If you live in Iowa, chances are you’ve been to the Iowa State Fair. If you’re an Iowan who has never been, what are you waiting for? If you’ve never visited Iowa, put the State Fair near the top of your list when you do.
Held at the fairgrounds in Iowa’s capital city of Des Moines, the Iowa State Fair takes place for 11 days each August. The exact dates change from year to year, with the fair ending on the Sunday two weeks before Labor Day.
Some die-hard fairgoers have been attending since they were babies, and for many Iowa families, it’s an annual tradition. For whatever reason, though, my first visit wasn’t until high school, when our band and dance team performed there. Years later, when my family and I moved back to Iowa, it became one of our traditions, too. My kids came to expect it as our last big summer outing before school started again.
We usually only have time for a one-day visit. Other people spend several days there, especially those involved with livestock, 4-H projects, competitions or other events. Even with only one day, you can fit in a lot—as long as you accept right now that you probably aren’t going to see everything.
We always arrive with a list of our personal must-sees, but somehow we still find something new to see, eat or try every year. That’s part of what makes the Iowa State Fair so much fun. It isn’t just carnival rides and food on a stick—although, depending on whom you ask, the food might be the main event. There are animals, competitions, exhibits, entertainment, demonstrations, shopping, traditions, people-watching and, of course, more food than anyone could reasonably eat in one day. Not that we’ve ever let that stop us from trying.
The Butter Cow
The Butter Cow—yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like. A life-size cow sculpted from about 600 pounds of pure cream Iowa butter. The butter is sculpted around a wood, wire and mesh frame. Before you start thinking that seems like an awful lot of butter to waste, don’t worry. About 90% of it is recycled and reused for future butter sculptures.
The Butter Cow has been an Iowa State Fair tradition since 1911 and, in my opinion, is a must-see. You’ll find her in a large refrigerated display case inside the Agriculture Building, where she stays nice and cool while the rest of us walk around the fair in the August heat. Other butter sculptures are usually displayed alongside her, often featuring different people, events or themes.
They’re always fun to see, but the Butter Cow is still the main event. No trip to the Iowa State Fair is complete without stopping to see her.
The 4-H Building
My kids were involved in 4-H for several years, so the 4-H Building naturally became one of our favorite stops at the Iowa State Fair. Of course, our first priority was always finding their projects that had been selected for the state fair. Blue, red or white ribbon? We couldn’t get there fast enough to find out how they did. One of those 4-H projects was my oldest daughter’s Pecan Sticky Rolls, which earned a blue ribbon at the Iowa State Fair. I’ve included the recipe at the end of this post so you can try them for yourself!
We never just checked the ribbons and left. We could easily spend a couple of hours wandering through the building looking at projects from 4-H members all across Iowa. There was always so much creativity and talent on display, and you never really knew what you were going to find. Live demonstrations, presentations and communication events also took place throughout the day, so there was usually something going on beyond the project displays themselves.
Even though our kids are no longer in 4-H, the building is still one of those places I want to visit when we go to the fair. Maybe it’s nostalgia, or maybe I just really like seeing what Iowa kids have created.
Come Hungry
Another favorite part of the fair for my family is the food. Every year, there’s something new to try. Just when you think there can’t possibly be one more food that can be put on a stick, someone proves you wrong.
There are hundreds of food choices throughout the fairgrounds, ranging from longtime favorites to creations that make you wonder who looked at something and thought, You know what this needs? A deep fryer.
Some of our favorites over the years have included:
- Freshly squeezed lemonade
- A bucket of chocolate chip cookies from Barksdale’s State Fair Cookies
- Cheese curds
- Corn dogs
- Pork chops on a stick
- Old-fashioned root beer
- Nut rolls
Then there are the deep-fried finds:
- Strawberry shortcake
- Cauliflower
- Twinkies
- Candy bars
- Oreos
- Pickles
- Hot Cheeto pretzels
- Butter - Yes, deep-fried butter. This is the Iowa State Fair.
Of course, plenty of things come on a stick, too:
- Cheesecake
- Cheese
- Crazy Taters
- Caprese salad
- Peanut butter and jelly
- Waffles
- Catfish
Other items to try:
- Turkey legs
- Mini donuts
- Salt water taffy
- Butter-dipped ice cream
Even the funnel cakes have gone well beyond the traditional powdered sugar. Some of the flavors you might find include:
- Cap’n Crunch
- Banana pudding
- Cookies and cream
- Red velvet
If you need something to wash all of that down, you can even stop at the Iowa Craft Beer Tent and sample craft beers made right here in Iowa.
This list doesn’t even put a dent in all the food you can find at the fair. Come hungry and try as much as you can!
The Animals
Whether you have animals of your own or you’re a city person who has never spent much time around farm animals, the animal barns are always fun to walk through. Horses, pigs, cattle, sheep, poultry, llamas, rabbits, goats and more are shown or compete throughout the fair.
One of my favorites is seeing the biggest bull and boar. These animals are massive! Bulls can weigh more than 3,000 pounds and boars can top 1,400 pounds. You can read those numbers beforehand, but it’s completely different when you’re standing there looking at an animal that weighs more than some cars.
Another favorite stop is the Animal Learning Center. This is where you can watch chicks hatch from their eggs, see newborn animals and maybe even watch a baby lamb take its first steps. If you happen to be in the right place at the right time, you might even get to see an animal being born.
My kids loved this building when they were little. I STILL love it. There’s something about seeing a brand-new baby animal that I’m never going to outgrow.
One year, my daughter even got to try milking a cow in another area of the fair. She quickly discovered that it was much harder than it looked, but it was an experience she wouldn’t have had just anywhere.
The Farm Equipment
Just because you’re not a farmer doesn’t mean you won’t be impressed by the farm equipment at the fair. Dealers bring in some of their biggest and most technologically advanced machinery, and you can walk right up and get a close look at equipment you might normally only see working in a field.
Some of these machines are huge, and it’s fun to see them up close. You can climb into some of the tractors and combines, sit in the cab and get a completely different perspective of just how big they really are. Kids seem to love climbing into them, but I’m pretty sure plenty of adults do, too.
The equipment you see at the fair today is a whole lot different from what I remember as a little girl sitting next to my dad in the tractor or combine. Back then, you watched the wheels and the rows to make sure you were staying where you were supposed to be. Now they have tractors that can practically drive themselves! GPS, automated steering systems and other technology have transformed the way farming is done. Even if you know absolutely nothing about it, seeing this machinery up close gives you a glimpse of just how far farming has come.
As much as farming has changed, I still remember thinking those tractors were pretty impressive when I was sitting next to my dad all those years ago.
The Rides
I’m probably not the best person to tell you about the Midway at the Iowa State Fair. I’ve never particularly enjoyed rides. Anything that spins me around usually ends with me feeling sick, so I learned a long time ago that most carnival rides are just not my thing.
The Midway is there, and I know plenty of people who love it. If spinning, dropping and being flipped upside down sounds like fun to you, you’ll probably have a great time.
There are, however, a few rides outside the Midway that have been around for years and have always been favorites with my family.
Ye Old Mill is the first. It’s not fast. It doesn’t spin. It doesn’t make me dizzy. It’s an old-fashioned underground boat ride. Totally my speed.
The Sky Glider is another favorite. It’s essentially a ski lift that carries you above the fairgrounds, giving you an aerial view of the fair while transporting you from one area to another. It’s a smooth ride, you get a great view, and it can save you some steps after you’ve already walked all over the fairgrounds.
Then there’s the Giant Slide. My kids absolutely loved this one when they were younger, although you’ll see plenty of adults grabbing a mat and heading up the stairs, too. It can be fast, but there’s no spinning involved, so this one gets my approval as well.
My requirements for a good fair ride are pretty simple: keep me upright, don’t spin me around and preferably save me a few steps.
You Never Know Who You Might Run Into
With so many people coming through the Iowa State Fair every year, it’s not unusual to spot someone you recognize. Over the years, we’ve crossed paths with politicians, athletes and other familiar faces while walking around the fairgrounds—and yes, we’ve asked a few of them for a photo.
My daughter with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and then-Iowa Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg
My husband and son with legendary wrestler & coach Dan Gable
Former Vice President Mike Pence
Entertainment
There are plenty of free stages and entertainment throughout the fairgrounds every day. From bands, exotic animal shows and fair queens to talent contests, local news stations and hypnotists, there’s usually something happening somewhere. You’ll also find some longtime State Fair traditions, including the Bill Riley Talent Search and the crowning of the Iowa State Fair Queen.
I’m not one to look up the schedule before we go. Most of the time, we just happen upon something while walking around. We might stop for a few minutes or end up staying for the entire show.
The Grandstand is a big deal, too, with some great headliners taking the stage each year. Those concerts aren’t included with fair admission, so you’ll need a separate ticket if there’s someone you want to see. I’ll explain more about how tickets work in the section below.
Shopping & Fair Vendors
Shopping is another must-do for us. Not necessarily because we need anything, but because it’s fun to wander through all the booths and see what everyone is selling, promoting or giving away.
The freebies were especially important when my kids were younger. Many of the booths handed out temporary tattoos, and my kids would try to collect as many as they possibly could. As far as they were concerned, there was no such thing as too many temporary tattoos.
I’m pretty sure a good portion of the fly swatters, yardsticks and koozies that have made their way into our house over the years also came from the fair booths.
People-Watching
People-watching might be the most unintentional form of entertainment at the Iowa State Fair, but sometimes it’s also one of the best. With more than a million people coming through the gates, you’re going to see a little bit of everything.
Grab something to eat, find somewhere to sit for a few minutes and just watch the world go by. Trust me. You won’t be bored.
Parking
There is paid parking near the fairgrounds, but depending on where you end up, you may still have quite a walk to the entrance. If it has been raining, some of the parking areas can also get muddy, so keep that in mind when deciding which shoes to wear.
Accessible parking is available, although those spaces can fill quickly. If you end up parking farther away and need some assistance getting to the entrance, there are often golf carts providing rides toward the gates.
Another option is to use one of the Park & Ride shuttles. Instead of dealing with heavy traffic around the fairgrounds and trying to find a parking spot, you can park at a designated location away from the fair and take a shuttle to the grounds.
Parking locations, shuttle services, prices and procedures can change from year to year, so I recommend checking the Iowa State Fair website before you go for the most current information.
Tickets & Grandstand Concerts
Tickets for the Iowa State Fair usually go on sale in May and can be purchased online or at select locations around Iowa. Buying your tickets ahead of time can save you a little money, since discounted admission is typically available until shortly before the fair begins. Wait until you get to the gate, and you’ll pay full price.
If you’re hoping to see a concert at the Grandstand, start watching for announcements in the spring. Concerts are announced at different times, with tickets going on sale throughout the spring and into the summer. The Iowa State Fair doesn’t mess around when it comes to Grandstand entertainment. Over the years, they’ve brought in some of the biggest names in music, along with artists that many of us grew up listening to.
One important thing to know: a Grandstand concert ticket is separate from your admission to the fair, so you’ll need both if you’re planning to make a concert part of your day. If there’s someone you really want to see, it’s a good idea to buy your tickets early. Some shows are much more popular than others, and the best seats can go quickly.
Before You Go
The Iowa State Fair has a great website that is updated each year with current dates, hours, parking information, free stage and Grandstand schedules, ticket information and more.
Since some of these details change from year to year, I recommend checking the website before you go. It’s the best place to find the most current information and see what will be happening on the day of your visit.
Why You Should Experience the Iowa State Fair
I have a lot of pride in my state and where I come from, so I’ll admit I may be a little biased when it comes to putting the Iowa State Fair on my list of places you should experience. Still, I truly think someone visiting from outside Iowa would enjoy it just as much as those of us who have made it an annual tradition. The fair gives you a chance to experience so many different parts of Iowa all in one place—our agriculture, our food, our traditions and, most importantly, our people.
You don’t have to be a farmer. You don’t have to know anything about 4-H. You don’t have to ride the rides. You certainly don’t have to understand why we make a 600-pound cow out of butter. You just have to come ready to experience it.
There really is something for everyone at the Iowa State Fair, and I can’t think of many better ways to get to know a little bit about Iowa and the people who call it home.
IOWA STATE FAIR BLUE RIBBON PECAN STICKY ROLLS
Earlier I mentioned my oldest daughter’s Pecan Sticky Rolls, one of her 4-H projects that earned a blue ribbon at the Iowa State Fair. Here’s the recipe so you can try them for yourself! They are amazing!
Yield: 12 rolls
INGREDIENTS
Dough
- 1 package yeast
- 1¾ cups warm water
- ⅓ cup sugar
- ¼ cup shortening
- 1 egg
- ½ tablespoon salt
- 4½–5 cups all-purpose flour
Cinnamon Filling
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup butter, softened
Caramel Pecan Topping
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup butter
- ¼ cup Karo syrup
- 5–10 ounces pecans
INSTRUCTIONS
Make the Dough
-
Sprinkle the yeast into a large bowl with the warm water and let it sit for 15 minutes.
- In a separate bowl, add the sugar, shortening, egg, salt and 2¼ cups of flour. You do not need to mix these ingredients together yet.
- Once the yeast mixture is ready, add the ingredients from the second bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat on medium speed for 5–7 minutes. Gradually add the remaining 2¼–2¾ cups of flour as needed.
- When the dough is slightly sticky but mostly pulling away from the sides of the bowl while mixing, begin kneading the dough until smooth. You may need to add a little more flour during this process.
- Return the dough to the bowl, cover and let rise until doubled in size.
- Once doubled, punch down the dough. Cover again and let it rest for another 10–20 minutes. While the dough is resting, prepare the caramel pecan topping and cinnamon filling using the directions below.
Make the Caramel Pecan Topping
- Combine the brown sugar, butter, Karo syrup and pecans.
- Spread the mixture evenly in the bottom of a 9 x 13 x 2-inch pan.
Make the Cinnamon Filling
- Combine the brown sugar, ground cinnamon and softened butter.
ASSEMBLE & BAKE
- Roll the dough into a rectangle approximately ½ inch thick.
- Spread the cinnamon filling evenly over the dough.
- Roll the dough up and cut it into 12 equal rolls.
- Place the rolls in the pan on top of the caramel pecan mixture.
- At this point, the rolls can either be baked or frozen.
- To bake, place the rolls in a preheated 300°F oven for approximately 45 minutes, or until done.
- Let the rolls cool in the pan for 10–15 minutes.
- Carefully turn the rolls over onto a sheet cake pan or into another 9 x 13 x 2-inch pan so the caramel pecan topping is on top.
A LITTLE TIP
This recipe can easily be doubled. Just make sure you have a bowl—and a mixer—big enough to handle all that dough!