Every year brings new exhibits, attractions, and adventures to the Indiana State Fair, but the event is also packed with beloved traditions. Visiting the fair animals, hitting the Midway, and trying a Taste of the Fair creation are always crowd-pleasing favorites.
A somewhat less popular Indiana State Fair tradition? The August heat.
The 2026 Indiana State Fair runs August 7-23 and is closed on Mondays. Fifteen days of Fair fun in August means there’s a pretty good chance you’ll eventually find yourself searching for shade, water, a cold treat, or somewhere to get out of the sun.
Luckily, there are plenty of places around the Fairgrounds where families can cool down, slow down, and recharge before heading back out for another round of Fair fun.
Indiana State Fair Buildings and Cool Places to Hang Out
The State Fair Splash Pad
If you’re visiting with kids, this may be the most obvious solution to a hot Fair day.
The permanent farm-themed FAIRadise Splash Pad is located in the Meijer Family Fun Park and is open daily from 9 am-8 pm during the 2026 State Fair.
We love a good splash pad, and this one is especially convenient because you don’t have to leave the Fairgrounds when everyone starts overheating.
Pack swimsuits or a change of clothes if your kids are planning to get soaked. If you don’t want to carry extra clothes all day, you can always let them splash earlier in your visit and give them plenty of time to dry before heading home.
Agriculture & Horticulture Exhibits
Head indoors and spend some time exploring the Fair’s agriculture and horticulture exhibits.
The Fair’s 2026 schedule includes Open Show Agriculture & Horticulture Exhibits throughout the Fair. You’ll find displays celebrating some of the biggest, best, and most impressive things Indiana gardeners and growers can produce.
This is a great place to slow down after walking through the sun and see the giant vegetables, plants, displays, and agricultural exhibits you might otherwise rush past.
You’ll also find CANstruction on the 2026 Fair schedule, featuring impressive structures created from canned food.
Ride the Free Tractor Shuttle
Sometimes the best way to cool down is simply to stop walking.
The Indiana State Fair’s tractor shuttles are free again in 2026, giving families an easy way to travel around the Fairgrounds while giving tired legs a break.
Regular shuttle service is available Tuesday from 10 am-5 pm and Wednesday-Sunday from 10 am-10 pm. An ADA-accessible shuttle is also available for guests with disabilities.
My kids have always considered the tractor shuttle an attraction all by itself, so think of this as transportation and entertainment rolled into one.
Pathway to Water Quality
The Pathway to Water Quality presented by Indiana American Water is another good stop when you’re looking for a break from the busiest parts of the Fair.
This outdoor educational area has plenty to explore while learning how Indiana’s soil and water resources are protected.
For 2026, Pathway to Water Quality is open daily from 9 a.m.- 9 p.m.
It’s a slower-paced spot where families can wander, learn, and regroup before diving back into the louder parts of the Fair.
The Glass Barn
The Glass Barn is one of our favorite Fair stops when everyone needs a break.
There are interactive activities for kids, agriculture exhibits, and opportunities to learn directly from Indiana farmers.
In 2026, families can catch Live Farmer Chats at 11 am, 2 pm, and 4 pm. These live conversations connect Fairgoers with farmers and give kids a closer look at what happens on Indiana farms.
The Glass Barn is also one of those attractions where everyone can slow down for a while without feeling like you’re taking a break from the Fair. You’re still seeing and doing something while recovering from all that walking.
Corteva Agriscience FFA Pavilion
Make your way to the Corteva Agriscience FFA Pavilion for several family-friendly activities under one roof.
One of our favorites is the free FFA Putt Putt, available daily from 9 am-8 pm.
While you’re there, check out the FFA Barnyard and FFA Country Market as well.
It’s an easy place to linger for a while when everyone needs a slower-paced activity away from the Midway.
DNR Building and Complex
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources area deserves a spot on almost every family Fair itinerary, especially when you want to trade the Midway for something a little quieter.
The Butterfly Exhibit returns for 2026, and families can also explore fish, reptiles, wildlife programs, and other nature-focused experiences around the DNR complex.
Kids ages 5-17 can even try fishing at the DNR Fishing Pond, with sessions scheduled daily from 10 am-1 pm and 4-7 pm.
There is enough to see here that you can spend a decent chunk of your Fair day exploring without feeling like you’re just hiding from the heat.
Rewind: A VHS Revival
Need another indoor destination? Add Rewind: A VHS Revival to your 2026 Fair itinerary.
This new attraction takes over the Harvest Pavilion and celebrates video stores, movies, music, and pop culture nostalgia.
Families can explore themed displays, oversized hand-painted movie posters, interactive experiences, and the Baseball Movie Theatre.
Rewind is open daily from 9 am-9 pm during the Fair.
Parents who remember rewinding VHS tapes before returning them to the video store might enjoy this stop every bit as much as the kids.
Find the Misting Fans
When you suddenly see a crowd of adults voluntarily standing in a cloud of water, you’ve probably found one of the Fair’s misting fans.
Don’t be shy.
On a hot August afternoon, that fine spray can feel fantastic.
Keep an eye out for cooling and misting stations as you’re traveling around the Fairgrounds. They make convenient quick stops between buildings, exhibits, and rides.
Hook’s Historic Drug Store
For a completely different kind of Fair break, visit Hook’s Historic Drug Store.
The historic pharmacy museum recreates the look and feel of an old-fashioned drug store and soda fountain and is one of those quirky Indiana State Fair experiences you might completely miss if you’re only focused on rides and food.
There’s also a Wellness Room in the Hook’s Historic Drug Store annex, which provides a private space with first-aid and infant essentials for families who need it during their visit.
Take a Breezy Fair Ride
Okay, this one isn’t technically a cooling station, but sometimes flying through the air is exactly what you need.
Grab some Midway tickets or take advantage of a discount ride day and choose a ride that gives you a little breeze.
If you want something less intense, the Skyride is another way to get off your feet while seeing the Fairgrounds from above.
Just remember that rides cost extra, so this isn’t one of our free ways to beat the heat.
The Indiana Farmers’ Dairy Bar
Cooling down with a milkshake absolutely counts.
A stop at the Indiana Farmers’ Dairy Bar is a State Fair tradition for plenty of Indiana families.
The Dairy Bar is open from 9 am-9 pm throughout the 2026 Fair and has 10 service windows.
The 2026 featured milkshake is Blue Raspberry, a bright, creamy summer treat that makes a pretty convincing excuse to take a break.
This year’s featured grilled cheese is the Big Dill Grilled Cheese, made with Havarti and cheddar cheese, dill pickle slices, and sourdough bread.
If you’d rather keep things classic, you’ll still find traditional grilled cheese sandwiches, milk, ice cream, and other Dairy Bar favorites.
Cool Down With Hand-Scooped Ice Cream
You don’t necessarily need an attraction to justify a cooling break.
Find a shady seat and split an ice cream, frozen drink, milkshake, or another cold Fair treat. Plus, you can save money with this Dairy Bar discount.
At the Dairy Bar alone, you’ll find hand-scooped ice cream in flavors including Birthday Cake, Butter Pecan, Chocolate, Moose Tracks, Strawberry, and Vanilla, plus chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, and the featured Blue Raspberry milkshakes.
In the name of staying cool, this is practically a public service.
Indiana Arts Building
Another good strategy is to alternate outdoor attractions with Fair buildings throughout your day.
The Indiana Arts Building gives families a chance to explore creative work from Hoosiers around the state. You can slow down, wander through the exhibits, and pick your own favorite entries.
The building also hosts activities and competitions throughout the Fair, so check the daily schedule to see what’s happening during your visit.
Expo Hall
The Expo Hall is another building worth keeping on your heat-escape list.
Browse vendors, displays, and Fair shopping while taking a break from walking around outside.
The Expo Hall is also one of the Fair’s locations with a Moms Helpline lactation pod, giving nursing parents another private place to stop during their Fair day.
Take a Reading Break
Sometimes what everyone really needs is five minutes without another attraction.
The Indiana State Fair Reading Garden in the Meijer Family Fun Park gives families a designated place to slow down and take a reading break.
It’s open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
This can be especially helpful with younger kids who are reaching the point where one more ride, animal, or snack might push them over the edge.
Tips for Staying Cool at the Indiana State Fair
The smartest way to tackle a hot Fair day is to rotate between outdoor and indoor activities instead of trying to power through everything outside at once.
Visit the animal areas, then duck into a building. Ride the Midway, then visit the Glass Barn. Spend some time at Little Hands on the Farm, then hit the splash pad. Grab lunch, take the tractor shuttle, and give everyone permission to slow down.
Also bring refillable water bottles, sunscreen, hats, comfortable clothing, and a change of clothes for kids who plan to use the splash pad.
The 2026 Indiana State Fair runs August 7-23 and is closed Mondays, so there’s plenty of time to experience all of the Fair traditions without trying to cram everything into one scorching afternoon.
When the August heat starts getting to everyone, don’t call it quits. Find some shade, head inside, grab something cold, and recharge. There’s plenty more Fair fun waiting once you’re ready to head back outside.
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