INDIANAPOLIS (WLKI)- Visitors to the Indiana State Fair can expect an early start and a full day of activities, with hot air balloons, youth competitions, live entertainment and family attractions scheduled throughout the day.
One of the day's biggest visual attractions gets underway around sunrise, when the annual hot air balloon race takes to the sky.
The race is scheduled for approximately 6:45 a.m. and is expected to provide one of the most recognizable views of the fair.
Balloon pilots, early-morning spectators and members of the State Fair media team are expected to be available for interviews.
The fairgrounds will then transition into a full schedule of competitions and family activities.
At 8 a.m., 4-H horse and pony English classes and the 4-H Market Lamb Show are among the scheduled events.
Visitors can also take part in attractions including the Dolly Parton Library at the Train Depot, DNR Fishing for Kids, the Momma Town Cookies, Coffee & Cuddles experience, street dancers and a PBS KIDS Dinosaur Train meet-and-greet.
At 9:30 a.m., hundreds of varsity and junior varsity cheerleading squads from across Indiana are scheduled to compete at the Hoosier Lottery Grandstand.
The competition will feature teams competing for state titles.
Later in the morning, the DockDogs Big Air Wave is scheduled for 11 a.m.
The fair will also feature the new King Arthur Baking Company Youth Brownie Contest.
At 3 p.m., the Featured Farmer Live Chat, presented by Corteva, will highlight the people and agriculture behind the state's fair.
The Big Top Circus will offer performances at 1, 4 and 7 p.m.
Tonight's entertainment will wrap up with a free concert on the Hoosier Lottery Free Stage.
Fleetwood Mac tribute band TUSK is scheduled to perform at 7:30 p.m.
Fairgrounds gates are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., while the fair closes at 11 p.m.
Admission is $18, and organizers encourage visitors to plan ahead and purchase tickets and parking passes online.
The State Fair is also promoting its social media channels for updates throughout the day.
For visitors looking for the best photo opportunity, organizers say the hot air balloon race shortly after sunrise is one of the day's signature events.