2026 Edition! The weather truly pulled through this year! I also tried lots of new items. Here's some of what I got at the Iowa state fair: * All-American scrambled egg roll [NEW] * Ultimate bacon-brisket Mac & cheese donut [NEW] * Ultimate minneapple pie [NEW] * Chopped Italian ham hoagie * Garlic dill cheese curds [NEW] Not pictured: bucket of cookies :) My favorite new food item was definitely the bacon brisket mac and cheese donut! read more

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First time at the Iowa State Fair! As a typical Minnesota State Fair goer, I was trying to keep my expectations low. Overall, I had a great day and a ton of fun!! Definitely bring a reusable water and a handheld fan. It's hot. I loved that there were so many places to refill our water bottles. We got there via the free parking ramp in Des Moines on Center and 7th then took the $3 round trip DART bus which worked like a charm. Super easy to navigate. We were dropped off at Gate 10 then worked counterclockwise around the fair. The only thing I wasn't prepared for was how many golf carts/cars would be on the roads at the fair. I kept feeling like I was going to get hit. My favorite food by far was the hot beef sundae ($10) from Cattleman's Beef Quarters. Can't go wrong with hot beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, and cheese. We got a delicious donut ($5) outside the swine barn then saw the biggest pig I've ever seen in my life -- 1,296 lbs! We saw a sheep sheering contest in the sheep barn, then wandered around the fair up to the agriculture building for a (FREE) hard boiled egg on a stick and the butter cow. We cooled off in the Culture Center and saw the amazing photography and fine art submissions. They have nice bathrooms in that building. Then we got the deep fried pb&j ($10 each, grape was better than strawberry) which were another favorite of the day. One of my other food highlights were the cheese curds from Brad and Harry's ($8). Same vibe as the mouth trap cheese curds in MN. Delicious and a fair food staple. Some foods that did not wow me: The corn brats ($8) which are like corn dogs but with brats instead of hotdogs. My hopes for these were too high. They were fine. Nothing beats a pronto pup. The Minneapple Pie ($14). Everyone in Iowa was raving about it. It was fine, not worth the money in my opinion. Barksdale's cup of cookies ($5). Not good. Would not get again. read more

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What a spectacular State Fair. We went for 3 days and didn't get to see everything but the 2026 fair was especially memorable with the celebration of America's 250th anniversary, adding patriotic displays, special exhibits, and events throughout the grounds. If you've never experienced the Iowa State Fair, put it on your bucket list! Come hungry, wear comfortable shoes, plan to spend plenty of time exploring--and be prepared to have a fantastic time. Nothing compares to the Iowa State Fair! read more

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Gayle and I returned to the Iowa State fair yesterday. It was a hot Tuesday (even in the morning) and we spend maybe 3 hours on the grounds. I'm sure I've been here since my last review was posted, but the years do seem to flow and run together. High Points: - The Butter Cow! - Chair Lift ride over part of the Fair Grounds. - Varied Industry, Walnut Center, and Arts Building Exhibits - Seeing Governor Reynolds walk down the main thoroughfare. - Visiting the University of Iowa Booth and touching the trophies. - Watching Families Groom Their Steers for Competition in the Barn. - Enjoying the Pig competition in one of the arenas. - Having a nice Lunch at Stockman's. We also walked around a lot and just watched the diversity of our fellow attendees. There were also a lot of huge baby strollers on one end life's spectrum and many senior scooters on the other. We also appreciated the DART park-and-ride option from the State Capital. It was only $1 each for folks like us that are over 65. read more

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Always a fun time when the weather is behaving itself. Got an early start to avoid long lines and giant crowds. It was a little sprinkly at first but that stopped and it was decent most of the day. Little clouds and a light breeze. Had a decent breakfast at the Methodist Church. Nothing to write home about. Just a start to our day. Then off to the Beer Tent for hydration. Lots of new sips to be sipping. Nerds beer. Cotton candy beer. Lots of ciders and my all time favorite the spiked fair lemonade. Tried the 3 Little Pigs from Whatcha Smokin and was very let down. Little flavor other than the sauce and super dense for a meatball. The jalapeno dog on a stick was much better but it had the Waukee meat. Tried the bacon chicken ranch egg roll and it was great. One of the best new foods in the history of new foods. We even had a group cut in line lol Enjoyed seeing the doll houses and various crafts. The paintings. The photography. The livestock. Going back a 2nd time because you can't see everything in one day. Recommend for anyone to go at least once a year. read more

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It's the Iowa State Fair! It's Fun, loud and expensive! What an amazing experience! If you haven't been make plans to go next year! The venue is huge and has a little bit of everything! There are so many food vendors you could eat ten meals a day and probably still not try it all! There is too much to see and do! The live free bands are awesome! The event stages are always busy and they bring in big name entertainment every year! Plan on being hot and thirsty! But planning going for sure! read more

Iowa State Fair - Cheers - Festivals Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Iowa State Fair was GREAT! We had the most delicious LOBSTER ROLL...drenched in warm garlic butter ...best we've ever had! We also had concert tickets to Rascal Flatts in the Grand Stand...he did not disappoint! So much amazing food ..so little time! Funnel cakes, corndogs, chicken on a stick, pickle dawgs....great time with so much to see! read more

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Let's see: Gather over 100,000 people on a massive campus and give them dozens (maybe hundreds) of unique food options, including entertainment, good music, lots of farm animals, agriculture info, and a great vibe. They do it quite well here, as the Iowa State Fair at the Fairgrounds is a lot of fun. For this city boy, it indeed was a terrific experience. Tip: park at one of the highly efficient remote parking lots provided by DART and take a $2 roundtrip bus to and from. It made the whole experience even better. The earlier in the day, the better regarding crowd size. It was always manageable, even on a busy Friday. Strong recommendation. read more

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Iowa State Fair 2024. I took the DART Park and Ride from the 7th and Center Street ramp. A really great value for what it is. I'd always driven down, fought traffic, paid premium parking prices... Yeah. Today was $2 ($1 if you use the DART app) round trip. And they dropped me off right in front of a gate. That's kind of hard to beat doing it on your own... Probably going to be using Park and Ride again in the future...! This year's trip was a mix of old and new for me and there were a few items I wanted...but just didn't get to. Ollie's crab fritters. $11 an order. Love these. I get them every time I go to the ISF. Are they conch fritters from the Keys? No. But they're close enough. I'll buy these every time I see the stand. The lobster corn dog from Destination Grill. I've had their lobster roll in restaurant and I wanted to love this... You have to give them credit for the concept. It's hard to deep fry lobster and not overcook it. Loved the breading and the sauces. It was okay, but not something I'd buy again for $20. My take...reviews are subjective and tastes vary. The bacon cheeseburger eggroll and jumbo crab rangoon from Winn & Sara's Kitchen. $12 for the egg roll. $5 for the jumbo crab rangoon. There wasn't anything I didn't love about this! I'm not sure if the bacon cheeseburger eggroll is Asian fusion or just a spin on a bacon cheeseburger... It's done right. Out of my list this was my second favorite item. The regular sized Connecticut style lobster roll from JRs. Connecticut style is just heaped lobster meat and hot drawn butter on a toasted roll. I spent my first two years in the Navy stationed on the East coast and seafood is something I dearly love. Being an Iowa native who returned to Iowa good seafood is something I really miss... I'd spend $31 all day long for this. I'd buy the two foot version for $100 if someone was there to split it with me... This is my TOP pick for this year. Huge chunks of claw meat...! Fried jalapeno Spam curds from Sizzle Pork And Mmm for $10. Okay... Spam is a guilty pleasure of mine. This was an impulse buy when I spotted the stand. Lol Pretty good for what they are. Once was good for me. I can skip them next time. One glazed donut from Peachys for $5. I live three blocks from the Krispy Kreme store in Clive so this is a hard one for me. I can get warm, fresh glazed donuts pretty much every day. It was good; light and fluffy. I really liked it. But was I blown away? Not really. I'd get it again, but if I only had $5 left in my pocket and I had a choice of a donut and a new item I hadn't tried yet... I'd try the new item. I'm not knocking the donut. It was really good. Just not enough to make it a yearly item for me. It is what it is. My last item was a breaded pork tenderloin from Chuckie's for $11. I've tried quite a few fair tenderloins and this is probably my new favorite. A little on the thicker side. Tenderized nicely. Served hot and fresh! I hit the main draws... The butter cow, the big boar, the super bull, the avenue of breeds, the DNR building, grandstand, and the varied industries building, etc... But the biggest fair draw for me is always the food. This year I was really impressed with the choices. I missed out on the cajun catfish, the AE party balls, the Iowa Sm'Oak'ed Roll, Deep-Fried Uncrustable PB & J, the fry bread tacos, the Big Daddy burger, the Spicy Fever beefburger, firecracker shrimp, and the Louisiana mac bowl. And some old favorites like the cheese curds, cajun chicken on a stick, and a good old footlong chili dog. But there are just SO many choices! My DART crews were great back and forth. The gate staff was nice and friendly. I used the information stands a couple of times today... Talk about having the patience of Job! I appreciated the information booth staff today more than I can say. Lol The staff at the stands. Phenomenal! All great transactions and I didn't run across anyone who wasn't smiling and who didn't say thank you. There's a chance I might be able to make a follow up trip, but I'm not really planning on it. I've really enjoyed reading everyone else's reviews on multiple platforms this year. They helped guide me in a few of the choices I made on my fair trip. So thank you all too! read more

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We had a great time this year and every year that we go! Would t change much except the parking situation. This year was awful. read more

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It's the Iowa state fair. Unique foods and livestock, what more do you want? Always a good time.

As the saying goes, nothing compares to the Iowa State Fair! An annual event held in well-established fairgrounds near downtown Des Moines, is a must do at least once. Open for a brief 10 days a year, there is a lot packed into the short amount of time, and different events are scheduled daily, so check their website for items of interest. We happened upon the state fair mid week, which was a great choice, the crowds were astonishingly large, and could not imagine trying to come here on the weekend. A destination for politicians provide unique opportunities to meet your candidate. You will also run into hordes of journalists for photo opportunities with those running for state and federal offices. Politics aside, there is a wonderful array of agricultural displays for produce, livestock, and fun crafts that you could not even imagine! We went through miniature doll houses, miniature floral displays, wine, beer, mead, apiary, to name a few. You will also have a chance to see just about every major form of manufacturing related to agriculture in the state of Iowa. Daily contests change regularly and include the likes of tractor pulls , beard contests, art contests, and general art fair displays, and this doesn't even start to address the food and carnival ride portion of the fairground. The opportunity to wander through the various livestock buildings and watch animals being prepped for their display is just a hoot! It's really nice to see the pride taken by the youth, showing their 4H exhibits. All kinds of fair type foods start with the pork on a stick, which is just super, the beef pavilion, ice cream, mac & cheese, barbecue, Mexican, and all kinds of food we could even get into! Everyone will be satisfied, particularly if you have a sweet tooth. Highly recommend that you stop over and see the Iowa State fair, it is worth the experience. It would've been nice to have more healthy food choices options. Each evening there is different, live entertainment, available with advanced ticket purchases. The night we went Jeff Dunham was performing. Check the website for dates and ticket availability, which may be limited. There is a charge for parking and it can fill up if you're not there by 10 AM. Shuttles are encouraged and many hotels offer complementary shuttles to and from the fairgrounds. There is also a fee to enter, with discounts offered on certain days(check the website for which days various discounts are offered). If you purchase tickets ahead of the state fair start dates, you can also save money. Signage is somewhat limited as you get close to the fairground, so use your GPS until more signs are hopefully posted in the future! read more

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Iowa State fair owes me nothing . The hubby and I came down here for our 23rd anniversary coming up this week. We really enjoyed it. We did 2 days Fri and Sat. Our hotel offered shuttle service to the capital location were the fair shuttle picked us up as well for an dollar . Thank god we used this option the first day , it was very smooth and organized. The second day we drove and it was a cluttered mess of cars and traffic . Definitely a different experience. Upon walking into the fair I absolutely loved it. I'll attach the video, it was open, vibrant, picturesque space. An abundance of everything. It was so much to do . Eat, drink, dance, mingle, educate etc. The weather was beautiful. All sun not a raindrop in the sky. Sooo many people and the beautiful thing about that, no violent behavior at all. Nothing negative I saw and everyone I saw was on perfect behavior. FYI bring your walking shoes . No flip flops , crocks, etc. read more

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It's the best state fair in the country (supposedly). It's got all the things you expect from a fair. Shows, rides, animals, food, and fun. So yeah, it checks all of the boxes. The beer tent is a must. Be sure to utilize the app to find all the foods you want, know what shows to see, etc. And don't forget about the politicians. Nothing quite like seeing presidential candidates out in the wild, wandering the fair. read more

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This state fair is HUGE and the food options are endless. Parking is a hot mess so it's a good idea to get to the capital early and take the Dart bus for a few bucks. My biggest shout-out is the exclusively vegetarian booth called Vegetable Table. No matter where you choose to eat you'll leave with a heart attack . The infamous butter cow is in one of the back buildings on the 1st floor behind some glass. Check out the State Fair tiktok page for some fun content. read more

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It was our first time at the Iowa state fair. We came for the Neyo concert. We went early in the day and stayed for 4 hours or so then went home and changed and came back. Tried a ton of food the donuts were the groups top pick probably. The pickled cheese curds were also great. Unfortunately deleted pictures of some of the food already. The milkshake was also fantastic. It was a fun day. Wouldn't need to go back or go multiple days. Glad we went but don't see us ever coming back. Maybe we just aren't "fair" people lol. The events were ran well though. Lines were a bit wild at times for foods but it was a Saturday. All in all a fun time but nothing we would go back for and definitely would've been disappointed if Neyo wasn't so great! read more

I am an Iowa native. Born and raised. It took me 35 years to go to the fair-- and probably unpopular opinion-- but barring a stellar grandstand concert being announced, I'm not sure I will be back. We popped into town at the end of the week-- deciding to go Friday to the fair. The true draw was Ludacris. Over 13k came to the concert and I really enjoyed the pricing, the venue and the experience. I will say, you should pay attention to where your seats are (while you can sit in sections E and W-- the view of the stage is less than stellar.) I'd give a 5/5 for the Grandstand as a venue-- and even the diversity the Iowa State Fair brings in for talent. Ranging from country to comedy to rap to pop. There's at least one night that will appeal to you! Now my 3/5 truly is about the fair itself. My biggest qualm was just the bang for buck. Buying tickets at the gate is $16 for adults and $10 for children-- but if you buy in advance they're $11 for adults and $7 for kids. Now what does that ticket get you? Literally just admittance. Food ranges from $9-50. Beer is $9-$13. And the killer to me was each ride requires tickets to partake, we are talking about $5 a kid per ride. Wowza. That gets to be a pretty expensive day as a family of four. Agriculture is the foundation of the Iowa State Fair -- you can go to see a multitude of contests with pigs, cows, horses, sheep, goats, rabbits and more. I can't say this aspect really intrigued me a ton. Other contests to see include: spelling bee, mom calling, whistling, timber sports, dollhouses, flowers and more. There were a bunch of old automobiles and farm equipment to see. And of course, the famous butter cow. This year, butt Caitlin Clark was featured, as well. Besides the concert-- the quality of food and the items offered-- was the star. It was amazing at the sheer amount of food booths there were! (200) With all kinds of foods -- and so, so many of them on a stick. If money was no object and my the room in my stomach was limitless-- there was so, so much I'd eat here! Brad & Harry's Cheese Curds served dill pickle-flavored cheese curds and they were the star for me. Lastly, the sky glider was the only ride I went on and it was fun. Good bang for buck-- a great view of all the people and the fair itself. 5/5 would recommend. The fair attractions didn't disappoint with bumper cars, super shot, fun house, sizzler, tilt a whirl, a ferris wheel, maze, sling shot, giant slides, and many more. My biggest qualm, as I mentioned, was just that each ride cost $3-6 a time which doesn't scream family friendly to me, personally. Overall, this is a well run fair. Bathrooms and signage were plentiful. It was kept clean-- you constantly saw folks emptying trash and cleaning up after livestock messes. I didn't really experience the parking situation-- thought it is $10 to park each day. The Iowa State Fair has something for everyone and is worth a visit! Personally-- I found it to be oddly expensive but if the entertainment at the Grandstand is your cup of tea? Let 'er rip. read more

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I'm from SoCal and the only fairs I've ever been to are Orange County Fair and LA County Fair. Those fairs are just meh. It's the same vendors every year with little innovative and unique foods. LA County Fair can get a bit dicey too- I once saw a full on fight broke out because someone cut in line for the shuttle. I happened to in Des Moines during the last weekend of the Iowa State Fair. I've read online and I've seen some shows on Food Network that Midwest state fairs are a totally different beast. Boy was it. Demolition derby, John Deere booth displaying all their tractor models, full scale butter sculptures people line up to get a close up look on, newborn piglets and calves, Iowa State band doing a full on performance and cookies by the bucket that people wait 40+ minutes for. You will never find these things at our local fairs in SoCal. I actually thought all of these things were cool. There's free parking at the Capitol and a local high school 20 minutes away from the fair. You just have to pay $2 for a round-trip fare. During the weekend the Capitol is a mess and impossible to find parking and the line at the end of the day for the shuttle to go back to the Capitol is long. Parking at the actual fair seems impossible to get to and you'd be backed up for miles and barely moving. Surrounding residential houses outside the fair were charging money to park on their front lawn and it's probably expensive so they can make big bucks. I highly recommend parking at the high school as I found that to be the easiest. Would I go to Iowa State Fair again? Hell yes and this time I'd give myself more time there so I can try more food. Midwest fairs are totally worth going. Just plan accordingly and go during the weekday. read more

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A few of my friends and I went to the Iowa State fair this year and it didn't disappoint! We arrived shortly after they opened and I darted to the food trucks. I got the crab fritters and they were amazing. We then got some beers, walked around, ate some more random food, (looking at you pork belly pinwheel), saw the exhibits and pretty much just hung out. It was a really fun day of gluttonous treats and cold beer. read more

Living in California, I only go back to Iowa to see family - Mainly winter holidays. It's rare that I'm back at this time of the year but I happened to be here to check out the last day of the Iowa State fair in 2024. It did not disappoint, however, I was expecting it to be bigger in terms of food options, and mainly the rides and attractions which are lacking - even though that's not what I came here for. I wanted to see deep-fried everything get shoved into my mouth. Have a couple beers, walk the grounds, get a sunburn, and watch some Clydesdale horses kick up a storm. They have dog events, live barn with petting areas and even a cultural exhibit that was filled with wonderful artwork in a pretty huge air conditioned building. Some live music from a Mötley Crüe cover band and such types entertain for free and they also have a concert series where you pay for, kind of has been name groups that play occasionally - think of an old rapper second tier country star. Overall amazing but I'd love to see the Texas state fair. The most interesting thing I ate there was a deep-fried lobster on a stick with a bunch of sauces on it. read more

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Had an amazing time at the Iowa state fair. Was my first time attending. The options there for activities, foods, and drinks are so much fun. Definitely would come back here year after year. I loved all the food and the local craft beer tent was very cool especially for beer lovers. Definitely a state fair worth checking out. read more

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It always goes well, even with wind, rain and heat. It's in the book of 100 things you do before you die...here is why: they get TOP SELLING ARTISTS ON THE GRANDSTAND! JellyRoll sold out immediately! They have a great team working together! The bathrooms are all brand new and cool! The free stages have amazing bands like Hairball(if if you don't know them google them! They play rock in' 80's!Look them up! (Sorry got new contacts yesterday and having some issues seeing my phone) lol!‍FOOD, Food. Food.the buildings are all air conditioned ...the food stands are not, but a cold lemonade, water or beer will do the trick! There are two carnival sights one for the littlest and one for the teens to adults! Don't forget the Ag building with Competitive produce contests... ya'll I just went to the annual fundraiser and a peach pie went for $4,000! I'm not kidding, read more

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The fair was awesome!!! Getting into the fairgrounds took an hour & trying to leave the fairgrounds took over an hour. I would suggest parking anywhere else - it has to he better than parking on the fairgrounds! read more

Best state fair I have been to, and I've been to a few! I live in California now, but I have made a point to come back for the past three years or so. There is so much to do here; a little something for everyone. The food is fantastic... I probably gain about five pounds from all the different things I know I love and have to get or new things I have to try. The Iowa State Fair is definitely reminiscent of my childhood, which makes it even more special to me. In addition to the food, my favorite things are: the sand castle they make every year; the dollhouses; THE PICKLE TICKLE ALE!!!!; the craft vendors; the sky lift; and I really do feel that the food deserves another mention! They have tons of things for kids to do: an interactive barn walk, splash pad, playgrounds, face painting, rides, etc. Nothing compares, to the Iowa State Fair! read more

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Had A FANTASTIC time last eve at the Iowa State Fair, and in particular the concert by ZZ Top with Ann Wilson as opening act. Have been to several concerts at the grandstand previously, and will return. BUT... we've attended concerts at many outdoor venues, and they've been loud. The sound system at the grandstand seems dated. I LOVE my music loud, but seemed the last cpl years the sound system hasn't been able to keep up with the amplification. But again... we WILL be back! Even tho this review isn't about the acts, I still gotta say... Ann Wilson: HER VOICE!!! ZZ Top : They got it still. I came back and edited this review as quick as I posted it. Yellow shirt staff members are abundant to point you to your seat and restrooms are HUGE. read more

Iowa State Fair - My Eticket - Festivals Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Very busy place , still you can find parking and walk 4 min to the entrance. Stables were very busy with animals and visitors. Food was good even though at a much smaller scale that that of MN. Staff were courteous, prices average for state fiat, quality of food was good. Cattle shows were also well executed. I personally did not try the games, but kids seemed very excited. read more

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We happened to road trip here from Chicago so made sense to go. A fried food , junk food feast . Beer gardens, everything served on a stick kind of place. You come hungry and fully leave with diabetes. We went twice once at night and the following day. I definitely had my fill and recommend the day venture, it felt safer. Saw lots of farmers , animals both human and four legged mammals. I gave 4 stars because the parking situation is so disorganized. Nod to the people that live adjacent to the fairgrounds who rent out their yard for Parker's ... highly enterprising. The second day we parked in gate 3 which was nice because Shriners Hospital volunteers Jockeyed people to the fair in golf carts. This was a one and done for me. I'm sure that like many people we talked to this event is nostalgic. Through the years you come to see certain things. I was glad to experience it. read more

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Great State Fair! This was my first Iowa State Fair. My wife and I went to see Sam Hunt in concert on a beautiful Saturday night! Parking was $10 at the fair and it took about 20 minutes for us to park because of traffic. Leaving the fair only took us about 5 minutes because we took a concrete road immediately in front of the grandstand that led to the exit. I had bought fair admission tickets early online for $9 dollars. I downloaded my admission tickets to the fair and to the concert on my iPhone and put them in my apple wallet. This made life so much easier and all tickets scanned perfectly on my phone. We had dinner before the fair near the grand stand at one of the food trailers. We had 2 Jumbo Corn dogs, 1 bottle of water, 1 large lemonade shake up. The jumbo corn dogs are $7 and regular are $6! You have to go jumbo. The line moved slow of about 15 people and took us about 20 minutes to get our corn dogs. The employee serving us offered to brush on ketchup or mustard for us! My wife chose ketchup and I chose mustard. This was a great convenience but also made the line move so slow! Another factor making the line slow is all the people using cards for purchases! Our corn dogs were both good. I wished they used an actual 1ft long hot dog. They used a few regular sized hotdogs for the jumbo. They didn't quite use the entire 2nd hot dog but this probably cuts down on food cost. The lemonade shake up was good. All the water we could find was mountain valley in a smaller bottle. After the concert, my wife had a homemade strawberry ice cream cone from Bauders. She loved it and we had to wait for a little while. The owner made her ice cream cone a double scoop instead of a single for our wait. The single ice cream cone is $3 and double scoop is $6. We then went and got a walking taco from a food trailer. It was nacho cheese Doritos, taco meat, nacho cheese sauce, and shredded lettuce! It was phenomenal for $6! We also got a glass of lemonade from another trailer for $5. I wish we would of just got another large lemonade shake up which would of given us more to drink. We had a great time at the Iowa state fair! P.S. - A huge tip - There is a soda stand inside the John Deere agriculture building! The stand has soda for a good price. Cheaper than the other food vendors with trailers. read more

Truly the best state fair. I've never been to another state fair, but I stand beside my assessment. so many things to do. food, vendors, entertainment, people watching, any kind of food on a stick you can imagine. giant pumpkins, a one man band, ugly cake contest, incredible 4H projects. There is something for everyone. read more

MY FIRST STATE FAIR AND IT WAS THE BEST ! There is just so much to do at the fair. So many animals to see, so many booths to walk around in, so much food to eat. It was so much fun ! I was even able to catch the Pentatonix concert and that was so cool. I would recommend this to anyone and everyone. I had spent 2 days there and I thought it was the perfect amount of time. I covered most of the fair, sat in on a couple exhibits and ate many things. As for food, I HIGHLY recommend pork chop on a stick and the bucket of cookies. I am not a big pork eating but dang was that a good pork chop. If I get the chance, I would definitely come back and conquer more things to eat. read more

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Came to the Iowa State Fair for a Chainsmokers concert this last weekend and we had a blast! The fair is HUGE! From carnival games, to rides, so many choices to eat and drink and more. I was surprised with how reasonable the drink prices were! Miller Lites were $7 any White Claw type beverages were also $7 and craft beers were offered at $8. The fair has an enormous parking lot right aside all the action and it was only $10. Considering places down the street were offering parking for $10, we were so surprised the fair lot was the the same price. Let's talk about the bathrooms really quick. They had a huge variety of indoor restrooms at various parts of the fair. On top of that the had various port-o-pottys so we never had to wait in a line. HUGE win for what could be crowded, hot, outdoor concerts. The concert venue was very spacious. Note that the concert was a completely separate ticket than the entry ticket into the fair. I think you also had to literally print out the ticket to get into the fair but they accepted mobile tickets for the concert! The concert itself was amazing! Our tickets were $70 each before fees. The stage was well equipped for special effects and had great sound carrying throughout. There was also plenty of room in the "pit". We were almost exactly in the middle of it and were spread out with enough room to break out any fancy-dancy moves ;) To end the show they had FIREWORKS! I love fireworks, was not expecting that, and was such a good ending to the concert. Post concert the fair had various public busses that took people to downtown Des Moines for free which was a really great way to promote safe transportation. I appreciate that :) We'll come back! read more

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Just here for fair food! It's overwhelming and it just seems like a crazy assortment of fried things but if you go in knowing what you want to find, it gets better. Fried Oreos - as delicious as they are bad for you Pork chop on a stick - sound meh but us actually so tender and juicy. Best pork chop I've had! JR donuts- you get them fresh and hot. I demolished a small bag in no time. Good amount of sugar. Cook e dough- very buttery which is probably because they don't use egg. Hard to eat a whole scoop on your own so split with a friend! Seeing all the big and small horses was cool. I liked the elk, alpacas and emu too! read more

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Finally got a chance to check it out! Have a lot of Iowa friends who go every year and talk about how great it is, this year I had the opportunity to visit and see a concert! Chainsmokers was the Friday night show and they did not disappoint. Great special effects, amazing sound quality for an outdoor venue, and plenty of bars and restrooms around the arena. Prices were reasonable and everything was quite clean. Afterwards, there were shuttles taking people downtown Des Moines for free, which was a great touch. Overall, I look forward to coming back next year! read more

Iowa State Fair - Iowa State Fair main stage - Festivals Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

When I think about the Iowa State Fair I think about two things. Food which pisses my cardiologist off because I eat it and it undoes all of her hard work and the freaks. Farm freaks, City freaks, suburb freaks, out of state freaks. Freaks that rival the people of Wal Mart freaks. What I don't think about are gutless cowards like the gentleman and his family who made the wrong decision to get in my face while I was letting people behind me in the ferris wheel line go ahead of Nova and myself while we waited for my nephew and his woman of the week to finish their bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers. The only thing that kept me from gutting him and bathing in his blood was his daughter was present and no child should have to witness that. I could see the disgust on his wife's face as he trembled and cowered in spineless fear as Nova whispered a few words to him followed by my nephew's woman yelling at him in Korean which honestly sent chills down my spine as well. Nova later told me that she had cursed him with massive involuntary bowel movements which would explain his rather hastily exit. I was able to overcome my deep seated fear of Ferris Wheels by facing that spinning steel death trap head on. Eyes wide open and free of any prescription or recreational enhancements including alcohol that might have lended themselves the super human courage I found myself with in order to face Satans spinning circle of death. We celebrated my victory with Bud Lights and a pork leg. Fair food is a once a year indulgence and we take full advantage of it. Over the years though we have learned a few tricks to help us get the most out of the experience. No one needs a whole turkey leg or a bucket of grater taters for piss sake. Buy one and then split it amoungst the lot of you that way you each get a taste and can sample more of what Iowa's premier event of the year has to offer. We had: Pork Leg (shank) Rocky Mt Oysters (testicles are delicious) Grater Taters (of course) Crab Fritters Apple Eggrolls Cajun Chicken on a Stick Polish Corn Dog Bacon wrapped wings Lemonade Root Beer Beer and a plethora of other shit I can't remember because my mind was blown by Paradise Kitty. All told we visited 3 times. It would have been more if I hadn't had that run of bad luck at Prairie Meadows and Nova hadn't developed a last minute Victoria's Secret addiction. What else are you going to do in August. You're not going to Burning Man because it's turned into nothing more then a corporate rip off of a once cool concept. You can't afford it anyway. The Iowa State Fair is better anyway and you won't be digging sand and dust out of your naughty bits for weeks after. Trust me. Oh, and for the love of god, ride the bus. It's 2 dollars you cheap bastard. Traffic is bad enough during fair time without you trying to find a place close enough to park your Prius while texting on your iPhone cause you were such a hurry for goat yoga. I know where you live. read more

Reading the boob 100 places to visit before you die, you will find the Iowa State Fair. The largest in the country and a must visit when in Iowa. Everything you would ever want to eat on a stick. Animals, rides, talent shows, free acts all day every day. Some of the best headliners from past and present. You can people watch all day! Love it! read more

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There really isn't much to do in Iowa if you are here, but if you are here when the state fair is going on, you must go. Take Uber here, most convenient way. There are hotels not too far away. It is probably the only state fair where you can get 69 items on a stick, pork chop on a stick is the most popular one. Corn on a stick, ice cream on a stick, chicken on a stick, corn dog on a stick, come here hungry. Like any state fair, they have rides, games, etc. I repeat, come here hungry, like very hungry. read more

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So much fun! And such a good environment!! Would totally come back! Iowa is the best state!

There IS no other fair like the Iowa State Fair since 1854. Hands down the best. After all it inspired the internationally-acclaimed novel, State Fair, three motion pictures, and a musical. Yes, I'm talking especially to my California friends. :). Since its been a few years since my last fair attendance, I scheduled this year's vacation around the state fair. It didn't disappoint. Let's start with always pre buy tickets at a discount and not have to wait in line at the gate. Next, park at the Capitol for free and take a special DART bus directly to the fair for $1 round trip. Now walk into the grounds and discover more space for more exhibits. More open areas that felt less crowded to walk in. I really enjoy the new layout. Smart idea to spread the over 200 food concessioners around the ground better than clumping them so close together behind the Varied Industry Building. There has also been some new buildings erected and lots of upgrades to older structures. Some of those older structures date back to 1886. Many of the barns are fantastic examples of certain styles of architecture. Kudos to the fair board for sustaining this fabulous legacy and event. Now for some of my favs to see and eat - The State Fair Queen Amanda Riniker is everywhere, and the prime example of Iowa hospitality. She met Javier and had pictures taken with him. Check out the monstrous size tractors and farm equipment Do NOT skip any barn. Incredible the number of breeds of bovines, pigs, horses, sheep, poultry, bunnies and other animals that are raised in Iowa. And that are consumed around the world. This makes the fair one of the largest livestock shows in the world. And the kids love to tell you all about their animals if you just ask. Funnel cakes for breakfast are totally acceptable. As well as any fried food from countless vendors all over the grounds. Where else will you get a chance to try a cowboy cup or ice cream nachos. I also highly recommend anything lamb from the booth at the east end of the sheep barn. Wear comfortable walking shoes. The fairgrounds are about 300 acres in size. I averaged 9 miles a day. Spend more than one day at the fair. There are 900 food departments to judge. More than 6 huge barns, three museums, all that food, and a carnival midway full of rides and games. With four large permanent stages, a half dozen smaller stages, and the main grandstand; you can be entertained all day, all week and never see the same show twice. Come see for yourself why the Iowa State Fair is so much fun. read more

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Iowa is no slouch when it comes to its state fair. I believe it's the biggest attraction in the entire state each year. And for good reason, as there's tons of fun to be had. The midway is massive and a spot to spend hours on end playing all the games and enjoying the rides. We also checked out an acrobat troupe's show, which was surprisingly ultra-entertaining. Then there's the food. We tried to some over-the-top poutine, Rocky Mountain oysters, chicken and waffles on a stick and a more. The fair grounds are massive and there's enough to do that you can choose your own adventure. Hell, multiple visits might be in store if you want to see everything. But no matter what, don't miss out on visiting the butter cow. Top notch state fair. Great job, Iowa! read more

Iowa State Fair - Behold the wonders of the aqua massage - Festivals Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

State Fairs are one of my favorite things, because it contains all of my favorite things... gluttonous food, animals, entertainment, games, butter sculptures, and many opportunities to be irresponsible with my money. Here are some the foods I tried, which were all new in 2018: -- Pork Belly Burnt Ends Poutine from Benoit Poutine & Fresh Cut Fries: Dear god these are a heart-stopper. The fries alone make an amazing base since they're fresh-cut, skin-on, deep-fried, and sprinkled with course salt. Adding rich gravy, salty cheese curds, and thick pork belly is nothing but a good idea. The only thing was off was the "burnt ends" seemed more like flash-fried cubes. This dish is so rich that a small order could be shared with 4+ people, easy. -- Caribbean Leg of Lamb Taco from Fresh American Lamb: The meat itself was tender and juicy, and the portions were generous compared to the average street tacos. The mango salsa was a nice fresh touch, but it all could have used a lot more flavor and some heat overall, especially for a "Caribbean" dish. -- Chicken in a Waffle On a Stick from Waffle Chix: This was probably one of my favorite things I tried at the fair. We got 2 for $10! Chicken and waffles on a stick is something hard not to love, though. I think if the chicken coating was a pinch saltier and the waffle batter a tad sweeter, these would be ridiculously addicting. But generously drizzling these babies with Frank's hot sauce AND maple syrup got the job done! -- Rocky Mountain Oysters from Benoit's Tenderloins: Yup, these are bulls' balls. I'm not sure I can say I was disappointed, since I don't know what I was expecting when eating tenderized testes. But the meat was cut SO thin, and the breading was SO thick, and the chipotle ranch was kinda overpowering, that I didn't have the opportunity to to appreciate deez nuts. Maybe that was a good thing? The Iowa State Fair was way less crowded than the Minnesota State Fair, especially on a Sunday afternoon. I am so grateful I hardly had to stand in line for all of the artery-clogging goodness. Other things I loved: the horsies, iFlip performance, free demos and buying things I can kinda justify in the Varied Industries Building, all the live music, the Midway, the 4-H art exhibits, and of course the Butter Cow. read more

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