Thursday at the Indiana State Fair

AAA Members receive FREE admission!

Enjoy FREE admission when you present your valid AAA card at the gate, either your physical card or the digital version in the AAA app.

*One valid card per person.

Featured Highlights 

Taste of Fair Winners Announced

Taste of Fair Presented by Pepsi

The Indiana State Fair isn’t just famous for its fun vibes and thrilling rides, it’s also a foodie’s paradise, serving up wacky, zany, and wonderfully delicious creations! This year’s Taste of the Fair winners brought bold flavors and serious creativity to the table. Here are the top 3 Taste of the Fair winners:

1^st Place – Wilson Concessions: Cinnamon Toast Cookie Butter Pretzel Bites

2^nd Place – Swains Concessions: Pickle Bacon Ranch Pizza

3^rd Place – Nitro Hog BBQ: BBQ Machos

Lonestar & Phil Vassar (7:30 p.m.)

Hoosier Lottery Free Stage

Known for blending heartfelt storytelling with a polished pop-country sound, Lonestar has left an indelible mark on the genre, boasting a staggering 22 top ten singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, including 10 that reached No. 1. Their meteoric rise began in 1995 with the top 5 single “Tequila Talking,” followed by No. 1 hits like the rock-tinged “No News,” “Come Cryin’ to Me,” and “Everything’s Changed.” With more than 10.5 million records sold worldwide, Lonestar stands as one of country music’s most enduring and influential bands, continuing to inspire fans with their heartfelt hits and musical legacy. You don’t want to miss this show at the Hoosier Lottery Free Stage.

Baby Animal Feeding adventure (All Day)

Goat Mountain

Come visit Goat Mountain and experience the joy of connecting with adorable baby animals. 

Big Top Circus pres. By Bee Window Performances (1:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.)

Big Top Zone

Multiple daily performances throughout the fair’s Big Top Zone bring acrobats, aerialists, and circus flair to the Indiana State Fair. 

Indiana State Fair Championship Rodeo (Slack run: 1:00 p.m. | Main event: 7:30 p.m.)

Hoosier Lottery Grandstand

The Indiana State Fair Championship Rodeo will deliver thrilling rodeo action and top-tier performances, showcasing skilled cowboys and cowgirls competing in a variety of classic events at the Hoosier Lottery Grandstand. The slack run will kick everything off at 1:00 p.m. and follow with the championship at 7:30 p.m.

Chris Lantz Extreme Sculpting (2:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.)

Main Street

Sawdust will fly and the chainsaw will roar as internationally award-winning chainsaw artist Chris Lantz transforms an ordinary log into an extraordinary work of art. His thrilling & fast-paced show is sure to amaze viewers of all ages- you’ll have to see it to believe it! Be sure to catch Extreme Sculpting on Main Street at 2:30, 4:30, & 6:30 p.m.

Taste & Create: Moonshiners LIVE! A day with Mark & Digger at the Indiana State Fair Presented by Sugarlands Distilling Co.

Purdue Extension

Get ready, Indiana! Discovery Channel’s Moonshiners legends Mark and Digger are bringing their charm, craft, and stories to the Indiana State Fair. Join them for Moonshiners Live, featuring a VIP Meet & Greet and a Mixology Experience where you’ll sample spirits, craft cocktails, and hear firsthand tales from the distilling world. 

DockDogs pres. By AAA Hoosier Motor Club Big Air Wave Competitions (1:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m.)

Celebration Park

Catch the high-flying excitement as dogs launch off ramps into pools in a crowd-pleaser series of Big Air Wave demonstrations, perfect for family-friendly visuals and dynamic footage.

The Art of Music Experience – Vinyl Revival (9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.)

Harvest Pavilion

Vinyl Revival will feature The Art of Music Exhibit, an immersive experience that celebrates the powerful connection between music and visual art by showcasing iconic album covers and the stories behind them. Enjoy a pop-up record store, in partnership with Indy CD & Vinyl, along with hand-painted displays of musicians from around the world.