If you're from the great state of Indiana, or maybe, more specifically, from the 3-1-heaven area code, there's a couple of things you know really well.
You know Indianapolis Colts Football. 
You know that no matter what the date, at Christmas, there is NEVER any parking at the Castleton Mall.
And you know that you could probably drive I-465 with your eyes closed, in your sleep, possibly with your hands tied behind your back.
But one of the things that you know best is, come late August, IT'S INDIANA STATE FAIR TIME. If you've ever been to this magical place just north of downtown Indy, you know that there are some things that you can find each year at the fair. But, if you haven't had the opportunity to experience this journey for yourself, let us introduce you.
Things you know you can find at the Indiana State Fair include, (but are absolutely not limited to):
1. When you're driving toward the state fair, you know you're getting close when all you can see is pedestrians walking wherever they want, cars parked for miles, and the giant Ferris Wheel looming in the distance.
2. Oh, the people watching. This is better than those websites you look at about the people in Walmart, I promise.
3. And 40% of the thousands that come to the fair each day are pushing strollers.
4. The other 60% are 7th grade couples exhibiting WAY too much PDA.
5. Speaking of some of these girls, they're wearing crop tops I would have never been allowed out of the house in.
6. They don't call Indiana one of the most Obese states for nothin'. I'll just leave it at that.
7. But no one can come to the fair without eating approximately 603,392,239,593 calories. Sorry, we're absolutely not sorry.
8. There's food EVERYWHERE. The food booths line practically every single strip of the fair, and with everything you could ever want. Fries, chicken, burgers, turkey legs, donuts, lemon shake ups, Dippin' Dots, elephant ears—I could go on forever.
9. Two words: Dairy Barn. Some of the best ice cream, grilled cheese, mozzarella sticks, milkshakes, etc. you've ever tasted. ~Indiana cow products~
10. Fried everything. And I mean everything. Fried cookie dough, Oreos, Reese's, Twinkie, FRIED BUTTER. Deep Fried Butter is an actual INSF dish—this is not a drill.
11. Awesome concerts in the newly renovated Pepsi Coliseum. For example, Jake Owen performed at this year's fair already. #swoon
12. Some of the cutest damn animals you will ever see in your life. Like the baby pigs and chicks. AWH.
14. Aaaand some of the not so cute animals too, *cough* the World's Largest 1.134 lb Boar *cough*.
15. The Midway. This is just a fancy word for the very extensive ride and game area, marked by one of the most picturesque places at the fair, and is a must see. Mom and dad- prepare to open those wallets, because there are many rides to spend $50 to ride. There's the Crazy Mouse, all the upside down ones, the drop tower, etc. All requiring tickets and a prayer for safety to ride.
16. And lastly, how you know you're truly at the Indiana State Fair is when you board the huge Ferris Wheel. When you're stopped at the top, with the entire fair below you and the skyline of Indianapolis to the west, life can't get any better on a hot August evening. (You also probably took at picture and Instagrammed it with a caption using a play on words with "fair").
Even though most of these reasons can make both a Hoosier and an out-of-towner laugh, there's a reason that people come back to the fair year in and year out. Because no matter where you're from in Indiana, the State Fair is where we can all show a little Indiana pride, considering we do live in a pretty great freakin' state.
