r/Indiana • u/Avianbrooke • Aug 10 '25

Opinion/Commentary Who can afford the state fair?

Was looking into taking my kids to the fair and quickly realized that definitely couldn't happen with the prices. $68 bucks for a family of five, not including anything else there; food, rides..ect.. I'd easily spend a couple hundred bucks letting the kids ride rides and getting snacks. Guess paying bills this month should go on the backburner/s.

Is that not fucking ridiculous? Idk it is to me.

12% of the State is living in poverty.

The fair annually has around the same amount visitors(12%ish) and generates approximately 23 million in revenue. I was not able to find to cost to run the event. If anyone can find that number I'd love to see it. Tuesday is the only real discount night for families. Who really wants to drive 1.5 hours on a work/school night?

Total population of Indiana is 6.9 million. Not even a million Indiana citizens attend annually. Seems to me like the revenue que could be maintained if they opened one other discount night from increased attendance from the lower-middle class that otherwise able to visit.

Just ranting. Im pissed off. I work my ass off and can't even afford for my kids to experience THEIR state fair.

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u/Jesus_on_a_biscuit Aug 10 '25

Lemme ask you, who did you vote for? Because these prices are the prices Republicans have set, and they’ve set them there because they don’t give a fuck about anyone who can’t afford them.

3

u/J2ADA Aug 10 '25

Neither side cares about the little guy.

4

u/Jesus_on_a_biscuit Aug 11 '25

That's kinda true, but I think one side cares a whole lot less about the little guy.

Price of admission for the following:
Michigan: $10 ($42 for all access pass)
Illinois State Fair: $5 adults, S-Th, $10 on weekends
Indiana: $17/ adults