Indiana State Fair announces free concerts - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

The Indiana State Fair kicks off Aug. 3 with its traditional Marsh Band Day competition in the Hoosier Lottery Grandstand. Other grandstand events include the Monster Truck Nationals (Aug. 4), Great American Wild West Show (Aug. 12-13) and the Lucas Oil Indy Mile AMA Pro Flat Track Grand Nationals motorcycle race (Aug. 18).

King Michael: A Glorious Tribute to the King of Pop starts the great run of shows on the Free Stage on Aug. 3. Additional Free Stage shows include Allstar Weekend (Aug. 4), REO Speedwagon (Aug. 6), Easton Corbin (Aug. 8) and MC Hammer (Aug. 13). There are also countless livestock exhibits and all the popular fair foods to enjoy before closing day Aug. 19.

Attending the fair for more than one day has become a little easier on Hoosiers' budgets thanks to a new multi-day admission pass. The $18 ticket is good for one admission on three different days, which is a $12 savings off the gate admission price. The fair is also bringing back its popular Turkey Hill Dairy $2 Tuesdays and many other deals and discounts.

The overall theme of this year's fair is "Celebrating the Hoosier Spirit," which will happen in a variety of ways. It is also the "Year of Dairy Cows" presented by the American Dairy Association of Indiana, which has all kinds of special exhibits and events in store for visitors. There's even a new "Moo Chew" meal of grilled American and Pepper Jack cheese with a Lemon Chiller milkshake at the Dairy Bar on Main Street - yum!

The new DuPont Food Pavilion, also on Main Street, is 16,000 square feet of space completely devoted to explaining where our food comes from and how best to prepare it. There will be daily cooking demonstrations, nutrition displays and a retail store of specialty foods made and produced right here in Indiana. Still, the most popular booths may be the commodity groups and food manufacturers offering free samples throughout the entire fair.

The International Pavilion focuses on Italy this year. "Ciao Italia," produced in partnership with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and the International Center, features food, facts and cultural fun from Italy and the country's longstanding connections with Indiana. A special focus is on Clinton, Ind., and its significant Italian population and popular Little Italy Festival that draws tens of thousands of people each year.

The fair's headline concerts - Barry Manilow (Aug. 3), Train (Aug. 4), Journey/Pat Benatar/Loverboy (Aug. 8) and Blake Shelton (Aug. 17) - will take place in downtown Indianapolis at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, about 10 minutes away from the fairgrounds. Everyone who goes to these shows also receives a free ticket to the State Fair that is good for any of the fair's 17 days.

There's lots more, of course - the International SuperDogs show, the MHS Flippenout Extreme Trampoline show, Bixby's Rainforest Rescue show with exotic animals, the Xtreme Action Sports show presented by VOICE, the new 100 foot-tall Vertigo ride on the midway - the list goes on and on. It could take 17 days to describe everything, but who wants to do that when you can see it for yourself?

More info