Gird your loins, grab your antacid, and head to the Indiana State Fair with an empty stomach and open mind. The fair opens August 2, but the world already knows what is on deck in terms of the eats.
This year, the “Taste of the Fair” offers a massive smorgasbord of food and drink options to try. The annual competition is for more than just bragging rights. The winning food stand will receive a $2,500 cash prize, followed by the second place receiving $1,000, and third place receiving $500. In addition, for the first time our partners at the World Food Championships will award the top three winners a Golden Ticket entry to the World Food Championships event November 8-12 for the first time in history at the State Fairgrounds.
Fairgoers are encouraged to vote for their favorite new food items by visiting any of the information booths around campus between August 2-18 or by scanning the QR code that will be available at the concession stands serving up their creations.
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The Indiana State Fair Menu
All-American Mary: A classic bloody Mary brimming with all your favorite backyard cookout essentials. It’s loaded with a mini corn on the cob, cheeseburger slider, fried mac and cheese, fried pickles, waffle fries, hotdog slider, and a mini apple pie.
Aloha Hot Honey Chicken Nachos: This tropical twist on loaded nachos features crispy tortilla chips, taco seasoned chicken, creamy queso, sweet pineapple chunks, a drizzle of Mike’s Hot Honey, and zesty mango salsa.
Amish Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites: Pretzel bites slathered in Amish Peanut Butter Spread. They will consist of Amish Peanut butter spread and pretzel bites. The spread has a peanut butter marshmallow flavor.
BBQ Totchos: Tater tots, pulled pork, cheese sauce, jalapeños, sour cream, BBQ sauce!
Bison Smashburger Taco: A Bison burger smashed and pressed into a flour tortilla served with all the Classic fixings. Drizzled with our Signature Smash Burger Sauce.
Blue Ribbon Blueberry Milkshake: This blueberry shake boasts just the right amount of berry flavor
Blueberry Cheesecake Stuffed Elephant Ear: This year, it’s the next level – a Blueberry Cheesecake stuffed Elephant Ear.
Boba Lemonade Shake-Up: Fresh squeezed lemonade shake ups with various flavors of Boba for a burst of extra flavor of your choice!
Bratzilla: It is not attacking the fairgrounds – just your taste buds. This monstrous sandwich features a locally sourced 1/3 pound bratwurst from Dewig Meats on a pretzel bun, smothered in creamy hatch queso, topped with BBQ pulled pork, crispy onions and jalapeños.
Chili Cheese Empanada: Bursting with a tantalizing blend of house-made 3-alarm chili and rich Wisconsin cheddar cheese, each empanada is deep-fried and topped with pickled red onions, fresh scallions, and crunchy corn chips.
Chili Cheese Frito Corn in a Cup: This cup includes corn, nacho cheese, chili, and Chili Cheese Fritos!
Chocolate Caramel Coffee Float: “The Triple C Float” is a 24 oz serving of iced coffee with ice cream, chocolate and caramel syrups, topped with whipped cream, a cherry and drizzled with caramel sauce.
Cinnamon Toast Crunch Funnel Cake: Our famous funnel cake topped with cinnamon and sugar followed by Cinnamon Toast Crunch then drizzled with vanilla icing.
Cookie Butter Elephant Ear: This oversized pastry is perfectly fried, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, generously slathered with creamy cookie butter, and topped with crushed Biscoff cookies.
Deep Fried Golden Oreo: Just like the original Fried Oreo it is stuck with a toothpick to ensure it is completely coated in our sweet funnel cake mix and then fried to golden perfection!
Dill Pickle Dr. Pepper: Everyone’s favorite Dr. Pepper with dill pickles spears and a splash of juice.
Dill Pickle Lemon Shake-Up: A pickle lemon shake-up with a dash of pickle juice.
Fried Ice Cream Cone: Vanilla ice cream rolled in corn flakes and flash fried. Topped with honey, chocolate, whipped cream and served in a homemade waffle cone.
Fried Sugar Biscuit n’ BBQ with Apple Butter Sauce: A deep-fried biscuit rolled in sugar, stuffed with pulled pork topped with an apple butter BBQ sauce.
Gravy and Taters: A delicious, deep-fried tater topped with our savory sausage gravy and bacon.
Grilled Cheese Slammer: A grilled cheese sandwich filled with BBQ pork, mac ‘n cheese, and fried pickles, served on Texas toast with a side order of tater tots!
Happy Jack Sandwich: A vegan option, this savory sandwich is loaded with shredded jackfruit blended with bourbon maple sauce and southern black leaf spices loaded on pretzel bun with coleslaw.
Hoosier Cowboy Sandwich: Grilled ribeye steak sandwich tucked between 2 slices of pepper jack cheese and sandwiched with grilled sourdough bread.
Spicy Pickle Pizza: Homemade pizza dough with a jalapeño ranch sauce. We top it with mozzarella and pickle chips then we sprinkle Cajun dust over top and bake. When it comes out we butter the crust and add more cajun dust and drizzle spicy ranch on top.
Hot Honey Pepperoni Pulled Grilled Cheese : The perfect mix of mozzarella cheese, sandwich style pepperoni and hot honey between 2 slices of sweet Hawaiian bread, topped with a sprinkling of Italian seasoning. *Served with marinara sauce upon request.
Indiana Pork Riblets: Served as bite size portions of deliciously seasoned pork, enjoy the riblets with a trio of sauces – Hot Honey, Nelson’s Red Sauce and Citrus Explosion!
Jerk Chicken Nachos: Chips topped with Jamaican Jerk Chicken, jerk sauce, sweet peppers, and melted cheese.
Melty Mess Grilled Cheese: A trio of cheeses are featured in this triple-threat sandwich: Havarti, Cheddar and Muenster on buttery sourdough bread.
Peach Shake Up: A bright and juicy alcoholic refresher perfect for all types of summer buzz or fuzz at the fair!
Peanut Butter & Jelly Chicken Wings: Crispy chicken wings tossed in a creamy peanut butter sauce and topped with a sweet jelly drizzle.
Shark Attack: Freshly-squeezed fruit punch lemon twister, but beware – these are shark-infested waters. Specifically, Indiana-made Albanese Gummy Sharks!
Strawberry Cheesecake Funnel Cake : A traditional funnel cake with powdered sugar, cream cheese icing, strawberries, graham cracker crumble and whipped topping” cooked fresh to order!
Strawberry Shortcake: Bundt cake topped with sliced strawberries, whipped cream and Albanese gummy butterflies!
Sun King’s State Fair Pickle Beer: This Golden Ale balances the pickled punch of cucumber and dill to the base beer’s crisp character, providing an unparalleled sensory experience. The magical combination of brine and brew can be yours at the 2024 Indiana State Fair, and at various Sun King locations.
Sweet & Spicy Swine Pizza: We start with our handmade crust, a mozzarella cheese base, topp it with pulled pork, jalapeños, Grippo’s BBQ Chips and finish with a generous drizzle of Sweet D’s BBQ Sauce.
Sweet Chili Suga Daddy Sub: Savory and mouth watering Sweet Chili turkey meatballs, nestled and hugged in a donut. Yes, it’s a donut turkey meatball sub.
Sweet Tea Slushy: Everyone’s favorite freshly brewed sweet tea turned into a cold refreshing slushy!
Tang-A-Rang Smoked Chicken Wings served with Kool-Aid Infused Pickles: Smoked chicken wings marinated with Tang and our signature Tang BBQ rub and served with various Kool Aid infused pickle flavors.
The Everything Fry: Curly fries topped with cheese, bacon bits, ranch, pulled pork, and BBQ sauce.
The Godfather Egg Roll: A 6″ specialty egg roll stuffed with homemade spaghetti with meat sauce (ground beef) and mozzarella cheese, brushed with a parmesan garlic butter.
Korean Corn Dog Meatball: A hot dog sliced along with fresh mozzarella cheese chunks put on a stick. It is then dipped in a thick donut batter, rolled in panko and French fry chunks.
Tropical Daze Float: Creamy pineapple paired with orange soda, perfect for any day at the fair.
Ultimate Steak Nachos: Tortilla chips, monetary cheese, melted cheese, steak, onions, peppers, honey BBQ sauce, sour cream and jalapeños.
Other State Fair Attractions:
The State Fair is always held during what is traditionally one of the hottest months of the summer. To offer a respite, the MHS Family Fun Park will include an all-new splash pad for folks of all ages to cool off.
The Olympic Games in Paris are happening at the same time as the State Fair. WTHR will host the Olympic Zone to celebrate the Hoosiers competing for Team USA. This experience promises to capture the spirit of the games even from a continent away.
The Fair is also celebrating a historic moment – 60 years ago, a small group from Liverpool called The Beatles played at Pepsi Coliseum. Fair officials are celebrating the Fab Four’s legendary stop in the Circle City on August 3 with Beatles-themed entertainment all day, including a performance by tribute band A Hard Day’s Night and a celebration of the music of Paul McCartney.
If you’re on a budget, you’re in luck. Not only is $2 Tuesday back on the schedule, but the $5 value menu offers a variety of options for everyone in the family.
Finally, the concert line-up for the fair is a mix of all genres of music. Gladys Knight, Buddy Guy, Bell Biv Devoe, Lita Ford, and Dogstar are just a few of the artists playing the Hoosier Lottery Free Stage. If you are not familiar, Dogstar’s bassist is best known for his role as John Wick.
Discounted tickets and the complete schedule are available at IndianaStateFair.com. Don’t forget – the fair folk need their rest too and are closed on Mondays.
