'Fun at every turn' theme of Indiana State Fair Aug. 2-18

INDIANAPOLIS -- It's a Hoosier tradition: Salivating over the sweet smell of roasted corn on the cob wafting through the warm summer air; hearing high-pitched screams mixed with laughter all over the massive midway; and watching a child's eyes open wide as he gets his first close-up look at a majestic Clydesdale or a playful piglet.

It is the Indiana State Fair, which begins Friday.

Hoosiers will celebrate their agricultural heritage Aug. 2-18 and "Fun at Every Turn" is not just this year's theme, but also a promise.

Big-name entertainers like Styx, Joe Nichols, Kevin Costner and the Modern West Band and many more will perform free concerts while attractions like Get Animated, the Sinbad High Dive Show and Rosstyn Ice Shows presented by CountryMark give families plenty to see and do all over the 250-acre fairgrounds.

Indiana's State Fair, the sixth oldest in the country, is known for its livestock shows and 4-H competitions. This year, it will also be known for its popcorn power as Pop Weaver Popcorn presents the "Year of Popcorn" with a variety of popcorn-related activities and events, including the World's Largest Popcorn Ball presented by Indiana Family of Farmers.

General admission is $10; advance tickets (available at www.india-nastatefair.com through Aug. 1) are $7; kids 5 and younger are free.

The State Fair has added another special discount to a long list of established promotional deals in an effort to help Hoosier families enjoy the fair while stretching their entertainment dollar. The new discount is called "Foodie Friday" and calls for all State Fair food vendors to offer at least one item at half off its regular price on Friday, Aug. 16.

The new deal brings the total number of the fair's special pricing programs to 15. It also allows visitors yet another day to feast on their favorite fair foods for less than the going rate.

"We've got a tremendous event that offers incredible value with all the exhibits and entertainment that are on display each day of the fair, and we know that these kinds of discounts are important to people when deciding what to do with their families," Indiana State Fair Executive Director Cindy Hoye said. "Our admission prices have remained steady while we continue to add special discounts."

The fair's most popular deal continues to be the Turkey Hill Dairy $2 Tuesday promotion where visitors with a voucher printed from www.turkeyhill.com/indianastatefair are admitted for just $2 on both Tuesdays of the fair while many concessionaires and the midway also offer $2 deals.

Here is a list of special values at this year's fair:

Midway Deals -- North American Midway Entertainment offers special vouchers for midway wristbands at all Indiana Walmarts for just $20 through Aug. 18. That's a $5 savings for each wristband purchased.

Free admission ticket in the Indianapolis Star -- On Monday, Aug. 5, the paper will print a ticket good for free admission to the fair on Wednesday, Aug. 7.

Meijer Day -- Meijer customers get 50 percent off one fair admission (a $5 value) on Aug. 5 when they buy one pair of Falls Creek jeans July 24-Aug. 5 (Catalina coupon print from Meijer required at fair entrance gate).

Turkey Hill Dairy $2 Tuesday -- On Tuesday, Aug. 6 and Tuesday, Aug. 13, visitors with a voucher printed from www.turkeyhill.com/indianastatefair are admitted for just $2.

$2 Taste of the State Fair -- Also on both Tuesdays of the fair, Aug. 6 and 13, concessionaires all over the fairgrounds will have $2 servings all day long.

Free admission for Indiana state employees -- All state employees are admitted for free on Thursday, Aug. 8, with the presentation of an employee ID card.

Pop Weaver Discount Day -- Visitors with a Pop Weaver box top receive $5 off gate admission on Thursday, Aug. 8. One box top per person.

Free admission for Military personnel and families - The State Fair is honoring current and former members of the Armed Forces by offering free admission for them and family members on Thursday, Aug. 8, with the presentation of a military ID.

Free lottery ticket -- On Hoosier Lottery Day, Saturday, Aug. 10, all guests over the age of 18 can redeem their fair admission ticket stub for a free lottery ticket from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Lotto Town at the Hoosier Lottery Grandstand.

BMV Discount Day -- Fairgoers can save $5 off of the $10 gate admission on Wednesday, Aug. 14 by redeeming the voucher available online at www.mybmv.com.

AAA Day -- Hoosier AAA members receive free admission on Thursday, Aug. 15 when they show their valid 2013 AAA membership card at the gate.

$2 discount on Pepsi Next Day with Pepsi brand can -- All visitors who bring any Pepsi brand can on the fair's final day Sunday, Aug. 18, will receive $2 off the gate admission.

In addition to those deals, here are several more tips for budget minded fairgoers:

-- Buy admission tickets in advance for just $7 ($3 less than gate admission) online at www.indianastatefair.com through Aug. 1 or at any Indiana Walmart store, CVS/pharmacy stores, Indiana Farm Bureau offices or the State Fairgrounds Ticket Office while supplies last.

-- Take advantage of the free Indiana State Fair shuttle by parking at Glendale Mall's Rural Street lot. The shuttle runs every 20 minutes from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day of the fair.

-- Save $1 off fair admission when biking to the State Fair and using one of the secured bike racks available on the Monon Trail at 38th Street from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

-- Seniors (age 55 and older) can ride tractor shuttles around the fairgrounds for just $3 a day with a wristband purchased from the State Fair Information Booths. Seniors ride free on Golden Hoosiers' Day, Aug. 6.