Latest news with #IndianaStateFair
Indianapolis Star
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
Tecogen Appoints Roger Deschenes as CFO
IU Woman in Indiana crash was trying to fly solo around the world News Fever vs Mercury live updates: Will Indiana win 3 straight? Fever 'I'm crying as I write this': Inmates in sweltering heat say prison breaking rules Public Safety 'Honest' and 'celebratory': New Conner Prairie exhibit shows Black life Arts Fountain Square homeless camp reflects Indy's broken promises James Briggs Doyel: Kenny Moore II still stands out in star-studded Colts secondary Gregg Doyel 'Quitter!' Fever fans boo DeWanna Bonner in her return to Indiana Fever 2 IU basketball players injured ahead of games in Puerto Rico IU 'Putter finally woke up.' Charlie Woods gets hot at Junior PGA Championships sports Judge recommends woman arrested for animal cruelty return to prison Public Safety IMPD officer breaks fibula in downtown arrest of 52-year-old man Public Safety Why police won't file charges against Indy councilor accused of sexual assault Politics Indiana's Dolly Parton Imagination Library receives $500K donation Education Bill Murray, Babyface among headliners at 2025 Indiana State Fair state-fair IMPD involved in 2 shootings in 5 days. How that compares to past years Public Safety Why roster caps won't impact IU football as much as other programs IU Court docs: Ex-IMPD officer abused two girls while still on the force Public Safety Share your feedback to help improve our site!
Indianapolis Star
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
Indiana State Fair free concert lineup: Bill Murray, Babyface to perform. What else to expect
From nostalgic throwbacks to fresh debuts, the 2025 Indiana State Fair's free concert series is your ultimate summer playlist - live. This year's lineup blends nostalgia and novelty. The Hoosier Lottery Free Stage will feature Grammy-winning R&B artist Babyface and a special set from actor Bill Muray And His Blood Brothers. Rock artists Three Dog Night and Melissa Etheridge will perform. There's also local DJ B-Swift, a Beatles hit cover band and a Disney throwback night. The Free Stage is known for drawing crowds with its mix of retro icons and crowd-pleasers. Past performers include The Jonas Brothers, Buddy Guy, Bridgit Mendler, Taylor Swift tribute acts and more. Here's what's happening this year at the Indiana State Fair All concerts take place at the Hoosier Lottery Free Stage inside the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Most shows begin at 7:30 p.m., with Phil Vassar & Lonestar set for 6 p.m. The shows are free with fair admission, with first-come, first-served seating. Guests are encouraged to arrive early for the best view. Lawn chairs and blankets are allowed in designated areas. Here's the lineup: Friday, Aug. 1 – Three Dog NightThe fair kicks off strong with classic rock royalty. After 50 years on the road, Three Dog Night is expected to be loud and Aug. 2 – Disney Throwback DJ NightThis DJ singalong night throws it back to 'Let It Go,' 'Circle of Life,' 'Under the Sea,' and other favorites. Bonus points if you come in Aug. 3 – Max McNownCool things down with rising acoustic star Max McNown and his debut album 'Wandering.'Tuesday, Aug. 5 – Indiana DJ Night featuring B‑SwiftLocal DJ B-Swift spins the summer into motion with a hometown party, and you're on the guest Aug. 6 – Babyface13-time Grammy winner Babyface is bringing Hollywood to his Aug. 7 – AmericaFeel the breeze and the folk-rock nostalgia as America plays 'A Horse with No Name,' 'Tin Man,' and Aug. 8 – Bill Murray and His Blood BrothersWho you gonna call? 'Ghostbusters'' actor Bill Murray is teaming up with the Blood Brothers for a rock set. Saturday, Aug. 9A triple-feature that takes you from movie screen to stage:5 PM: "Rookie of the Year" screening7 PM: Thomas Nicholas Band8 PM: Emo Night DJ Set Sunday, Aug. 10 – Chris TomlinThe Grammy-winning Christian artist with more than a billion streams has an upcoming album release called "The King is Still the King." Tuesday, Aug. 12 – Banda Troyana (Latino Day)Cumbia, brass, and bold rhythms come alive with Banda Troyana, blending traditional Mexican roots with modern flair. Wednesday, Aug. 13 – Happy Together TourFrozen in time with hits from the '60s and '70s with The Turtles, Jay and the Americans, Little Anthony, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, The Vogues and The Cowsills. Thursday, Aug. 14 – Phil Vassar & LonestarPhil Vassar and Lonestar co-headline a night of country anthems. Friday, Aug. 15 – Melissa EtheridgeRock star Melissa Etheridge takes the stage for a powerhouse set. Saturday, Aug. 16 – 1964: The TributeClose your eyes, and you'd swear it's The Beatles in 1964. For fans old and new, this tribute band recreates the live-show mania Sunday, Aug. 17 – Gospel Music Festival ft. Marvin SappMarvin Sapp, the voice behind 'Never Would Have Made It' and a cornerstone of modern gospel.
Indianapolis Star
a day ago
- Automotive
- Indianapolis Star
What am I allowed to bring to the Indiana State Fair? See the fairground's 2025 bag policy
If you're heading to the Indiana State Fair this weekend, you'll want to make sure you have the right size bags and no prohibited items if you want to avoid making a trip back to your car. Here's what to know. According to the Indiana State Fair safety information, the 2025 bag policy is as follows: Story continues after photo gallery. The following items are not permitted at the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center:
Indianapolis Star
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
Gen Con Indy 2025 is this week. What to know about the four biggest days of gaming
More than 70,000 people will converge on downtown Indianapolis this week for Gen Con, the largest and longest-running tabletop gaming convention in North America. That's a lot of people navigating Indy's ongoing construction projects, especially when you consider the Indiana State Fair starts right around the same time. If you're a local Indy resident, or from out of state dressed as a spiky haired anime character, here's what to know about Gen Con: scoring tickets, where to park and what to do if you (shudder) lose your coveted badge. Gen Con takes place at the Indiana Convention Center from July 31 to Aug. 3, 2025. Gen Con is a four-day event catering to enthusiasts of all things gaming (minus sports and gambling): tabletop and RPG's (Role-Playing Games) as well as video, computer and trading card games. If the game involves throwing dice while pretending to be an elven ranger or a moody rogue with a tragic backstory, this is your place. Story continues after photo gallery. The Gen Con exhibit hall hours will be open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Oh wow, a LOT. Gen Con drew in a record-breaking sold-out crowd of more than 71,000 attendees in 2024, according to a news release. That's roughly the equivalent of Muncie, Indiana's total population (along with 6,000 of their pets), spending nearly a week in Circle City. Upwards of 70,000 people could once again attend Gen Con in 2025 for another record-breaking turnout. Four-day and single-day passes for Friday and Saturday have already sold out. Story continues after photo gallery. "We are absolutely thrilled to see record-breaking turnout, a loaded Exhibit Hall, and nearly 30,000 exciting events for our attendees in 2025,' said David Hoppe, President of Gen Con in a news release. 'This incredible growth reflects the enthusiasm and increasing interest in the tabletop gaming community, and we are delighted to welcome thousands of attendees to celebrate our shared love for games," Hoppe said. Given Gen Con's popularity, attendees might want to figure out where to park long before reaching the convention center. iPark is Gen Con's official parking partner, according to the convention organizers. Attendees can buy parking spaces online adjacent to Lucas Oil Stadium. There also are more than a dozen other parking facilities within walking distance of Gen Con, including the Capitol Commons Garage and Marriott Garage along West Maryland Street. The Downtown Indy website has a Park Whiz map that shows the cost of parking when you enter the date and time. You can see rates for Indianapolis parking at or download the Park Whiz app on your smart phone or mobile device. There's lots to see and do at Gen Con, so make sure you pack a comfortable pair of shoes if you plan on attending this year's convention. Featured events and exhibits include game tournaments, a film festival, hundreds of exhibit booths, thousands of scheduled programs, a costume and cosplay contest, an art show, geek merch and more events than you can shake a lightsaber at. Organizers say 2025's convention will feature 565 exhibit hall booths, a life-size 10,000 square foot "True Dungeon" in Lucas Oil Stadium, one of the country's largest sci-fi and fantasy art shows, a block party with food trucks on South Street, books with "Authors' Avenue," seminars, panels, and Q&As with industry and media celebrities. You'll need to hurry if you want to attend Gen Con this year. As of Tuesday morning, only Thursday and Sunday passes remain. No walk-up badge sales will be available, according to a news release. All sales must be completed online at This year, Gen Con badges cost the following: Attendees participating in the convention's more than 30,000 scheduled ticketed events can score those online at the convention's official website. Some events are free. Gen Con attendees are strongly encouraged to check the availability of each event to ensure they're not fully booked or sold out. For starters, don't. Gen Con cannot replace or refund lost, stolen, or forgotten badges or ticketed events per its terms of service. That means if your badge disappears, you have to buy a new one (assuming they're still available) at full cost. Yes! You can watch streamed online content both on the Gen Con Twitch channel and through Discord. Story continues after photo gallery. The biggest four days in gaming takes place at the Indiana Convention Center, at 100 S. Capitol Ave., in downtown Indianapolis. Gen Con moved from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Indianapolis in 2003. The popular convention has been held in Circle City ever since, and that doesn't look like it will change anytime soon. In 2023, Gen Con renewed its contract with Indianapolis through 2030. What does the "Gen" in "Gen Con" mean? Generation Convention? Generic? Generousness? Genuflect? Actually, the answer lies in Wisconsin of all places. Gen Con was founded in 1968 by Dungeons & Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax who met with friends to play games in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, according to event organizers. Thus the name Gen (Geneva) Con (Convention) was adopted: Gen Con.
Indianapolis Star
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
'Barn in the USA.' Five fun T-shirts you can get at the Indiana State Fair in 2025
Indiana State Fair attendees can tout their favorite musical tastes in their clothing this year. The theme of the 2025 fair, "Soundtrack of Summer," allows for some pretty fun merch spoofs of famous albums. Here are some of the T-shirts available for purchase at the 2025 Indiana State Fair. Take a look at this udderly fantastic KOWS shirt for those who want to rock and rollercoaster all night, at least until the midway closes. Pyrotechnics not included. This shirt is the boss. Written we assume by Bruce Swinesteen "Barn in the USA" allows you to put your best, uh, foot forward in celebrating Americana. 'Oh! Darling,' we're not sure if 'She Came in Through the Bathroom Window,' but we finally know why the chicken crossed Abbey Farm Road — the Indiana State Fair was on the other side. Story continues after photo gallery. Flour power — this shirt's got it. What could be better than 15 days of Peace, Music & Corndogs? Well, 16 days, obviously, but the Indiana State Fair ends after Aug. 17. This dye-namite Rock 'n' Roll cow T-shirt adds a splash of color to your wardrobe. And for what it's worth, the cow looks like an amazing moooo-sician, even though we're pretty sure all its songs are written in Beef-flat. The Indiana State Fair Gift Shop can be found on the fairgrounds under the Hoosier Lottery Grandstand and in the Agriculture/Horticulture Building, as well as the United State of Indiana store, 1051 E. 54th St., Suite B, Indianapolis, and online at
