In the interest of public health and safety, the 2020 Indiana State Fair has been canceled. Below is the letter of notice we received from the state fair committee. If you have any questions, please contact Robert Duffy, Chairperson. Looking forward to picking up again in 2021.
Chairperson, Robert Duffy.
"Dear Friends & Family of the Indiana State Fair,
Today, the Indiana State Fair Commission and Indiana State Fair Board made the decision to host a modified 4-H Livestock Show at the State Fairgrounds in August. This year’s traditional Indiana State Fair will not take place.
While the schedule continues to be modified and final details are not yet finalized, we will lift-up agriculture and celebrate our youth while bringing our community together. We will also continue to work on how we can host even more 4-H competitions and other activities to fulfill the mission of this great institution.
We are working on some other unique ideas for August as well. Stay tuned and thank you for your understanding and friendship.
After months of hard work with hundreds of ideas, options, models, plans and ‘what ifs’ discussed and considered we were persistent and hopeful that we could find a way to keep our traditional Fair alive, but many elements began to dissolve over the last few weeks – all related to the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic. Partners not having the budget to support their efforts, concerns about the demographics of key volunteer groups, uncertainty about crowds and how we would manage social distancing at the State’s largest event, exhibitors and entertainers apprehensive about traveling, county fairs canceling and schools not being in session were just some of the challenges we faced.
We certainly didn’t want to diminish or harm the future of this iconic event by failing to deliver the experience Hoosiers love and cherish about their State Fair. Can you imagine a fair without draft horses, concerts, or Pioneer Village?
Throughout our 169-year history, this isn’t the first time the State Fair has been canceled due to factors outside our control (during the Civil War and World War II), but each time it came back stronger and better than ever. History will repeat itself - I know it! We’ll be back at full strength in August 2021.
All my best,
Cindy "
