Indiana County Fairs

While it is probably too early in the summer to proclaim that fair season has arrived, given that the Indiana State Fair doesn’t kick off for another few weeks, July is the month many of Indiana’s county fairs take place.

If you’ve never been to a county fair, you’ll be happy to know that most feature many of the same  popular attractions found at the State Fair. You’ll get a chance to see and touch farm animals, wave to beauty queens, spin around on carnival rides and devour enough fried food to raise your cholesterol levels a few notches. And parking and admission prices are typically very reasonable.

I’ve only had the chance to attend a few county fairs since earning my Hoosier citizenship 20 years ago. And while I’m a huge fan of the State Fair, I love county fairs almost as much. These smaller venues give you the chance to more closely interact with the animals, without feeling rushed by the crowds. You get to see kids participating in 4-H, many from your own town, and you’ll have a much greater appreciation for the effort they put into this year-round.

You can find a complete schedule of the county fairs taking place around Indiana this summer here. I was excited to see that the Bartholomew County Fair (just a few minutes from my house) kicks off this weekend–I certainly plan to attend.

Wouldn’t it be fun to plan a road trip around the state and hit as many as you can?

Photo courtesy of the Vanderburgh County Fair.