It’s Indiana State Fair time!

 

In my opinion this is the best time of year in Indiana and this year is especially memorable as it is “A Time to Celebrate”  during the “Year of the Coliseum”. The #INStateFair celebrates all things Indiana with the debut of the beer and wine exhibit , the renovated coliseum, and the traditional showings of agriculture and animal 4-H projects and achievements.

I can safely say I have attended the Indiana State fair every summer of my entire life and this adds to the growing list of summertime traditions I have carried on in my own family, with my own children. Making stops at the Dairy Bar for grilled cheese and a shake, one of the Indiana Pork tents for a tenderloin, taking a ride on the fair shuttle and learning more about Indiana at sites like the Glass Barn are but a few highlights of our time at the fair.

There are many resources available to plan your trip to the Indiana State Fair and I highly recommend you download their free app to stay organized and to keep up to date on what the daily events are. Visit their website HERE, on Twitter @IndyStateFair, Facebook, Instagram at @IndyStateFair all using hashtag #INStateFair.

So I am pretty excited about this part: My family and I will be the Grand Marshall of the fair parade on Monday, August 4th at 6:30! The Daily Parade brought to you by Indiana Corn Farmers is every night at 6:30 pm. the Parade heads down Main Street of the Fair. It is a showcase of the day’s festivities and a perfect end to the day. During the parade you can hear great music, see costumed characters, and experience antique tractors and much more.

 

A few of you have asked what my schedule will be at this year’s Indiana State Fair and as silly as I feel- I am going to share that with you all here. I would love to meet you if you are visiting when I am there cooking so please come by and say HI! Really ????

During the fair you can find me cooking on the Red Gold Tomatoes stage in the DuPont Food Pavilion. Take a break, enjoy the cool air conditioning and have a seat for some cooking, conversation and fun. I am proud to have partnered with several businesses and organizations this year and honored they have asked me to represent them!

Saturday August 2- Cooking with Red Gold Tomatoes at 12:00

Sunday August 3- Cooking with Red Gold Tomatoes at 12:00

Monday August 4th- My family and I will be serving as the Grand Marshall of the fair parade! Catch us in the beginning of the line representing Indiana Corn Growers and Indiana Family of Farmers.

Wednesday August 6- 6:00 cooking a recipe from Basilmomma.com

Wednesday August 13– Little Red Door 11 am

Thursday August 14- Little Red Door 11 am AND 6:00 cooking a recipe from Basilmomma.com

Friday August 15-Little Red Door 11 am

Saturday August 16-Little Red Door 11 am, Cooking with Red Gold Tomatoes at 12:00

Sunday August 17- Cooking with Red Gold Tomatoes at 12:00

 

Indiana State Fair headline concerts are returning to the Coliseum for the first time in 30 years, and there’s a wide variety of shows to check out. The 2014 Shane Co. Coliseum Concert Series includes:

• Lynyrd Skynyrd with special guests Jamey Johnson and Drake White and the Big Fire – July 31 at 7 p.m.
• BritBeat – Aug. 1 at 7 p.m.
• Phillip Phillips – Aug. 5 at 8 p.m.
• American Idol Live! 2014 Tour – Aug. 6 at 7:30 p.m.
• Pitbull – Aug. 8 at 8 p.m.
• Hunter Hayes – Aug. 9 at 8 p.m.
• Jim Gaffigan – Aug. 17 at 8 p.m.

In between the concerts, the Coliseum will be alive with a lot of livestock shows, Draft horse shows and other special events, including:

• Grand Champion 4-H Drive – Aug. 4 at 6 p.m.
• Celebration of Champions – Aug. 9 at 1 p.m.
• Draft Horse shows – Aug. 10 – 16
• “Percheron Thunder” performances – Aug. 10 – 16

 Some other special features for the “Year of the Coliseum” include:

• Free Digital History Book – Dozens of Coliseum photos and events have been catalogued and published in a free digital book that people can find at http://bit.ly/1o0a7Nv.
• Coliseum “Selfie Stations” – Fairgoers can take a picture with some of the famous celebrities and athletes that have been inside the Coliseum over the past 75 years at one of six different “Selfie Stations” located around the fairgrounds.
• Coliseum souvenirs – Visitors can purchase a special “Year of the Coliseum” collectable ornament, a set of coasters or many other items at the State Fair Gift Shop on Main Street near the Midway.

The State Fair has been featuring “Year of” celebrations since 2007.  Previous items featured include pigs, tomatoes, trees (hardwoods), corn, Dairy cows, soybeans and popcorn.