Indiana State Fair with Babies & Toddlers | 2026 Parent Guide

We’ve taken newborn babies to the Indiana State Fair five different years, and I’ve never regretted it.

Of course, the Fair gets even more exciting as kids grow old enough to ride rides, play games, and participate in all of the hands-on activities, but there is absolutely no reason to skip the Indiana State Fair just because you have a baby or toddler.

In fact, some of the best State Fair kids’ activities are perfect for the tiniest Fairgoers. There are animals to see, bubbles to chase, tractors to watch, splash areas, playground-style activities, plenty of stroller-friendly spaces, and dedicated services for parents with babies.

The 2026 Indiana State Fair runs August 7-23 and is closed on Mondays.

Here are our best tips for taking babies and toddlers to the Indiana State Fair in 2026.

How Much Does It Cost to Bring a Baby to the Indiana State Fair?

Here’s the best news: children age 5 and younger receive free admission to the 2026 Indiana State Fair.

Regular gate admission is $18 per person. Online general admission is currently $19, which includes a $1 processing fee.

If you’re bringing older children too, check our guide to Indiana State Fair free days, discounts, and deals before deciding which day to visit.

Can I Bring Food, Snacks, and Drinks for My Baby?

Yes!

The State Fair allows families to bring food as well as sealed plastic water bottles and empty cups or refillable water bottles. Family-care items such as snacks and water for children are specifically permitted.

That makes visiting with little ones much easier. Pack the snacks, pouches, crackers, and other foods your toddler will actually eat instead of crossing your fingers that today’s the day they suddenly decide to embrace adventurous Fair food.

If you’re bringing food that needs to stay chilled, soft-sided coolers smaller than 9 x 10 x 12 inches are permitted.

Free Milk for Bottles and Sippy Cups

Don’t miss this parent perk.

If you bring your baby’s bottle or sippy cup to the Indiana Farmers’ Dairy Bar, they’ll fill it with milk for free.

Regular white or chocolate milk is also just 50 cents.

Older toddlers may enjoy sharing a grilled cheese sandwich or trying the Dairy Bar’s Mini Moo Meal while you’re there.

Is the Indiana State Fair Stroller and Wagon Friendly?

Absolutely.

The Indiana State Fair specifically allows guests to bring strollers and wagons onto the Fairgrounds.

We bring one every year. Even if your toddler insists they are absolutely, positively going to walk the whole time, future-you will probably be very happy you brought it.

A stroller is also convenient for carrying water bottles, sunscreen, changes of clothes, snacks, and all the random things families somehow acquire while spending a day at the Fair.

Can I Rent a Stroller or Wagon at the Indiana State Fair?

Yes. Scootaround offers walk-up stroller and wagon rentals during the 2026 Indiana State Fair.

Current 2026 prices are:

Single stroller: $15 per day plus tax
Double stroller: $20 per day plus tax
Wagon: $20 per day plus tax

Strollers and wagons are listed as walk-up rentals only.

Rental locations include the 38th Street Main Gate entrance, Grand Hall/infield area, and near Gate 3.

If you’re deciding whether to bring your own, I almost always vote yes. You know your stroller, you know what fits underneath it, and you won’t have to worry about availability.

What Are the Best Indiana State Fair Activities for Babies and Toddlers?

ANIMALS!

Honestly, you could create an entire toddler Fair itinerary around animals alone.

Visit the livestock areas to see cows, pigs, sheep, goats, horses, rabbits, and other animals. Stop at Goat Mountain for baby goats, visit the Children’s Barnyard, and check out Momma Town to see farm moms and their babies.

Just remember to wash little hands after interacting with animals. The Fair has hand-sanitizing stations and restrooms throughout the grounds, and Fair officials specifically recommend handwashing after animal contact, especially for young children.

There are plenty of other toddler-friendly activities too, and so many free things to do at the Indiana State Fair.

Little Hands on the Farm

Little Hands on the Farm presented by Indiana529 is one of our favorite State Fair activities for young children.

Kids get to pretend to be farmers as they move through hands-on agricultural activities. Even if your toddler isn’t ready to understand every step, there is plenty to see, touch, and explore.

Find Little Hands on the Farm in the Meijer Family Fun Park. The State Fair specifically highlights Little Hands on the Farm as an experience for its youngest visitors.

BubbleYou Bubble Tower

Sometimes the simplest activities are the biggest hits with toddlers.

Take them to the giant BubbleYou Bubble Tower near Gate 3 and let them chase bubbles until they’re exhausted.

No lines. No complicated instructions. Just bubbles.

That’s toddler entertainment at its finest.

FAIRadise Splash Pad

Pack a swimsuit or a change of clothes and visit the farm-themed FAIRadise Splash Pad in the Meijer Family Fun Park.

On a hot August Fair day, this can be a lifesaver with little ones.

If you don’t want to haul wet clothes around afterward, visit earlier in the day and let the Indiana summer sun take care of the drying.

The Jump Pad

Toddlers with energy to burn may also love the Jump Pad near Gate 3.

Whether your child is ready to participate will depend on their age and comfort level, but it’s another easy activity to keep on your radar while exploring the Fair.

The Glass Barn

The Glass Barn is a great stop when you need to get everyone indoors for a while.

There are interactive exhibits, agriculture activities, and plenty for young kids to look at and explore. It’s also a welcome change of pace when everyone needs a break from walking around outside.

DNR Building

Head to the DNR Building and show your baby or toddler the fish, butterflies, reptiles, and other wildlife exhibits.

The giant fish tanks are especially fun for little ones who may not be able to participate in many Fair activities yet but are fascinated by watching animals move.

Tractor Shuttle

Another activity that doubles as a parenting survival tool: the free tractor shuttle.

Ride around the Fairgrounds, give everyone a break from walking, and let your tractor-loving toddler believe this is the greatest ride at the entire State Fair.

Shuttle service is free. It operates Tuesday from 10 am-5 pm and Wednesday-Sunday from 10 am-10 pm.

Find even more free things to do with kids at the Indiana State Fair.

Are There Midway Rides for Toddlers?

Yes.

The Indiana State Fair says the Kiddie Midway includes rides designed for children under 36 inches to ride with an adult.

That doesn’t mean every toddler will be ready to ride, of course. Check height requirements at each attraction before purchasing tickets or getting in line.

If rides are a major part of your family’s Fair plans, our Indiana State Fair discounts guide has information about $2 Tuesday and Midway deals.

What Can I Bring to the Indiana State Fair?

The 2026 bag policy is especially important for parents to know.

Regular bags must generally be 9 x 10 x 12 inches or smaller, and all bags may be searched.

However, the State Fair’s safety policy specifically lists diaper bags of any size as permitted. Strollers, wagons, sealed water bottles, empty refillable bottles, umbrellas, and small soft-sided coolers are also allowed.

So yes, bring the diaper bag.

You do not have to somehow fit diapers, wipes, bottles, extra outfits, sunscreen, snacks, and everything else your baby requires into a tiny clutch.

Glass bottles, hard-sided coolers, alcohol, and other prohibited items cannot be brought through the gates.

Where Can I Nurse or Breastfeed at the Indiana State Fair?

There are four helpful locations for nursing parents and families with infants in 2026.

Moms Helpline lactation pods are located in:

Purdue Extension Building
Expo Hall east lobby

Private wellness spaces with first-aid supplies and infant essentials are located in:

Hook’s Historic Drug Store Annex
Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion lobby, next to the women’s restrooms

These spaces can give parents a quieter, more private place to feed, pump, change, or regroup with a baby during a busy Fair day.

And, of course, parents are not required to use a lactation room in order to breastfeed. These are simply additional private spaces available if you’d prefer one.

Where Can I Change My Baby’s Diaper?

The Fair’s 2026 guest-services information identifies the wellness spaces at Hook’s Historic Drug Store Annex and the Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion as private spaces stocked with infant essentials.

You’ll also find restrooms throughout the Fairgrounds, including in the Expo Hall, Purdue Extension Building, DNR Building, Harvest Pavilion, Indiana Arts Building, Corteva Agriscience FFA Pavilion, 4-H Exhibit Hall, and other major buildings.

If you’re inside the Corteva Coliseum, baby-changing stations are located in every restroom, and family restrooms are located in each corner of the main concourse.

I would no longer rely on the old article’s Red Cross diaper-changing locations because those locations are not listed in the current 2026 Fair guest-services information.

What Should I Do If My Child Gets Lost?

Before you start exploring, take a quick photo of your kids. If you’re separated later, you’ll have a current picture showing exactly what they’re wearing that day.

For 2026, the State Fair instructs families to contact the Public Safety Center at (317) 927-7520 to report a lost child.

With toddlers, I also recommend putting your phone number somewhere on them. A wristband, temporary tattoo, tag inside a shoe, or another method your child won’t immediately remove can make reunification much easier.

Where Is First Aid at the Indiana State Fair?

There are two primary First Aid locations for the 2026 State Fair:

Hook’s Historic Drug Store Annex
Near the 38th Street Main Gate, Gate 1

Public Safety Center
Near the Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion, Gate 6

Emergency ambulance service is also available. During the Fair, call (317) 927-7520 for assistance.

This is different from some previous years, so I would remove the old reference to a third First Aid location near the FFA Pavilion.

Don’t Forget the Free Sunscreen

Here’s a little Fair freebie that’s especially useful for families.

State Fair Information Booths have free sunscreen available for visitors. You’ll find information booths at Gate 3, Gate 6, the northeast corner of Pioneer Village, and on State Fair Boulevard just inside Gate 1.

I’d still apply sunscreen before leaving home, but this is incredibly handy when you realize halfway through the afternoon that everyone needs another coat.

Consider Sensory Friendly Day

If your toddler is overwhelmed by loud sounds, flashing lights, and large crowds, take a look at Sensory Friendly Day on Sunday, August 9, 2026.

Information booths will have sensory grab bags with items including fidget toys, earplugs, water, and sensory strips while supplies last. The Midway will also operate without lights or sounds from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m.

Even children without diagnosed sensory needs may find the quieter Midway hours easier to navigate.

Tips for Taking Babies and Toddlers to the Indiana State Fair

Go earlier in the day if you can. August afternoons can get hot, and babies and toddlers often have more stamina before nap time.

Bring more water than you think you’ll need, take advantage of air-conditioned buildings, use the tractor shuttle to save everyone’s legs, and don’t try to do everything.

The Fair will still be there next year.

With a baby or toddler, I’d choose a handful of priorities: see some animals, visit Little Hands on the Farm, chase bubbles, cool off at the splash pad, stop at the Dairy Bar, and let the rest of the day unfold.

Sometimes the part your toddler loves most won’t be the attraction you carefully planned at all. It’ll be a tractor driving past, a cow mooing, a giant bubble floating through the air, or drinking milk out of their own little cup.

That’s part of the fun.

The 2026 Indiana State Fair runs August 7-23 and is closed Mondays, and children age 5 and younger receive free admission.

Check out 50 top things to do with your baby in Indianapolis.

Plan a date night at the Indiana State Fair!