In Indiana when it’s August, and 90 degrees we don’t seek the A/C, lounge in the pool, or sip sweet tea on the porch instead we go to the Indiana state fair.
What better way to spend a 90 degree day then to load up our Residential kids, and head to Indy!
The sun was already beating down when we pulled into the fairgrounds, but the kids’ excitement was a force of nature all its own. The air hummed with the sounds of the midway and the distant squeals of people on a ride we couldn’t quite see yet, and the smells of amazing food.
First stop lunch: Lunch was, as expected, a chaotic masterpiece. A grilled cheese for some, others enjoyed various forms of chicken, one even wrapped her mouth around a giant tenderloin sandwich, and let’s not forget a giant plate of “extreme twisted taters”. I’m pretty sure more of it ended up on their faces and clothes than in their stomachs, but the pure joy on their faces as they devoured the classic fair food was worth the mess. We loaded up on water, lemon shake-ups and continued our tour of the fairgrounds.
The next few hours we fed parakeets, goats, and even made a stop at the DNR building to look at Indiana’s native fish species. After a talk with a game warden about the growing Indiana bobcat population, it was time for the circus. The circus started with motorcycles riding around in a metal cage, followed by the typical circus lineup. We had highly skilled people balancing on their hands, flying on curtains, popping balloons with bows and arrows, and the grand finale, a man shot out of a cannon. After one last elephant ear, a macaroni and cheese grilled cheese (yes you read that right), and a couple slushies, it was time to head home. Tired and sweaty we got back to the house, with sore feet, and full bellies. Some of the best moments in life aren’t the quiet, peaceful ones, but the ones filled with laughter, sticky hands, and the magic of a shared experience. It’s more than just a day at the fair; it’s a core memory in the making. And I can’t wait to do it all again next year.
