Iowa State Fair Visitor Guide

The Iowa State Fair is one of the great American summer events. For eleven days in August, the fairgrounds on the east side of Des Moines become a small city of barns, rides, stages and food stands, and well over a million visitors pass through. The fair is a living museum of rural life, a music festival, a carnival and a competition all at once.\n\nKnow the basics. The fair runs in August, with exact dates posted on its own calendar each year. Gates open in the morning and activities run late into the evening. Admission is charged at the gate, with discounted days and advance tickets sometimes offered. Parking is available at lots around the grounds, and shuttles run from remote lots. Check the fair's schedule for concerts, which are ticketed separately.\n\nPlan your hotel early. Rooms around Des Moines fill quickly, and prices climb. Book months ahead, and consider staying in Altoona, the suburbs or downtown with a short drive. Cancellation terms are worth reading closely. If you cannot find a room in the city, look at nearby towns and plan to drive in early.\n\nSee the classics. The Butter Cow is a life-size sculpture of a cow made from butter, and it has been a fair fixture for generations. Giant prize pigs, bulls, horses and sheep fill the livestock barns, and youth competitions show the work of Iowa's young farmers. The Agriculture Building and the exhibition halls hold crops, crafts and baked goods, with ribbons awarded across many categories.\n\nRide and play. The midway offers rides and games, and the Sky Glider carries you above the grounds for a view of the whole scene. Younger children enjoy kid-sized rides and animal exhibits. Evening brings lights and music, and the Grandstand hosts concerts. Check the schedule for free stages that feature local bands.\n\nEat with a plan. Food at the fair is part of the point. Pork chops on a stick, corn dogs, fried desserts, ice cream, lemonade and fresh sweet corn are the classics, and every year brings new inventions. Share portions so that you can taste more, and take a break in the shade. Water fountains and stands sell water, and refillable bottles help.\n\nBeat the heat and the crowds. August in Iowa can be hot and humid. Arrive early, rest in air-conditioned halls at midday and return to the barns or midway in the evening. Wear a hat, sunscreen and comfortable shoes. Weekdays are less crowded than weekends, and the opening morning of a weekday is the calmest of all.\n\nTake care of children. Agree on a meeting point, put contact details on younger children and keep strollers sturdy for the long distances. Bring snacks, though outside food rules vary. The petting areas and kids' exhibits offer a break from the heat and noise.\n\nPolitics at the fair. The fair is famous for visits by political figures and for a soapbox tradition where speakers address the crowd. Whether or not you are interested in politics, the atmosphere is part of the fair's identity.\n\nCombine it with the city. Before or after your fair day, add a morning at the Capitol, an hour at the Sculpture Park or an evening along the riverwalk. The contrast between the fair and the city's quieter sights makes a balanced trip. If you would prefer a calmer visit to Iowa, choose a different month, but if you want to see the state at its most exuberant, August is the time.\n\nKnow the rhythm of the day. Mornings belong to the barns and judging rings, afternoons to air-conditioned halls and shade, and evenings to the midway lights and the Grandstand. If you follow that rhythm you will feel fresher and see more. What to bring. Pack a small bag with sunscreen, a hat, a refillable water bottle, a portable phone charger, cash for small stands and a light rain layer. Wear closed, comfortable shoes, since you will walk for miles on pavement and grass. Bring wipes for sticky hands and a plastic bag for souvenirs and trash. If you travel with a stroller, choose a sturdy one. Leave valuables at the hotel, keep your phone in a front pocket and agree on a meeting spot in case your group splits up. A little preparation keeps the day fun from morning to the last light on the midway.