Indianapolis Woman sent some of our staffers to the Indiana State Fair to taste and test the scene. Here's what they had to say...
Lovin’ that Fair Food
by Michelle Thompson (Senior Graphic Designer) Jess and I went to the Indiana State Fair on a Saturday after running 16 miles on the Monon that morning.
All that running made us HUNGRY.
We started off with the Hot Wisconsin Cheese and it was delicious! We got a 5-piece order of deep fried mozzarella sticks with marinara and ranch dipping sauces.
Then we opted to try a famous State Fair Corndog and, yes, they’re as good as everyone says they are!
But my favorite indulgence of the day was the Classic Greek Gyro made with lamb and topped with lettuce, tomato and tzatziki sauce. YUM.
Maybe next time — if we’re feeling really adventurous — we’ll try the Deep Fried Butter or Pigs in Mud (chocolate-covered bacon). Naahh. Probably not. But we’ll definitely be back next year!!
That Big Wheel in the Sky
by Shari Finnell (Editor in Chief)
Attending the Indiana State Fair has been somewhat of a family ritual for us … dating back to the days my two kids were still in diapers. Fast forward about a decade and we were at it again, this time joining my crazy friend Deborah, who hadn’t seen my kids in a while.
Within minutes of arriving at the fairgrounds, I knew this time around was going to be a bit different. While we usually spent the entire day leisurely checking out all the animals, the demonstrations and, of course, the food, Deborah had a specific agenda in mind: Food, quilts (really?) and the rides.
After scarfing down all kinds of fried foods — including elephant ears, pork tenderloins, corn dogs, onion rings and French fries — and then washing it down with those oh-so-delicious Lemon Shake-ups, we weren’t exactly in the mood to hang around a bunch of smelly pigs and cows anyway.
Instead we checked out the quilts, which were actually quite artistic, except, perhaps, the one with the 3-dimensional pigs sewn all over it. It was... uh, interesting. We also took in some classical music performed by a pianist and a violinist and checked out hundreds of pieces of art before heading over to the rides.
The highlight of the night, surprisingly, was the Ferris Wheel — which my family had never bothered to ride in the past.
That’s when Deborah took things up a notch.
Just for the fun of it, the two of us started hooping and hollering like we were on a fast rollercoaster — not a Ferris Wheel going about 1 mile per hour.
My 13-year-old son looked across at us with a deadpan expression and muttered, “Don’t you think you guys are overreacting?”
Deborah took that as her cue to let out some blood-curdling screams, like she was on The Beast at Kings Island.
As the Ferris Wheel slowly made its course — stopping intermittently to let people off — those screams kept coming. My son just dropped his head in his lap in complete submission. Or was that total embarrassment?
My 10-year-old daughter gazed off into the distance, acting as if she didn’t know any of us.
Me? I laughed so hard that tears streamed down my face.
In all, we had a great time. Once again, the fair proved there’s something for everyone — even a couple of kids in the company of two hyper middle-aged women.
An Annual Ritual
by Dan Kraner (Art Director)
Every year I count the days until I can make my yearly trek to the Indiana State Fair. The sights, sounds and smells converging with the usual 90-plus degree temperatures always provide an indelible impression that nearly completes my list of “must-do’s” for the year.
This year was no exception. I went to the fair on a Two-Dollar Tuesday … a genius marketing ploy, especially in this economy. The slightly smaller portions of fair fare were actually a plus. I could shovel more in that way.
At the top of my food list was my annual (and I only eat one a year) corndog. Through comparison shopping, I have found what I consider to be the best corndog on the entire grounds.
This vendor is an aqua-and-white vending trailer right outside the hog barn. No disappointment this year. Corndog perfection.
Other delectables in my trough of fair goodies included an elephant ear, one slice of pepperoni pizza, a small basket of crinkle-cut fries and an Italian sausage, onion and pepper sandwich all washed down with an icy orange shakeup.
One aspect of the fair I think many overlook is the Home and Family Arts building. I always do a quick sweep of the baked goods in the basement of the building. I’m only slightly bitter that my buttermilk biscuits didn’t win a prize at last year’s fair.
I’m always surprised at the fantastic professional artwork on display and for sale. If you’re an art enthusiast this is a great place to start your collection. Many of the paintings and other handcrafts are very reasonably priced.
Browsing the displays also provides ample time for all the aforementioned food to settle into a place for safe keeping before hopping on the grand finalé of my fair visit — the Ferris Wheel.
What about you?
Leave a comment, let us know how your experience was at the State Fair. What did you eat, ride, pet, smell... etc.
