Top Indiana State Fair Attractions: Rides, Shows & Free Fun
Looking for the best things to do at the Indiana State Fair this year? The 2026 fair runs August 7 through 23 (closed both Mondays) at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, and the theme is “Always A Hit,” presented by the Indianapolis Indians, tying the whole event to Hoosier baseball. From a brand-new VHS-era exhibit to a narrated train ride and a wiffle ball stadium, here are the attractions worth building your day around.
From new exhibits to farmyard favorites, the fair’s calling. Lock in your tickets before they’re gone. Buy them here.
New for 2026: “Rewind: A VHS Revival”
The headline new attraction is “Rewind: A VHS Revival,” an immersive walk-through exhibit in the Harvest Pavilion built to look and feel like the video-rental stores of the 1980s, ’90s, and early 2000s. Inside you’ll find:
Rare movie-poster art and video-store collectibles
A baseball movie theatre tied to this year’s “Always A Hit” theme
An Indy CD & Vinyl pop-up record store
All Aboard the New State Fair Train
Also debuting in 2026 is the State Fair Train, a narrated family ride that loops along the north side of the fairgrounds. It’s $5 round-trip and a good way to rest your feet while the kids keep moving.
Schumacher Stadium: Wiffle Ball at the Fair
The baseball theme comes to life at Schumacher Stadium, a mini wiffle ball diamond inside the Meijer Family Fun Park with open play, drop-in tournaments, and the occasional celebrity guest. Nearby, the Indianapolis Indians’ Big-League Barn Shop in the Harvest Pavilion sells team gear, and August 13 is the Indians’ Family Day, when a voucher from IndyIndians.com gets you 50% off gate admission.
Free Concerts on the Hoosier Lottery Free Stage
Every show on the Hoosier Lottery Free Stage is free with fair admission. The 2026 run opens with The Spinners at 6 PM and The Four Tops at 7:30 PM on August 7 and includes Warrant, Busta Rhymes, Grand Funk Railroad, Trace Adkins, Gene Simmons, Don McLean, and gospel star Tasha Cobbs Leonard closing things out on August 23. Most sets start at 7:30 PM. Two acts came off the bill: The Beach Boys postponed their August 7 show to 2027, and Bret Michaels cancelled. For the full night-by-night lineup and set times, see our complete Indiana State Fair guide.
Grandstand Shows: Rodeo, Derby & More
The Grandstand hosts the fair’s big-ticket competitions. Several are free with Fair admission, but Band Day, the Cheerleading Competition, the Rodeo and the Demolition Derby need a separate Grandstand ticket ($8 to $14.50) that does not include Fair admission:
Band Day prelims and finals (August 7)
Cheerleading Competition (August 8 at 9:30 AM, one session only this year)
Tractor Pull (August 9, free with admission)
Harness racing, including the Fox Stake (August 12) and the Governor’s Cup (August 19)
Over the Top Pole Vaulting Tour (August 15, free with admission)
Championship Rodeo (August 20 and 21)
Demolition Derby (August 22 and 23)
Midway Rides & Wristband Days
The Midway is run by North American Midway Entertainment and packed with the classics: the Ferris wheel, the Tilt-A-Whirl, bumper cars, and high-flying thrill rides. A few ways to save:
Unlimited-ride wristbands are $40 onsite, or $30 in advance through August 6 (online adds a $3 processing fee)
Wristband days run every Friday (August 7, 14, 21), Wednesday (August 12, 19), Thursday (August 13, 20), and the final Sunday (August 23)
On $2 Tuesdays (August 11 and 18), rides are $2 each. The rest of the fair, individual midway tickets are 50 cents apiece
Returning Favorites: Pioneer Village, the DNR Building & Little Hands on the Farm
The staples Hoosiers come back for are all confirmed for 2026:
Pioneer Village, with log-cabin building, threshing, quilting, basket-making, and vintage farm-machinery demos
The DNR Building, home to live fish aquariums, the Take Flight live birds-of-prey show, conservation-officer scuba demos, and Fishin’ for Kids
Little Hands on the Farm (presented by Indiana529), the hands-on ag experience for little kids inside the Meijer Family Fun Park
Family Fun & Free Entertainment
Beyond the headliners, a lot of the best fair moments are free with admission. The fair promotes more than 100 free things to do, and these are the family favorites:
The Big Top Circus (presented by Bee Window) runs free shows daily at 1, 4, and 7 PM in an air-conditioned tent, with new-for-2026 acts including the Zero Gravity Arts light show and the SkyBike aerial stunt
Break A Boyz street breakdancing on Main Street
Calf cuddling and tortoise feedings at Goat Mountain
You can find the full list of free attractions at indianastatefair.com.
Plan Around the Crowds
A little strategy goes a long way. The biggest crowds hit on wristband Fridays and the final weekend, so if you want shorter ride lines, come on a weekday morning right when the gates open. Keep in mind that a wristband covers the Midway but not the Grandstand shows, and a handful of Grandstand events charge a small fee on top of admission. Weekday visits also make the free exhibits, like Rewind and Pioneer Village, far easier to actually enjoy.
More from the Fair
Ready to go? Lock in your tickets before they’re gone. Buy them here.
See You at the Fairgrounds
Whether you’re chasing carnival thrills, digging through crates of vintage movie art, or cheering on a demolition derby, the 2026 Indiana State Fair is built to keep Hoosiers of all ages busy for a full day. Pick your must-dos, map your route, and we’ll see you there. Tag us in your fair-day photos and tell us your can’t-miss stop.
