Indiana State Fair starts final week in the wake of severe storms
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Your last week to soak up some state fair fun starts now. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
The Indiana State Fair rolls into its closing week a little soaked but still standing after severe storms turned this year's run into a real-time test of Hoosier grit.
Why it matters: The fair absorbed repeated closures and a historic regional flood, forcing an emergency declaration for the state even as the fairgrounds themselves largely stayed open for business.
What they’re saying: "This has been a hard week for Indiana," Indiana State Fair officials said in a statement. "Indiana is facing real hardship, and for many Hoosiers, that hardship is far from over. But times like this have a way of reminding us what really matters."
Driving the news: Storms forced gate closures at the fair last Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.
By the numbers: This year’s fair was expected to draw more than 850,000 visitors, but it remains unclear what effect the statewide emergency response will have on the final headcount.
- Attendance has grown each year post-pandemic, going from 830,390 fairgoers in 2021 to 854,977 in 2025.
Between the lines: The fatal 2011 stage collapse caused by high winds reshaped how the Indiana State Fair Commission handles severe weather.
- The fair runs on a standing weather protocol. When storms threaten, PA announcements direct fairgoers into designated permanent buildings as safe havens rather than waiting out storms outdoors.
- This year tested that system repeatedly, and officials leaned into a message of caution over convenience.
The latest: To make up for lost time, and to show appreciation for those on the frontline, the fair will offer free admission to first responders, military members and their families from Wednesday through the rest of the event.
What’s next: This week's is the last $2 Tuesday of the 2026 Indiana State Fair, with $2 admission, midway rides and food options.
- Highlights still on tap include Gene Simmons, Don McLean and a closing-day Gospel Music Festival with Tasha Cobbs Leonard on the Hoosier Lottery Free Stage.
- A full list of events can be found here.