The Indiana State Fair kicks off Friday and runs through August 22.

Located at the state’s fairgrounds at the corner of East 38th Street and Fall Creek Parkway in Indianapolis, the event will include fair food, carnival rides, 4-H exhibits, family activities, music and more.

Free stage shows are available with paid fair admission. Performers this year include Mary Mary, Josh Turner, Noah Cyrus, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, John Walte and Kyle Cook of Matchbox Twenty, Run Forrest Run (Ultimate 90s Party Band), Blanco Brown and more.

Every day fair activities include a bubble tower, butterfly exhibit, a cheese sculpture and a children’s barnyard.

Parades will take place at 1 p.m. on Thursdays and Saturdays.

Dozens of free fair activities are also available, like meeting baby goats, taking a scenic walk across the Covered Bridge and learning how butter is churned.

Taste of the Fair is an opportunity to test out new, sometimes wacky, food and beverage items added to this year’s fair.

The menu includes bacon mac and cheese, a beef parfait, a buttermilk wafflewich, deep fried cheesecake bites, an iced coffee float and a lot more.

What’s new at the fair this year? Animal yoga, a double decker carousel, the Budweiser Clydesdales and the Great American Duck Race are just a few of the fair’s newest additions.

The theme for this year’s fair is “Celebrating the Hoosier Spirit.”

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the fair has implemented safety measures and guidelines, including expanding the fair across an additional weekend, offering vaccinations at the fair and providing individually packaged food service utensils and condiments.

Contactless entry and 500+ hand sanitizer stations will be available.

Guests are encouraged to follow CDC guidelines regarding the use of face masks while at the fair.

Tickets for the fair can be purchased at the gate or online. General admission tickets cost $13. Gate entrance for children 5 and under is free.

The fair gate is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday for the duration of this year’s run but is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

On opening day, July 30, the gate hours are 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Parking is available daily at the fairgrounds for $10 per vehicle.

Fairgoers attending via a rideshare service or taxi can now also get dropped off across from Gate 3. If using this method of transportation, use 3700 Woodland Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46205 as your rideshare drop-off location.

For more information on the fair’s promotional days and deals, ride ticket and wristband pricing and complete daily schedules, visit the fair’s website. The Indiana State Fair information phone number is 317-927-7500.