2018 Indiana State Fair: Free concert schedule and circus

This August, approximately two hours west in Indianapolis, hundreds of thousands of people will flock to the Indiana State Fair.

The 17-day extravaganza celebrates Hoosiers’ spirit and agricultural heritage. The fair has been a staple to Hoosiers’ end of summer fun since its debut in 1852.

In addition to classic fair fun and a new circus, there will be 17 total concerts that are free with paid admission to the fair with nationally known music acts.

Whether you’re into old time rock n’ roll, soulful gospel or pop beats, there is a genre and group that’ll strike harmony with your taste.

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THE CONCERT SCHEDULE:

• Rick Springfield – Friday, Aug. 3

• Natalie Stovall with openers Cook & Belle and The Brett Wiscons Band – Saturday, Aug. 4

• Why Don't We – Sunday, Aug. 5

• Anthony Hamilton – Monday, Aug. 6

• Tyler Childers – Tuesday, Aug. 7

• Randy Houser and special guest Nora Collins – Wednesday, Aug. 8

• Kool & The Gang – Thursday, Aug. 9

• HANSON – Friday, Aug. 10

• Warrant with special guest FireHouse and openers DUDE! and Rok Hollywood – Saturday, Aug. 11

• for King & Country headlining the Contemporary Christian Music Festival, with Sarah Reeves, All the Astronauts, and Jonathan Jackson – Sunday, Aug. 12

• Happy Together Tour – Monday, Aug. 13 featuring: The Turtles, Chuck Negron (formerly of Three Dog Night), Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, The Association, Mark Lindsay (formerly of Paul Revere & The Raiders and The Cowsills

• Dirty Deeds USA: Xtreme AC/DC Tribute – Tuesday, Aug. 14

• Grand Funk Railroad – with openers The Easthills - Wednesday, Aug. 15

• An Evening with Hunter Hayes – Thursday, Aug. 16

• Here Come The Mummies – Friday, Aug. 17

• Robby Krieger of The Doors with openers Brandon Whyde and Os Gringos – Saturday, Aug. 18

• Kirk Franklin, headlining the Gospel Music Festival – Sunday, Aug. 19

Online ticket sales are available now, presented by WGU Indiana, at a discounted rate of $8 plus convenience fee on the Indiana State Fair website. Tickets purchased at the gate are $13. Additional promotions will be run throughout the summer on the fair's website.

>> Ohio State Fair concert lineup

ALSO NEW: A CIRCUS!!

For the first time the Indiana State Fair, is bringing fairgoers a circus featuring acrobats, clowns, trapeze artists and more. The new Big Top Circus presented by Bee Window is FREE with paid State Fair admission. The Big Top Circus will perform three shows daily, with seating limited to the first 1,600 people per show. This unique, family-friendly experience will be presented in a single-ring and will not include any exotic animals.

The circus will feature Bello Nock, the “World’s Greatest Comic Daredevil” and has been featured in the “Guinness Book of World Records” for a high wire walk over a cruise ship. He has performed several stunts in New York City, including rappelling off Madison Square Garden and hanging from a helicopter over the Statue of Liberty. Bello performs without traditional clown makeup. He has been included on Time Magazine’s list of America’s Best Artists and Entertainers.

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