Indiana State Fair
indiana state fair annual state fair span day july august indianapolis indiana u indiana state fair debuted military park indianapolis sixth oldest state fair u largest event state drawing visitor annually since reader usa today ranked indiana state fair among ten best state fair country indiana state fairground event center host site fair since located mile km north downtown indianapolis encompasses acre ha building seat grandstand mile km racetrack complex home yearround tenant used throughout year variety gathering including trade show sporting event concert february urging governor joseph wright indiana general assembly passed act intended encourage agriculture growth state also included formation state board agriculture primary goal board organize indiana state fair indiana sixth state begin holding annual statewide agricultural fair october – indiana first state fair held ground military park west downtown indianapolis new location fairground established approximately acre ha along alabama street north city american civil war county fairground converted camp morton prison camp captured confederate soldier sanitary fair held part larger state fair fair held fort wayne gate opened indiana state fairground east th street first time september since fair continually held indianapolis indiana state fair held indianapolis majority existence indiana city hosted event th century including lafayette madison new albany fort wayne terre haute fair held world war world war ii october propane tank exploded indiana state fair coliseum killing scene another died due injury total people killed around another injured deadliest disaster indianapolis history historically fair lasted day however expanded day – day august high wind approaching thunderstorm collapsed roof grandstand stage sugarland perform killing seven people injuring concert moved indoors fairground coliseum building renovation event moved banker life fieldhouse lucas oil stadium coliseum reopened covid pandemic caused cancellation fair fair resumed social distancing measure mask required annual run indiana state fair several competition take place h large participation fair competition held numerous area h youth member h winner county fair progress state fair livestock craft gardening exhibit winner state fair case advance national competition winner receive scholarship award competition also occur including art contest hot air balloon race high school marching band contest indiana state fair band day band day adult competition also occur various farmrelated category indiana state fairground milelong oval track hosted auto race century aaa national championship usac national championship hosted car race traditionally name hoosier hundred usac silver crown series sanctioned event since however track converted harness racing facility allweather surface crushed limestone halfmile dirt track infield also eliminated allow parking state fair event conversion originally scheduled occur race conversion delayed race originally scheduled still run fairground moved terre haute action track midway area amusement park ride game fairgoers either buy singleride ticket unlimited ride wristband midway ride operate noon pm depending day numerous nationally known entertainer performed indiana state fair september beatles performed two soldout show total audience nearly new kid block set grandstand attendance record audience member fair also present latinohispanic entertainment indiana hispanic population president woodrow wilson gave speech crowd day known big thursday year president george w bush bill clinton john f kennedy franklin roosevelt barack obama donald trump made appearance fairground state fairlist state fair list attraction event indianapolis official site archived august wayback machine indiana state fair highlight velocipede lady aviator “better” baby indiana historical bureau