INDIANAPOLIS — Sharks, sword swallowers, sheep-herding monkeys ... the Indiana State Fair has had it all over the years, but the 2013 fair will offer something the event has never had before - an outdoor ice show.
Rosstyn Ice Shows, which has been touring the world for nearly 20 years presenting a variety of family-friendly shows, will have three to four daily performances at next year's Indiana State Fair, Aug. 2 through 18. Each performance will take place on a 40-by-40 skating rink in Dow AgroSciences Celebration Park on the fairgrounds' northwest side. The rink will be covered by a clear-span, engineered tent with bleacher seating for up to 800 spectators.
All of the shows will feature a number of skaters performing all kinds of stunts that combine music, artistry, pageantry, and comedy. A video of past performances can be viewed online at http://bit.ly/USbDXR. The shows will be free to visitors with their paid admission to the fair.
Another new, free attraction coming to next year's fair is "Get Animated," an 8,000-square foot exhibit that explores the world of animation. This interactive experience takes visitors back to the classics of traditional hand-drawn celluloid animation and highlights current computer animation, including well-known stories and characters from Pixar, Walt Disney, DreamWorks, and Sony Animation.
A large-scale custom 3-D Zoetrope - a device that produces the illusion of motion from a rapid succession of static pictures - is the centerpiece of the exhibit. By spinning at more than 30 miles per hour, it brings static cartoon characters to life right before viewers' eyes. Another popular feature is Animation University, an interactive learning experience where visitors learn to draw classic cartoon characters from an on-site instructor.
"Get Animated" will be open every day of the fair inside the Grand Hall on Main Street.
Until the end of the year, people can order general admission tickets to the 2013 state fair for $6 each - a $4 savings on the regular gate admission. These tickets can be purchased online at http://www.in.gov/statefair/fair/landing.html through Dec. 31.
Popcorn has already been announced as the featured product of the 2013 state fair and the Weaver Popcorn Company of Noblesville has stepped up to become the fair's presenting sponsor. The family-owned company was founded by Rev. Ira Weaver in 1928 and is the global leader in popcorn production with sales throughout the United States and to more than 90 other countries worldwide. Weaver works with farmers throughout Indiana and the Midwest to grow its own popcorn and then packages it into a range of products, including movie theater popcorn, microwave popcorn, and caramel corn at its manufacturing facility in Van Buren. In fact, Weaver is the largest manufacturer of microwave popcorn and its Pop Weaver brand is the market leader in retailers like Walmart.
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