13 WTHR - Indianapolis News |State Fair almost here

State Fair almost here

Lynsay Clutter/Eyewitness News

Indianapolis, Aug. 8 - If you've been going to the Indiana State Fair for years, you get that nostalgic feeling when you walk in. You have your favorites traditions.

But some folks with preconceived notions have never been.

Fair directors say this year will be different and beyond what you would expect.

Vendors are stocking up, fences are going in and the State Fair is almost in full swing.

Already, 4H competitions are underway. The farming traditions have returned as well as fair food favorites.

Remember deep fried Snickers bars and Oreos? They're back, but next to a new item on the menu, deep fried Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

Vendor Josh Orme explains, "It kind of melts inside, so it's kind a like a melted chocolate peanut butter and then the funnel cake batter on the outside."

If something different appeals to you, try the Indiana State Fair Bakery and Coffee Shop. It's air-conditioned, serves gourmet coffee and makes fresh cream puffs daily, the Fair's signature item.

Vickie King with the bakery thinks, "it's going to work. It's a big deal at a lot of fairs across the country. So this is new and it's big."

A fancy fair touch, but if you want up scale, check out modern dancers scaling up a building. Project Bandaloop is from California. They combine rock climbing and modern dance.

No need for expensive theater tickets, simply watch their debut at the 4H Hall.

You still get circus clowns and trapeze artists, but the State Fair is going up a notch and expanding its image.

A variety of concerts will feature big acts like Rascal Flats, Switchfoot, Clay Aiken, Alan Jackson and Keith Urban.

The Fair's Andy Klotz says visitors "love the tradition of the State Fair. But you'll still need to tweak it each year, and with things like project Bandaloop or Starbuck's coming out and offering what they have, we think that will draw in new people who maybe haven't tried out the fair before."

The Fairgrounds even has three hot zones, that's wi-fi access for your laptop while you munch on an elephant ear.

What about the parking situation at the fair this year? The EZ parking lots are five dollars per car and located on 38th Street across from the main gate or the Fall Creek/Keystone lot which includes a shuttle.

The Park and Ride lots are two dollars per adult. The Glendale Mall lot has shuttles every 20 minutes every day and the Major Taylor Velodrome lot on 38th Street and Cold Spring Road is open Friday through Sunday.

Free parking is at the fairgrounds infield and the School for the Deaf. Tickets in advance are five dollars. Admission at the gate is is six dollars. Kids five and under are free.