2016 Indiana State Fair ends with sunshine and record final day attendance

INDIANAPOLIS—The 2016 Indiana State Fair drew to a close Sunday with a return to “fair weather” and the crowds that followed. Proof that good weather brings Hoosiers to the fair. 

On the last day of the fair a new final Sunday attendance record for the 17-day fair was set with 83,148 fairgoers through the gates.

With an average heat index of over 87 degrees and nine days of precipitation, bringing more than four inches of rain, the overall fair attendance was 19.4 % off from last year’s fifth-largest attended fair, seeing 731,543 fairgoers.

“The mission of the Indiana State Fair is to promote agriculture and connect farmers with consumers, and this fair we got a glimpse of what a farmer can deal with during a season with less than favorable weather,” said Cindy Hoye, executive director, Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center. “The challenges this year showed how resilient this team can be at still providing a great fair for those that did come out, even in the heat and rain.”

To close out the 2016 Indiana State Fair, the Indiana State Fair Foundation was able to celebrate the completion of the Coliseum Campaign: Making Memories by raising more than $10 million towards the $63 million renovation of the Indiana Farmers Coliseum and addition of the Pop Weaver Pavilion and Cheri Daniels Youth Arena.

 

 

Coliseum Campaign: Memories in the Making completed after raising $10 million

INDIANAPOLIS—The Indiana State Fair Foundation announced Monday the completion of the Coliseum Campaign after raising $10 million towards the $53 million renovation to the Indiana Farmers Coliseum and the $10 million addition of the Pop Weaver Youth Pavilion and Cheri Daniels Arena.

This campaign marks the inaugural fundraising effort for the Indiana State Fair Foundation that was founded in 2011.

Hundreds of donors from across the state contributed to the Coliseum Campaign, with the top ten donors contributing more than 90% of the $10.1 million raised. 

The Indiana Farmers Coliseum renovation was completed in 2014 and marked the largest capital improvement project at the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center and cemented the organizations commitment to preserving and enhancing 75 years’ worth of history for the next generation of Hoosiers.

“When we made the commitment to the state that we would embark on something new for the Indiana State Fair Commission by raising $10 million from private citizens and companies to support the renovation of the Indiana Farmers Coliseum and the construction of the Pop Weaver Youth Pavilion with its Cheri Daniels Arena, we knew it wouldn’t be easy. We knew that riding on the coattails of the long Indianapolis and Central Indiana tradition of public/private partnership was the only way we would get it done,” said Andre Lacy, Chairman of the Indiana State Fair Commission. “We knew that Hoosiers all across this state have a connection to this fair and this Coliseum,” he added. 

The Indiana State Fair Foundation’s mission is to support agriculture education, youth development and campus stewardship of the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center and the annual Indiana State Fair. The foundation's philanthropic efforts are focused in three key areas—preservation and enhancement of the facilities and infrastructure, youth education through The Barns Global Learning Initiative, and recognition of youth participating at the Indiana State Fair.