It’s August and in Indiana this means back to school, the end of summer, and the Indiana State Fair. A trip to the Indiana State Fair can be a fun experience for the whole family. Some people go for the food while others go for the thrill of the rides, however the fair can be fun for all ages even the little ones. Plus a lot of the kid-friendly activities are FREE with admission.
Not sure where to start? Below is a list of 10 must do kid-friendly activities to incorporate into your next trip to the Indiana State Fair.
Don’t miss the list of special deals each day listed at the end of this post!
1. Super City: Where Heroes Unite! – Head on over to Super City at the Harvest Pavilion to meet and greet with your favorite superheroes. Each day a different superhero will be available for pictures including Superman, Spider-Man, and Batman plus many more. The times are the same each day at 12pm, 2pm, 4pm, & 6pm. The lines may seem long but actually move really fast. Other activities include a inflatable obstacle course by the National Guard and tons of photo opportunities all around the marvel and DC comic world exhibit. For a minimal fee, you can participate in a virtual reality game or face painting.
2. Big Top Circus – Come one, come all to the Big Top Circus which is back for another year. This is FREE with admission but seats are on a first come first serve basis. Purchase a $5 fastpass to skip the line. Shows are daily at 1pm, 4pm, and 7pm.
3. Glass Barn – Say cheese at the interactive photo booths with 3 new background designs for 2019. Email or text the photos to yourself to share with family and friends. Also play BeanGo in the iCreate Exhibit to win a free Glass Barn hat. Don’t forget to pick up your Dairy Bar coupons.
4. Livestock Barns – Check out your favorite animals in the livestock barns. We took the time to visit with our friends competing in the swine barn. You can walk through other barns too like draft horses, cattle, and many more.
5. Dairy Bar – Although this is not free, it is the cheapest way to feed your family at the fair. Kid’s meals with grilled cheese, applesauce, and milk are only $5. Don’t forget about your $1 off coupon from the Glass Barn.
6. DNR Fishin’ Pond – Go Fishing for free in the DNR Fishin’ Pond behind the DNR building. Families listen to a short presentation on fishing safety then kids ages 5-17 can fish up to 15 minutes.
7. Putt-Putt Golf – Escape the heat and enjoy a friendly round of putt putt miniature golf. Also enjoy a playground area for the kids with benches for the adults to recharge.
8. Midway Rides and Attractions – Enjoy carnival games and amusement park rides opening at noon each day. Most rides require 2-4 tickets per ride. Purchase wristbands in advance online or on-site to ride all day. Individual tickets are $1.50 each.
9. Little Hands on the Farm – Become a farmer for a day and learn where our food comes from. Complete a series of tasks from planting seeds and barn chores to selling their products for ‘cash’ that they can use in the store.
10. K9 Crew Trick Dog Show – Check out this high-energy canine thrill show daily at 11am, 1:30pm, 4pm, and 6pm in the Anderson Family Fun Park.
More Money Saving Tips
- Purchase tickets in advance online
- $2 Tuesdays are when admission, Midway rides, and food options are all $2.
- Check out other promotional days like FREE admission for Military and their families. Click here for complete list.
- Kids 5 and under are FREE!
- Get 50% off a kids meal at the Dairy Bar by submitting this coloring page. This submission also enters you for a chance to win a personalized dairy experience for 4 people
- Download the Indiana State Fair app to help locate FREE activities and manage your time.
Our family had a great day and covered as much as we could before heading home. There is really so much to see and do that it is impossible to experience it all in one day. We would love to go back and hopefully see you there too. Where is your favorite family photo spot? See you at the fair!
Thank you to the Indiana State Fair for partnering with me on this post.
