’s Family of Farmers
RobertandDenise Wilson
Doreen H says
We love to sit in the Colosseum and watch the horse competitions, trying to guess the winners! lol
Robert W says
Rib-eye! Pineapple whip! Tractors with my son!
Angie @ Just Like The Number says
I have to narrow it down to one thing??? Well then, the food. Specifically the dairy barn. I also love looking at the exhibits in the Home & Family Arts building.
Anna says
I love the corn dogs and elephant ears! My kids love all the rides and my husband loves the pork!
michelle says
Thank you
David A says
Checking out all the new CRAZY food concoctions, great animals (worlds largest hog!), concerts, and PURDUE DAY! =)
Tweeted about the giveaway, liked Inexpensively and Family of Farmers on Facebook, follow @ininexpensively and @FamilyofFarmers on Twitter as well. =) Also have the RSS feed setup on my list!
That should be 7 entries =) Haha WOOT – Mom will be visiting for the fair, hopefully can enjoy it with free tix from a great blog!
Thx for all the info!
Satchuel says
I haven’t been to the fair in years. I need to take DS this year so we can eat some corn and see the baby piggies. Does it make me a bad mom that I have never taken my son to the fair?
Jama Sumski says
My absolute favorite part of the state fair is the old hooks drugstore. I love the old medicines like homeopathy and the pictures. Would lobe to go back in time and see the medical community at the turn of the century & not the 21st century.
Tom coleman says
My favorite is…. Indiana FOOD- pork Tent, Dairy Bar & Corn on Cob
Tom coleman says
i “tweeted”, I “liked”, i subscribed… @Inexpensively @FamilyofFarmers
@chilldowns
Katie says
My favorite part is seeing the horses.
Katie says
I follow Inexpensively on Twitter.
sarah says
I have not been to the Indiana state fair because we have just moved here. My favorite thing about other fairs is the animals. Our girls love them and so do we! We would love to win and check out the fair!
sarah says
RRS Subscriber!
sarah says
Following you on twitter!
sarah says
Following family of farmers on twitter!
sarah says
Following you on fb!
sarah says
Following family of Farmers on FB.