INDIANAPOLIS — The 167th Indiana State Fair wrapped up Sunday, Aug. 18 following 15 days of celebrations, lots of crazy foods, competitions and more.
Several new attractions were unveiled at this year's fair, like the splash pad, basketball court, ARTSCAPE exhibit, outdoor illuminate lantern display and more.
Officials just released the attendance numbers for this year's festival, and Cindy Hoye, the executive director of the Indiana State Fair Commission, said the new attractions are just a small fraction of the effort to bring more people to this year's celebration.
“We are thrilled with the overwhelming success of this year’s Indiana State Fair,” Hoye said. “The fair is an annual testament to the hard work and dedication of our leadership, staff, youth competitors, partners, volunteers, and all participants. We are grateful to all our fairgoers who came out this year to celebrate this iconic summertime tradition.”
Despite having a hot opening weekend, the fair's attendance reached over 854,000, which is over 10,000 more people than 2023!
Over 10,000 exhibitors and competitors displayed over 52,000 animal and non-animal projects this year. The stars also came out for special occasions like the Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark and movie star Keanu Reeves.
“This year was special in many ways. Each year has its own memories, and the 2024 Indiana State Fair was one of our best! The Art & Nature of Fun theme, with our partners at Newfields, brought incredible new exhibits & immersive experiences for our guests," Hoye said.