Unspoken Rules: The State Fair With Kids

Park at the Indiana School for the Deaf, on 42nd Street. Easy in, easy out. Closed-toed shoes only. There is an astonishing array of gross things kids can step in at the Fair. The Family Fun Park is smoke-free, unlike the Midway. Avoid: cotton candy (sticky), tractor pulls (loud), giant stuffed animals (cumbersome). Shuttle rides are a win-win. Kids love that train. Parents love the rest. The Fair only operates on days with 9,000 percent humidity. Keep the kids hydrated. Save elephant ears for the end—as a bargaining chip to leave early.