INDIANAPOLIS — Friday was opening day at the Indiana State Fair, and it started off as one of the most memorable ones yet.
"This definitely stands out as one of the hottest fairs I've been to, to date," Lloyd Taylor said.
This year, the Indiana State Fair is continuing its 166-year tradition. The hot temperatures didn't stop some fairgoers from continuing their own family traditions at the fair.
"It's been a blessing. It's been really great today. We are having a great time. We want to get out here and take advantage of the opportunity and the small crowd today," Taylor said.
Those who braved the heat were rewarded with easy access to all the rides, food and games.
Anna Whelchel, the fair's chief marketing and sales officer, said the fair's heat plan will keep everyone cool.
"We've also brought in outdoor portable AC units to help with some of those outdoor spaces where people are hanging out," Whelchel said. "We also have portable cooling stations — they are, in essence, busses that we can move to different areas of the fair if we need to cool people off."
Fairgoers told 13News what they did to protect themselves from the heat on Friday.
"Stay hydrated, drinking plenty of water before we got out here. Making sure we take advantage of the air conditioners in some of these awesome venues around here," Taylor said.
The state fair also has new safety measures this year, including the unaccompanied minor policy, which states after 6 p.m. anyone under 18 must be accompanied by someone 21 years old or older. Some fairgoers believe this is a good idea.
"I think that's great because teenagers today need supervision. They think they're grown," Trina Merritt said.
"We were all young once before, and we've all been there before. We just need someone to love and an opportunity to make sure the youth have a good place and safe venue to have fun," Taylor said.
That's what this is all about.
For help planning your trip to the fair, visit the Indiana State Fair's website.