Want to know where to find the nearest ear of sweet corn? Looking for the closest ATM? Can’t remember where you parked your car? The answers to all these questions, and many more, can be found on the updated, free Indiana State Fair mobile app for smart phones. Developed for iPhone and Android users by local company LiveLink Mobile, the app offers everything a person needs to plan and enjoy a trip to the State Fair. Its newest feature, an interactive map using a smart phone’s Global Positioning System, is what makes the app a “must have” for all fairgoers.
As long as a user has the GPS system turned on in the phone’s settings, the app will indicate where that person is in relation to items in six different categories:
- Exhibits & Attractions
- Food Vendors
- Parking areas
- ATMs
- Stroller/Wheelchair Rentals
- First Aid
In addition, the user can turn on and off any of these categories, meaning he can view only the Food Vendors and Parking areas if that’s all he’s interested in or he can quickly locate the nearest First Aid station in case of a medical emergency.
The colorful app also includes listings of every fair event for each of the 17 days of the fair; a special listing of all the Shane Co. Coliseum Concert Series shows; a special listing of all the Free Stage concerts; general information on hours, admission and special discounts; and a sharing feature that allows users to post comments and photos to their Facebook friends and Twitter followers. It even allows users to purchase discount admission tickets through July 31 with a few simple touches.
The updated app is the most recent way fair officials have been keeping current on new technologies. An early adopter of social media, the State Fair now has more than 140,000 people following its messages through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. It also frequently sends out news and behind-the-scenes information through its Blue Ribbon Blog and YouTube channel. All of these outlets can be found on the fair’s web site, www.indianastatefair.com.
Fair general admission is $10; discount tickets are $7; kids 5 and younger are free. Discount tickets are available at www.indianastatefair.com presented by Mattress Firm and the Indiana State Fair box office through July 31, and can also be purchased at all participating Indiana Walmart stores and all CVS/pharmacy stores while supplies last. State Fair parking is $5.