100 FREE Things To Do at the 2025 Indiana State Fair

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1. Challenge your friends to a game of putt-putt golf

• Corteva Agriscience™ FFA Pavilion
• Daily, 9AM - 8PM

2. See if your kiddos can reel in the catch of the day at the DNR Fishing Pond

• DNR Building
• Daily, 10AM – 1PM, 4PM – 7PM

3. Get around the grounds for FREE on the tractor shuttles

• Around the grounds
• Dates/Times Vary

4. Decide on your favorite hot air balloon and cheer it on at the PNC Bank Hot Air Balloon Race

• Infield
• 8/2 at 6:45AM/ Sunrise

5. Watch the Indiana State Fair Parade

• Main Street
• Daily, 2PM on Tuesdays & Saturdays, 6:30PM all other days

6. DockDogs Presented by AAA Hoosier Motor club

• Every day of the Fair in Celebration Park
• Daily, 11AM, 1PM, 3:30PM, 5PM & 6PM

7. Visit beautiful butterflies at the Butterfly Exhibit

• DNR Building
• Daily, 9AM - 8PM

8. Meet and pet baby goats

• Goat Mountain
• Daily, 9AM - 8PM

9. Visit Pioneer Village and be transported back into the 1800s!

• Pioneer Village
• Daily, 9AM - 8PM

10. Cool down at the FAIRadise Splash Pad

• Meijer Family Fun Park
• Daily, 9AM - 8PM

11. Check out the stilt circus

• Around the Grounds
• Daily, 12 & 4PM

12. NEw! Witness mighty mike in action

• Main Street
• Daily, 1, 3 & 6PM

13. Take a self-guided trail around the Fairgrounds – pick up maps for The Wonder Trail at any State Fair Information Booths presented by Corteva agriscience™.

• Around the Grounds
• Daily, 9AM - 8PM

14. NEW! learn 1000 years of transportation history in the hoosier state at the indiana history train

• Meijer Family Fun Park
• Daily, 9AM - 8PM

15. Let your youngsters take on the role of a farmer for the day by participating in Little Hands on the Farm presented by Indiana529

• Meijer Family Fun Park
• Daily, 9AM - 8PM

16. NEW! The art of music experience!

• Harvest Pavilion
• Daily, 9AM - 9PM

17. Meet Johnny Appleseed!

• Pioneer Village
• 8/2 & 8/9 - 10:30AM

18. Meet the Indiana State Fair Queen at Introduction to Royalty: Our Indiana County Fair Queens!

• Pioneer Village Opry House
• 8/10 - 4:30PM

19. Marvel at the giant cheese sculpture presented by American Dairy Association Indiana Inc.

• The Mercantile at Ag/Hort
• Daily, 9AM - 9PM

20. Take a reading break at the Indiana State Fair Reading Garden

• Meijer Family Fun Park
• Daily, 9AM - 8PM.

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21. Take in fair festivities as you walk across the scenic Covered Bridge

• Near the Midway at the west end of the Fair
• Daily, 9AM - 9PM

22. See beautiful works of art created by local artists

• Indiana Arts Building
• Daily, 9AM - 8PM

23. Get creative inspiration with the Make it with Wool Fashion Show

• Indiana Arts Building
• 8/3, 2PM

24. Feeling cozy, stop by and see the Quilting Hall of Fame Exhibit

• Indiana Arts
• Daily, 9AM

25. Check out the Championship Rodeo’s Slack Run

• Hoosier Lottery Grandstand
• 8/14 , 1PM

26. Watch woodworkers make chairs, toys, and more in Pioneer Village

• Pioneer Village
• Dates/times vary

27. Get involved in STEM & FFA interactive activities

• Purdue Extension Building
• Daily, 9AM - 9PM

28. See the circle city sidewalk stompers

• Around the Grounds
• Daily, 3, 4 & 6PM

29. New! watch the big top circus presented by bee window

• Big Top Zone & The Backyard
• Daily, 1, 4 & 7PM

30. New! witness the only traveling wolf pack in the world

• Meijer Family Fun Park
• Daily, 4 & 6:30PM with additional shows at 12 & 2PM Fri-Sun

31. Witness Vintage Farm Machinery in Action

• Pioneer Village
• Daily, times vary

32. NEW! Bounce on the jump pad

• Gate 3
• Daily, 9AM - 8PM

33. See the Indy dunkers in action

• Gate 3
• Daily, 3:30, 5:30, & 7:30PM

34. Bike to the park and SAVE!

• Enjoy free bicycle parking and trim down on Fair admission costs by $1 cycling to the event.
• Tues. & Sat. 10AM - 11PM | Wed. - Fri. 10:30AM - 9:30PM

35. Let your kiddos design or color their very own quilt square

• Pioneer Village
• Dates/times vary

36. Visit Canstruction

• The Mercantile in Ag/Hort
• Daily, 9AM - 9PM

37. Watch the Indiana State Fair Tractor Pull

• Hoosier Lottery Grandstand
• 8/3, 2PM

38. If you’re feeling brave, come see the Roving Naturalist

• DNR Building
• Daily, 11:30AM

39. See how butter is churned!

• Pioneer Village
• Dates/times vary

40. Find out the difference between a llama and an alpaca at the 4-H Llama and Alpaca Show

• Expo Hall
• 8/1, 8AM & 7PM

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41. Learn about the History of Quilts in America

• Pioneer Village
• Dates and times vary

42. NEW! stop by the FFA LEgo Wall

• Young Farmers Building
• Daily, 9AM - 8PM

43. Check out the Ole Time Farm Auction

• Pioneer Village Opry House
• 8/16, 10AM

44. Visit with the Indiana Honey Queen

• Pioneer Village
• 8/3 and 8/12, 2:30PM

45. Watch and learn from the best at the Youth Talent Contest

• Purdue Extension Building
• 8/9 and 8/16, 11AM & 4PM

46. Feel protected from the sun with the FREE sunscreen provided by the Fair!

• Indiana State Fair Information Booths pres. by Prairie Farms
• Daily, All Day

47. Love horses? Come see the 4-H Horse & Pony Western

• Pop Weaver Youth Pavilion
• 8/2, 8AM

48. new! Let your kids ride around at the ABate of Indiana Tiny tots riding experience

• Meijer Family Fun Park
• Daily, 10AM - 8PM

49. Visit the Purdue Extension Design and Innovation Studio

• Normandy Barn
• Daily, 9AM - 8PM

50. Architectural Trolley Tour

• DNR Building
• Dates and times vary

51. See what Indiana Birds of Prey are all about

• DNR Building
• Daily at 4:30PM

52. New! Check out the Peach cupcake contest

• Indiana Arts Building
• 8/16, 4pm

53. NEW! Attend Wilson's Corn Eating Contest

• ENOUGH Plaza
• 8/10, 4PM

54. Witness the art of baton twirling

• Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion
• 8/17, 9AM

55. Cheer on your favorite horse & jockey at Grand Circuit Harness Racing featuring the Fox Stake

• Hoosier Lottery Grandstand
• 8/6 at 11AM

56. Visit the livestock and learn at the Children’s Barnyard

• Corteva Agriscience™ FFA Pavilion
• Daily, 9AM – 8PM

57. Check out Buron's maplewood farm: "Cooking with maple syrup" Contest

• Indiana Arts Building
• 8/9, 4PM

58. Fulfill your cravings at Taste from Indiana Farms featuring Indiana commodity groups

• Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion
• 8/7 – 8/10, 11AM – 6PM

59. See more animals with the Reptiles Rule! LIVE Reptile Program

• Dept. of Natural Resources Building
• Daily, 10AM

60. Attend the celebrity milking contest

• Pioneer Village
• 8/13, 11:30AM

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61. Check out the fan favorite Eight Horse Hitch Draft Show presented by Indiana 811!

• Corteva Coliseum
• 8/8, 6:30PM

62. Browse the merchandise and apparel at the new and improved Indiana State Fair gift shop locations

• The Mercantile at Ag/Hort & under the Hoosier Lottery Grandstand
• Daily, 9AM - 9PM

63. Watch the 4-H Cat Show

• Purdue Extension Building
• 8/5, 11:30 AM

64. Take a stroll through The Mercantile (in Ag/Hort) and browse the various vendor booths

• The Mercantile at Ag/Hort
• Daily, 9AM - 8PM

65. Jam out to some music on main street

• Main Street
• Varies Daily

66. Compete in the Watermelon Seed Catapulting Contest!

• Corteva Coliseum Lobby
• Daily, 3PM

67. Want to cool off? Come over to the TapRoom

• The TapRoom
• Daily, 12PM – 9PM

68. View historical artifacts and exhibits, along with old-time ice cream treats and an antique pharmacy

• Hook’s Museum & Soda Fountain
• Daily, 9AM - 8PM

69. Tour the Speed Barns

• Sponsored by the Indiana Standardbred Association
• Daily, 10AM

70. Play a game on Indiana's Court presented by pacers sports & Entertainment

• Gate 3
• Daily, 9AM - 9PM

71. Visit Indiana’s Urban Garden/Take-Out Garden and complete the scavenger hunt to receive a free garden kit to take home and plant

• Greenhouse
• Daily, 9AM - 8PM

72. Dance along at country dancing for all

• Pioneer Village
• Daily, 4PM

73. Come watch a variety of dancers and try to dance along

• Dance Stage
• Daily, times vary

74. Watch the Art of Wood Carving

• Pioneer Village
• 8/15, 10AM-5PM

75. Pathway to Water Quality Presented by Indiana American Water

• Pathway to Water Quality pres. by Indiana American Water
• Daily, 9AM - 9PM

76. Attend the King Arthur Baking Company youth Cookie Contest

• Indiana Arts Building
• 8/2, 12PM

77. Get a photo for the ‘gram! Find 2025 Indiana State Fair Queen and get a picture with her!

• Around the grounds
• Daily, 9AM – 8PM

78. Come sit and relax in the Indiana State Fair Wine Garden presented by Oliver Winery

• The Mercantile at Ag/Hort
• Daily, 11AM – 9PM

79. Work and view an old thrasher farm machine and much more in Machinery Field

• Pioneer Village
• Daily, 9AM - 8PM

80. USA Mullet Championships

• ENOUGH Plaza
• 8/3, 3PM

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81. It would be baaaaad if you missed the 4-H Market Lamb Show

• Blue Ribbon Pavilion
• 8/1, 8AM

82. let your kids build in the construction zone

• Indiana Arts Building
• Daily, 9AM - 8PM

83. Step back in time and browse the Country Market to get your shopping in!

• Corteva Agriscience™ FFA Pavilion
• Daily, 9AM - 9PM

84. See what all the farmers have to say with the Live Farmers Chat

• Glass Barn presented by the Indiana Soybean Farmers
• Daily, 11AM, 2 & 4PM

85. You won’t want to miss the 4-H Grand Drive presented by Farm Credit MId-America

• Corteva Coliseum
• 8/3, 6PM

86. Visit with some rabbits

• Momma Town & Northwest Pavillion
• Daily, 9AM - 9PM

87. Show your patriotism at the Daily Flag Raising Ceremony

• Pioneer Village
• Daily, 9AM

88. Walk around our Selfie Photo Trail

• Around the grounds
• Daily

89. You don't want to miss out on the Bubble Tower

• Gate 3
• Daily, 9AM - 8PM

90. NEW! see some amazing puzzlers in action during the jigsaw puzzle contest

• Indiana Arts Building
• 8/16, 12PM

91. Watch some pro-am basketball during the dust bowl grandaddy legacy tournament

• Gate 3
• 8/8 - 8/10, 11AM

92. Experience brick art

• Normandy Barn
• Daily, 9AM - 9PM

93. Hear a variety of entertainment and music acts on the Hoosier Lottery Free Stage

• Hoosier Lottery Free Stage
• Daily, times vary

94. Check out the Indiana Grown Marketplace

• The Mercantile at Ag/Hort
• Daily, 9AM - 9PM

95. Get hungry and healthy with the Giant Vegetable Contest

• The Mercantile at Ag/Hort
• 8/9, 11AM

96. witness new heights with the pole vaulting competition

• Gate 3
• 8/1, 6PM

97. Stop by the fashion fair finale: a space for us presented by F.A.M.E.

• Gate 3
• 8/17, 6:30PM

98. Take a picture under the famous Midway sign and post it on social media for all your friends to see. Don’t forget to hashtag #indystatefair!

• Midway presented by Indiana 811
• Daily, All Day

99. Check out the 4-H Education Station

• 4-H Exhibit Hall
• Daily, 12PM

100. Cool off on a hot, summer day at the giant mist fans!

• Around the Grounds
• Daily, All Day