Ranking the 2025 Ohio State Fair concerts
State of play: All concerts take place in the WCOL Celeste Center.
13. Kidz Bop Live. Mercy. Take your kids to Natural Resources Park instead.
6:30pm July 23. $32.
12. Warren Zeiders. A rising star in the country scene.
7:30pm July 25. $53-63.
11. Tauren Wells. There will be much rejoicing.
7pm July 28. $30.
10. Quinn XCII, Chelsea Cutler. Ain't my jam.
7pm July 31. $40-50, tickets go on sale 10am Friday.
9. Trace Adkins. Should be fun for older-school country fans.
7pm Aug. 2. $40-50.
8. AJR. Promises to be an energetic show.
7:30pm Aug. 1. $78-88.
7. Leanne Morgan. One of the most popular women in comedy.
7:30pm July 29. $48-58.
6. Sixteen Candles. Bills itself as "The Nation's 80s Pop Experience."
1pm July 29. Free!
5. Let's Sing Taylor. An affordable way to hear Taylor Swift songs in concert.
7pm July 27. Free!
4. All-Ohio State Fair Band/Youth Choir. Go support the kids!
1pm July 27. Free!
3. T-Pain. The auto-tuner makes his State Fair debut.
7pm July 30. $55-65.
2. Morris Day and the Time. The funkiest show at the fair.
1. Foreigner. The legendary band was inducted into the Rock Hall last year.
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Indianapolis Star
2 days ago
- Indianapolis Star
Here's what's happening this year at the Indiana State Fair
Break out the sunscreen and get ready for some funnel cake, free music and deep-fried diet busters. It's time for the Indiana State Fair. Whether you're in it for the animals, the rides, the food or exhibits, here's everything you need to know about the 2025 summer favorite. This year's fair runs from Aug. 1 through Aug. 17. It's closed on Mondays. First time attending? I didn't know what a Hoosier was. Then I went to the Indiana State Fair The fair's hours are 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Entry ends at 8 p.m. every day. The Midway is also closed on Mondays. Here are the full hours, except on the final day of the fair when it will be open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Also note that wristbands for the Midway aren't sold after 8:30 p.m. or accepted after 10 p.m. Tuesday: 12 p.m. – 11 12 p.m. - 10 12 p.m. – 10 - Saturday: 11 a.m. – 11 12 p.m. - 10 p.m. Building and exhibit hours are Tuesday - Sunday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. This year will feature a new strongman show, interactive glass blowing workshops, a wolfpack, a corn eating competition and more. See the full list of new features and more details here. Those under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or chaperone (age 21+) to enter starting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and starting at 4 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. More on the policy: Full details of Indiana State Fair 2025 Unaccompanied Minor Policy The Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center is at 1202 E. 38th Street in Indianapolis. Here are the driving directions suggested on the State Fair website: From the North Via I-65 (Chicago, IL): Take Exit 119 to West 38th Street. Continue 4.5 miles and the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center will be on your left. Via I-69 (Fort Wayne, IN): I-69 becomes Binford Boulevard in Indianapolis. After 6 miles, Binford Boulevard becomes Fall Creek Parkway. From Fall Creek Parkway, turn Right on East 38th Street and the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center will be on your right. From the South Via I-65 (Louisville, KY): Merge onto I-70 East. Take Exit 85B to North Keystone Avenue. Turn Left on East 38th Street and the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center will be ahead on your right. From the East Via I-70 (Columbus, OH): Take Exit 85 to Keystone Avenue and turn Right. Turn Left on East 38th Street and the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center will be ahead on your right. Via I-74 (Cincinnati, OH): Merge onto I-465 North. Take Exit 44A to I-70 West. Take Exit 85 to Keystone Avenue and turn Right. Turn Left on East 38th Street and the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center will be ahead on your the West Via I-70 (St. Louis, MO): Take Exit 85B to North Keystone Avenue. Turn Left on East 38th Street and the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center will be ahead on your right Via I-74 (Danville, IL): Merge onto I-465 North. Take Exit 17 to West 38th Street. Turn Right on West 38th Street and continue 7 miles to the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center on your left. Fairgrounds parking is $10 per vehicle. Available parking areas are located in the Fairgrounds Infield, South Lot (38th Street) and at the Indiana School for the Deaf (42nd Street), while space is available. The South and School for the Deaf lot hours are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Those attending by Uber, Lyft, or taxi should use the address 3773 Woodland Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46205 for your rideshare drop-off location. Enter through Gate 7 on 38th Street. Need some inspiration on what to eat? Check out the gallery below for favorites from past fairs, or click here for a full list of new options for 2025. There is also an extensive list of $5 value offerings from milkshakes and frozen lemonade to grilled cheese. Check out the full menu and where to find them. Advance single-day tickets are available for $14, not including parking, and packages are available. ▶ Click here for more ticket information and to purchase them. Tickets at the gate will cost $16.80 (kids under five are free), but you can get a dollar off if you ride your bike. Check the IndyStar on Aug. 11, for a free ticket, redeemable at the gates only on Farmers' Day, Aug. 13. ▶ Here's a full list of ticket discounts, and see below for our guide to all the deals. Discount guide: How to save money at the 2025 Indiana State Fair. Discounts on tickets, parking, food and more Each year, the Hoosier Lottery Free Stage hosts stars from a variety of genres. Entry is free with your fair ticket, seating is first come first served and you are allowed to bring your own lawn chair. There are some reserved seating areas this year you can buy upgraded access to that include a separate bar and other perks. This year's theme is the "Soundtrack of Summer," which will include an exhibit on iconic album covers and a pop-up record store. Several big names are expected for 2025, including Indianapolis native Babyface and actor Bill Murray. Most performances start at 7:30 p.m., but beware a few do start earlier. ▶ Here's who you can expect this year. Every year, IndyStar sees the requests made by each band and what they were paid. Cheez-Its, M&Ms and absolutely no Sam's Club lasagna were on last year's demands. ▶ Visit the Indiana State Fair website to find your favorite animals and view the schedule of events. Preliminaries for the 2025 Band Day are at 9 a.m. on Aug. 1 at the Hoosier Lottery Grandstand. Finals take place on the same day at 8 p.m. In 2024, more than 854,000 people attended the fair despite some sweltering temperatures, up from 840,414 in 2023, according to data provided by the State Fair. 2024 Fair by the numbers: Indiana State Fair reports increased attendance in 2024, record sales for vendors The Indiana State Fair is so much more than the Midway, 4-H and fried food. Read about its past in the links below. ▶Indiana State Fair: Fair history from plane crash shows to all the dairy ▶Indiana State Fair history: 10 cent hotdogs and 50 cent admission: State Fair prices through the years The impact: 30 numbers that show the Indiana State Fair's impact on Hoosiers over the years
Axios
2 days ago
- Axios
What to eat on a stick at the Ohio State Fair
If you want to make friends at the Ohio State Fair, visit New Food Avenue and order watermelon on a stick. Dining the news: I set out to find the fair's most unusually good skewered food and this $10 fruit lollipop from A&M Concessions earned the title. Heads turned and strangers struck up conversation as I walked the midway. Not surprising — it's massive. The unwieldy salty-sweet slice doused in chamoy sauce and Tajín seasoning is perfectly refreshing on a hot day. Yes, but: Don't forget the napkins. And, whatever you do, do not tilt the paper tray below it to take a bite. I did, and spent the rest of the day looking like I was covered in blood after bright-red chamoy splattered all over my clothes. (Worth it, though.) Other honorable mentions: 🍝 Fried meatballs and mozzarella: My second-favorite, covered in marinara. ($10, De Luca Family Foods) 🧀 Fried cheese: A classic twist on a corn dog. ($6, Tracey's Concessions) 🍰 Frozen cheesecake: Cool down with dessert in a hard ice cream shell. I chose cherry. ($8, Maggie's Concessions) 🐊 Fried gator: Surprisingly … normal? Pork-like texture, but a little pricey. ($14, Big G's)
Axios
2 days ago
- Axios
1 big thing: 🐮 The State Fair is a week away
So we meet again, Wednesday. 🌤️ Today's weather: Another hot summer day, with a high in the upper 80s and a chance of thunderstorms. FYI: We could probably copy and paste this forecast for the next week or so. 🎵 Sounds like: " Summer Nights" by Rascal Flatts. Alissa Widman Neese, Tyler Buchanan It's almost time for the Ohio State Fair — where you can pet a kangaroo, watch T-Pain perform and eat deep-fried candy bars all in one day. Why it matters: While revered for its unusual food and entertainment, the fair is much more than that. It draws about a million visitors to Columbus from all 88 counties to celebrate our agricultural roots and unite over summertime traditions. Driving the news: The gates are open next Wednesday morning through Aug. 3. What's new: You'll find those kangaroos and other animals at The Barnyard, a new shaded area featuring the popular petting zoo and pig race attractions. Other debuts include chainsaw carving demonstrations and a free circus, plus axe throwing ($10) and a 200-foot-high slingshot ride ($40). Plus: Two gift shops, eight water bottle filling stations and a north-side entry gate. 🎵 Who's performing: From Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band Foreigner to a free Taylor Swift tribute, check out our ranking of this year's lineup. Tickets. Best bites: Several new foods are inspired by 2025's viral flavors, including Dubai chocolate funnel cakes, white cheddar dill pickle cheese curds and a "smashdilla," described as "where a quesadilla and a smash burger fall in love." Schmidt's yearly cream puff is caramel apple. Concession stands offer special $3 items on Thursdays, July 24 and 31. 🤨 Yes, but: We're utterly perplexed by the new buckeye lemonade, "infused with creamy peanut butter and chocolate." What's next: It wouldn't be the State Fair without a Butter Cow. It'll be unveiled Tuesday. Gate hours: 10am–9pm Monday–Friday and 9am–9pm Saturday–Sunday, except the last Sunday, when gates close at 6pm. Map. Daily schedule. $12 adults, $10 kids and seniors at the gate. Kids under 6 free! $10 parking. 🎟️ Ticket pro tips: Buy online before opening day and pay just $8. Discount days are July 28 (adults $10, kids free), July 29 (seniors free) and July 31 (college students $10). Military members, first responders and veterans are free every day with an ID. 2. 😋 Chart du jour: What you can eat on a stick Here's a fun statistic to share with fellow fairgoers: Concession stands will be serving 20 different foods on a stick this year. The intrigue: After crunching the numbers, we've learned that's somehow lower than average over the past four fairs. Zoom in: This year's delicacies include the obvious corn dogs, cotton candy and candy apples, plus oddities like a sausage s'more skewer, fried gator and moonshine chicken. 4. 🪧 "Good Trouble Lives On" protests are coming April Rubin, Alissa Widman Neese Tens of thousands of people are expected to protest the Trump administration again tomorrow, on the fifth anniversary of the death of civil rights leader and former congressman John Lewis. Flashback: Lewis was one of the most vocal critics of President Trump during his first administration. He skipped Trump's 2017 inauguration — only the second Lewis missed during his three-decade tenure in Congress including former President George W. Bush's inauguration in 2001. Zoom in: Local events are scheduled in Delaware, Hilliard, Westerville, Reynoldsburg, Sunbury and in downtown Columbus. 5. 🕵️♀️ Alissa's first geocaching trip Alissa Widman Neese 👋 Alissa here. Inspired by Tyler's adventures in geocaching, I decided to "quickly" investigate a couple caches by my house yesterday. Reality check: I really underestimated how well these things are hidden, and it took me quite a while to find two beginner-level caches. I rage-quit and headed back to my car at both sites, thoroughly convinced the caches must no longer be around. Yes, but: After cooling off, I got back out and persevered, with a little help from their comment logs on the Geocaching website. Disclaimer: I'm going to share two spoilers, if you plan on searching the west side. My first stop: The San Margherita sign near the Belmont House apartments, to find a teeny, tiny magnetic capsule stuck to a park bench's underside, containing a paper log. It's a common tactic, Tyler tells me. He already found that one two weeks ago. The second: The El Vaquero on Riverside Drive, where it was cleverly hidden near the parking lot. I unknowingly circled around forever before finding it. My advice: Do more research than I did about what to expect when searching. I now understand how learning common hiding tactics would definitely help.
