After being shut down last year, the Iowa State Fair is back, bigger and better in 2021. This year, the Fair will open on Thursday, August 12 and runs until Sunday, August 22, 2021. As the largest event in the state of Iowa, the Iowa State Fair can be a bit overwhelming for families to navigate. No worries – we’ve got your back with this guide to help give you an idea of what to expect and how to plan your family’s trip to the Iowa State Fair this year.
Because there’s so much to do, we’ve created an Iowa State Fair Guide, where you can find past articles that contain even more great ideas for enjoying the Iowa State Fair with your family. And, if you’re in search of more summer events and activities you might also want to check out our Summer Fun Guide.
Here’s our tips to make the most of your family’s visit to the Iowa State Fair:
Pre-Fair Prep
Save on Fair Admission: Tickets are available for $9 for adults and $5 for kids now through August 11 – get them online, the fairgrounds ticket office, Hy-Vees, Hy-Vee Drugstores and Dollar Fresh stores, Iowa Fareways and participating Des Moines metro Cash Saver and Price Chopper stores. Save even more with deals and discounts by purchasing pre-fair ride and attraction tickets and note discounted admission dates. Regular fair-time admission prices are $14 for adults (12 and up), $8 for kids (6-11) and FREE for children under 5. You won’t save cash after the 11th, but you can still skip the lines by snagging tickets online before you go.
Plan Out Your Day: Before you start making your way to the Fairgrounds, make some preparations for a fun-filled fair day. Consider who your group consists of (toddlers, kids, teens, adults) and plan things to do that will make everyone happy. Check out the Fair schedule for the day you will be visiting and bookmark the Fairgrounds map, so you can quickly navigate to everyone’s favorite attraction. We highly recommend getting to the Fair as early as possible, the grounds open at 8:00 am and the building open at 9:00 am, and visit on a weekday rather than on the weekend, if you can.
Determine Where to Park: Decide on parking arrangements before heading to the Fair. We recommend taking DART’s State Fair Park & Ride shuttle as an easy transportation option. Park your car for FREE and then round-trip fares are $2 for adults (11-64); $1 for children (6-10); adults (65+), Medicare card holders and people with disabilities (half-fare); and Children 5 and younger are FREE. Finally, plan on wearing comfy walking shoes – your feet will thank you later.
Iowa State Fair Food
You’ll want to skip breakfast and go hungry to the Fair, so you’re prepared to chow down on the classics like corn dogs and turkey legs or one of the newest tasty inventions. At the Iowa State Fair, you can probably find your favorite food deep-fried or on a stick somewhere on the fairgrounds. And, believe it or not the Fair does offer up some Healthy and Value Priced options.
New Food: For many, the Iowa State Fair’s new food listing is one of the most anticipated announcements of the year. From local flavors like Maytag Bleu Cheese Dip to crazy delicious combos like the Flaming Hot Cheeto Funnel Cake, there are options for adventurous eaters and traditionalists alike. We’ll leave it up to you to decide if they’re rising stars or foodie flops.
Iowa State Fair Events & Entertainment
In between bites, fairgoers can be found enjoying a variety of events and entertainment. No matter who is in your group, the fair is full of activities and shows for people of all ages. For a full list of events see here.
Grandstand Concerts: Some of music’s biggest names have been known to rock the open-air Grandstand stage each summer. 2021’s headliners include Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton and Styx. Check out the full list of Grandstand performances.
FREE Entertainment: You can also catch over 100 local and national acts for FREE at various stages throughout the fairgrounds.
Contests & Competitions: The fair is known for serious to wacky contests and competitions. These include cooking and visual arts competitions, with advanced entry, to walk-up contests you can participate in at the spur of the moment during your Iowa State Fair visit like the bubble blowing contest and cow chip throwing competition.
Iowa State Fair Attractions and Rides
If you’re a thrill seeker or even if you’re not the Iowa State Fair offers rides and attractions for everyone in your family to enjoy.
Giant Slide: You’d be hard-pressed to find an Iowan who doesn’t know the feeling of gliding down the yellow and green waves of the Giant Slide atop a burlap sack. Not just for the kiddos, folks of all ages can enjoy this State Fair tradition. You’ll notice that the Giant Slide has moved. It’s now located in Walnut Square.
Skyglider: Another fair tradition is surveying the crowds as you short-cut from one side of the fair to another on the Skyride. The Skyglider East runs between the Ye Old Mill and Pioneer Hall. The Skyglider West runs between E. 31st Street (Thrill Town) and Rock Island Avenue.
Ye Old Mill:This over 100-year-old “Tunnel of Love” is the oldest attraction at the fair, with an experience that is essentially the same as it was when it first opened. The two-minute boat ride through a darkened tunnel is an Iowa State Fair tradition for many.
Thrill Parks: What’s a fair without rides and games? Get your adrenaline going, weave through fun-houses and win your sweetie a giant stuffed animal in the Fair’s Thrill Ville or Thrill Zone. If you’ve got little ones, plan some time at the more tame Thrill Town.
Iowa State Fair Livestock and Agriculture Exhibits
Iowa has a rich history when it comes to livestock and agriculture, so no trip to the Iowa State Fair is complete without a stop at the barns for a little agricultural education. Livestock exhibitors from across the state showcase various types of barn animals in competition. Make sure to check out the livestock schedules for competition times.
The Paul R. Knapp Animal Learning Center: In addition to the full-grown animals who temporarily reside at the fairgrounds, over 200 babies enter the world each summer at the The Paul R. Knapp Animal Learning Center. The newborn calves, piglets, chicks, ducks and more are a hit with kids and adults alike.
Butter Sculptures: Butter sculptures? You butter believe it. The John Deere Agricultural Building’s butter sculptures of cows and other pop culture figures are one of the fair’s most popular yet peculiar traditions.
Little Hands on the Farm: A perfect opportunity for city kids to learn about agriculture in a fun interactive way. They’ll start out planting, then feed what they’ve grown to their livestock and then they’ll finally sell everything to earn cash to spend at the Grocery Store.
Does your family plan on attending the Iowa State Fair this year?
