Indiana
$5 deals at Indiana State Fair: New value menu designed to help stretch food bucks
Here’s some of the best fries in Indy
Food and dining reporter Cheryl Jackson compiles a list of the best fries in Indianapolis.
Cheryl V. Jackson and Clark Wade, Indianapolis Star
A $5 food menu is coming to the Indiana State Fair.
Vendors will help take some of the financial sting out of eating at the fair by offering food and drinks for $5 or less.
For the first time, all of the budget–friendly offerings are compiled in a $5 Value Menu.
Guests can get copies of a map of the spots from any Indiana State Fair information booth. Fair organizers plan to release a digital map, as well.
Indiana State Fair food vendors with $5 deals:
Carr Concessions
Regular ice cream cone (vanilla, chocolate or swirl soft serve), $5
Dairy Bar
Milkshakes (Blue Ribbon Blueberry, chocolate, vanilla, strawberry), $5
Grilled Cheese (hot honey pepperoni pull, Melty, American on white, Colby on wheat, pepper jack on sourdough, Swiss on rye), $5
Milk (10-ounce cup, white or chocolate) $.50
Hoosier custard (chocolate or vanilla), $4
Yogurt (4-ounce cup), $2
Cottage cheese (5-ounce cup), $2
DG Concession
Frozen lemonade (16 ounce), $5
Gobble Gobble
Corn dog, $5
Indiana Ribeye
Cowpie (cookie ice cream sandwich), $5
J & J A Taste of Home Catering & Food Truck
Fries (4 ounce), $5
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Dippin Dots
Mini Cup (any flavor), $5
McGrotha Foods (The Big Strawberry)
Dole Whip frozen dessert cone (pineapple, strawberry, vanilla or pineapple/strawberry twist), $5
McGrotha Foods (The Root Beer Barrel)
Soda (16 ounce), $4
Refills, $3
Miss Piggy’s
Mac & Cheese (7 ounce), $5
Corn dog, $5
Orme Deep Fried Treats
Half order of any regular menu item, $4.50
Pickle Barrel Sirloin Tips
Veggie dinner (mashed potatoes, mushrooms, onions and peppers), $5
Side of mushrooms, $4
Side of potatoes, $4
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R.E. Smith Food and Drink
$5 Family Special (hot dog, chips, small drink)
Corn dog, $5
Hot dog, $5
Nachos, $5
Hamburger, $5
Chicken sandwich, $5
Cotton candy, $5
Candy apple, $5
Bottled water, $3
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Red Frazier Bison
French fries, $5
Tater tots, $5
Fried Brussels sprouts, $5
Dirty rice, $5
Smoked breadcrumb Mac & Cheese, $5
Smoked pork green beans, $5
SW Concessions
Hot dog, $5
Swains Concessions
Half order of garlic cheese bread, $5
The German Corner
Homemade German potato salad, $5
Twisted Drinks And Food
Original fresh-squeezed lemon twister drink (16 ounce), $5
Two jumbo freeze pops, $5
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Urick Concessions
Soft serve cake cone, $5
Mini funnel cake (cinnamon or powdered sugar), $5
French fries, $5
Small Mac & Cheese, $5
Urick Concessions (Inside The Mercantile)
Soft serve cake cone, $5
Cold brew (16 ounce), $5
Regular coffee (12 ounce), $3
Potato chips (1.5 ounce), $3
Wagner Food Service
Buttered red potatoes (1 pound), $5
Rib tips (3 bones), $5
Dates for the 2024 Indiana State Fair
The 2024 Indiana State Fair takes place Aug. 2-18 (closed Mondays).
Get tickets for the 2024 Indiana State Fair
You can find a complete list of state fair events and attractions and purchase tickets at IndianaStateFair.com.
Contact IndyStar reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cheryl.jackson@indystar.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on X: @cherylvjackson.
INDIANAPOLIS (WRTV) — Indiana saw a significant decline in veteran homelessness last year, despite the total number of homelessness rising across the state.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) annual estimation of the homeless population, known as the Point in Time (PIT) count, Indiana saw an 18.7% decline in veteran homelessness in 2025 compared to the year before.
That marked the second-largest decline of any state by percentage.
Helping Veterans and Families (HVAF) of Indiana specializes in assistance for veterans facing homelessness. CEO Emmy Hildebrand told News 8 the formula that’s finding success is the same that works with any at-risk group: housing and wrap-around services.
Hildebrand said that the formula needs support from the state.
“There is no state funding supporting homeless services in our state,” Hildebrand said. “And very little local funding outside Indianapolis.”
Safety net programs have faced budget cuts, with lawmakers eliminating funding for the Housing First program in 2025. It supported organizations helping people secure stable housing.
And housing advocates have criticized Indiana’s public camping ban as essentially making it illegal to be homeless.
HVAF client Terri Massey, a 34-year-old Navy veteran, said the stigma of being homeless was the most difficult challenge to overcome.
“I’m still trying to provide for my kids,” Massey said “I’m (not) out here being lazy or not trying to do better.”
Massey was working, supporting her children, but found herself sleeping in cars and hotel rooms because she didn’t have stable housing. “Going to that work, working 10 hours, leaving, going to sleep in my car.”
HVAF helped place Massey in a permanent apartment. HVAF also placed Massey in a different kind of “bootcamp” years after her time in the military, learning job skills. She’s looking for a job, but thankful to do it from a place she can call home.
“I am beyond grateful and thankful. I literally pray and thank God every day,” Massey said. “Because for the longest I felt like I was alone. And I had to figure everything out by myself. I didn’t.”
It’s estimated that seven percent of Indiana’s homeless are veterans. Hildebrand said there are federal funds for organizations working with veterans, which support HVAF’s programs.
Still, finding permanent housing is a struggle.
According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, for every 100 extremely low-income households in Indiana, just 34 rental homes are affordable and available.
“There are so many people on the bubble that are just one emergency away from living in their car, staying with friends and family, or living on the streets because we don’t have the appropriate system here in Indiana,” Hildebrand said.
Hildebrand said lawmakers assured her they would work to support homeless services, but she hasn’t seen any drafted legislation that might be introduced in the next legislative session.
Across the country, about one in 25 people experiencing homelessness previously served active duty in the armed forces, according to numbers from HUD. Veteran homelessness declined 56% between 2009 and 2025.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has issued an Air Quality Action Day for July 8th in Northwest Indiana.
Ozone levels are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range, also known as the “orange” level. While not everyone will notice or be effected by the conditions, and while they may not be as severe as recent wildfire smoke events, individuals with asthma, COPD, and other health issues should proceed with caution when exercising outside.
Ozone levels are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range, also known as the “orange” level. (WSBT Photo)
The affected area is all of Northwest Indiana, including the cities of: Crown Point, Gary, Hammond, Kentland, LaPorte, Michigan City, Portage, Rensselaer, Valparaiso and all other cities in the region, especially those near Lake Michigan.
Warm temperatures, mostly sunny skies, and light and varied winds coming off of Lake Michigan are expected to contribute to elevated ozone levels.
To stay up to date on issuances and quality levels in Indiana, visit SmogWatch.IN.gov.
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