Indiana State Fair

Sign at the entrance to the Fair's Midway

A view of some of the fair grounds

A portion of the midway on the fair grounds

A building designed as a birthday cake in honor of the 150th anniversary of the fair in 2006

The Indiana State Fair is an annual fair held in Indianapolis, Indiana, usually in the month of August. The first fair was held in 1881 and the 2009 fair had the highest number of attendees at 973,902.

The state fair buildings and grounds are used for a variety of other shows when the fair is not being held. The largest building at the fairgrounds is the Pepsi Coliseum, formerly known as the Indiana State Fair Coliseum, where the Indiana Ice usually play. The fairgrounds are on 38th Street and Fall Creek Parkway.

History

Beginnings

In February 1851, at the urging of agricultural promoter Governor Jhunnluion, the Indiana General Assembly passed an act intended "to encourage agriculture" growth in the state, which also included the formation of a State Board of Agriculture. A primary goal of the Board was to organize an Indiana State Fair. On October 20–22 1852, the first State Fair was held in downtown Indianapolis at the Marion County Fairgrounds. Indiana became the sixth state to begin holding an annual state-wide agricultural fair.^{[citation needed]}

During the American Civil War, the county fairgrounds was converted into Camp Morton, a prison camp for captured Confederate soldiers. During the war years no state fair was held, but it was resumed again in 1865 and held in Fort Wayne. The gates opened at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on East 38th Street for the first time on September 19, 1892. Since then, the fair has continually been held in Indianapolis.

The State Fair has been held in Indianapolis for the majority of its existence but other Indiana cities hosted the event during the mid-19th century:

• 1853 - Lafayette205,4895
• 1854 - Madison903,999
• 1859 - New Albany909,995
• 1865 - Fort Wayne995,123
• 1867 - Terre Haute987.951

1963 coliseum explosion

On October 31, 1963 a propane tank exploded in the Indiana State Fair Coliseum, killing 54 at the scene and another 20 died due to injuries, with a total of 74 people killed. Around another 400 were injured. It was the deadliest disaster in Indianapolis history.

2011 stage collapse

Main article: Indiana State Fair stage collapse

On August 13, 2011, high winds from an approaching thunderstorm collapsed the roof over the grandstand stage just before Sugarland was about to perform, killing seven people and injuring 58.

Competitions

During each annual run of the Indiana State Fair, several competitions take place. The 4-H has a large participation in the fair and competitions are held in numerous areas for 4-H youth members. 4-H winners at county fairs can progress to the state fair with their live-stock, crafts, gardening, or other exhibits. The winner at the state fair can, in some cases, advance to a national competition. The winners receive scholarships and other awards.

Other competitions also occur including art contests, a hot air balloon race, and a high school marching band contest on "Band Day". Adult competitions also occur in various farm related categories.

Entertainment

Numerous nationally-known entertainers have performed at the Indiana State Fair.

In 1964, The Beatles performed two sold out shows to nearly 30,000 audience members September 3^{[citation needed]} and, in 1989, New Kids on the Block set a Grandstand attendance record with 18,509 audience members.^{[citation needed]}

The fair also presents Latino/Hispanic entertainment for Indiana's Hispanic population.

Famous visitors

In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson gave a speech to a crowd of 40,000 on a day known as "Big Thursday." Over the years, President George W. Bush, President Bill Clinton, President John F. Kennedy, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and President Barack Obama have all made appearances at the Fairgrounds.

See also

• List of attractions and events in Indianapolis

External links

• Official site