Priority list: Indiana State Fair and Gen Con make the cut

Three high-profile returnees and one one-of-a-kind event top this week's priority picks.

Indiana State Fair

It’s that time again. And while the core of what happens at the Fairgrounds remains fairly consistent from year to year (and who would want variance in livestock competitions and elephant ears?), there are always some new twists. This year, for instance, all of the concerts are free with Fair admission, including performances by Night Ranger on Aug. 5, the Fray on Aug. 11, The Bacon Brothers on Aug. 13, and Anthony Hamilton on Aug. 18. There’s also a Taste of the Fair food competition among vendors, with a winner announced on the 17^th. And a three-times-daily BMX Stunt Show makes the mix. Aug. 5-21  Indiana State Fairgrounds Details

Gen Con

At the Convention Center and surrounding area, it will be playtime 24/7 for four days as the most heavily populated gaming convention in the world returns to Indy. You can spend all of your time in the vendor hall trying out new games, catch a live show (including the comedic Damsels of Dorkington), meet any of over 80 authors, participate in a game tournament, or just hang out on the periphery and people-watch the cosplayers. Aug. 4-7 Indiana Convention Center  Details

“Ubu the King”

The Tube Factory—the new Big Car Collective space near Garfield Park—hosts a one-night only visit from Rough House Theater. The Chicago-based company uses 70 hand-crafted puppets to enact Alfred Jarry’s 1896 absurdist/surrealist satire to live. Warning: royal flatulence is involved. Aug. 3  Tube Factory  Details

IDADA First Friday

Gallery exhibition openings include “Down to the Roots: an Exploration of How We Got Here” featuring work by Robert Allan James at the Indiana Landmarks Center, “The Art Assignment Show” at the Arts Council’s Gallery 924, and “Coming Back Home: 20^th Anniversary of the Stutz Residency Program” at the Stutz Gallery. Aug. 5  Various locations Details

Also this week

Goo Goo Dolls pay a visit Aug. 6 to White River State Park Ray Lamontagne on Aug. 7.

Cathy Morris and Brazilian Jazz close out the Animals and All That Jazz series at the Indianapolis Zoo Aug. 4.

Jill Scott plays the Murat Aug. 2.

Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas double bill at Bankers Life Fieldhouse Aug. 3.

Concert Against Humanity at the Murat Aug. 5 features comics Jonathan Coulton, Aperna Nancheria, Moly Lewis, and more.