The Indiana State Fair Coliseum. Provided photo
Despite running for three fewer days that it did in 2023, this summer’s Indiana State Fair surpassed last year’s attendance by about 1.6%—or about 13,800 people.
The 167th Indiana State Fair wrapped up Sunday after a 15-day run with total attendance of 854,236, the Indiana State Fair Commission reported Friday morning in a media release. Last year’s fair, which had an 18-day schedule, attracted 840,414 attendees.
Attendance this year still lagged the fair’s record of 978,296 in 2013, when it ran for 17 days.
Last year’s fair ran from July 28 to Aug. 20 but was closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. That allowed the fair to be open over four weekends, which tend to be the days of greatest attendance and revenue.
This year’s fair ran from Aug. 2-18 (closed on Mondays), which included three weekends. But the popular $2 Tuesdays promotion returned this year, with $2 admission, $2 concession choices at every food booth, and $2 midway rides each Tuesday.
The fair also was heavy on star power with a robust roster of concerts that included the band Dogstar with Hollywood icon Keannu Reeves, as well as appearances by social media star Jackson Farmer and the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark. It also promoted more than a dozen new activities.
Control over the state fair and its scheduling has been a hot political issue for decades.
More than 10,000 exhibitors and youth competitors showed or displayed nearly 50,000 animal and non-animal projects this year. Officials said many vendors reported record sales.
Indiana State Fair attendance history
The fair ran for 15 days this year. In 2021-2023, the schedule was for 18 days. The fair ran 17 days from 2009-2019 and 12 days prior to 2009.
2024 – 854,236
2023 – 840,414
2022 – 837,568
2021 – 830,390
2020 – No fair due to pandemic
2019 – 878,857
2018 – 860,131
2017 – 906,732
2016 – 731,543
2015 – 907,000
2014 – 954,884
2013 – 978,296*
2012 – 853,941
2011 – 872,312
2010 – 950,000
2009 – 973,902
2008 – 859,600
2007 – 746,421
2006 – 870,052
2005 – 820,248
2004 – 900,365
2003 – 878,114
2002 – 796,431
2001 – 731,592
2000 – 754,410
1999 – 748,204
1998 – 728,724
1997 – 673,167
1996 – 701,021
1995 – 591,680
1994 – 672,872
1993 – 689,924
1992 – 722,218
1991 – 676,693
1990 – 639,335
1989 – 593,676
1988 – 571,230
*Fair record
