Midwestern Fairs
There’s nothing quite like a county or state fair in the Midwest. The excitement they generate is second-to-none, whether you are a visitor or a participant.
Recently I had the opportunity to visit the Iowa State Fair on a beautiful weekday. I hadn’t been to this fair for about a decade and was amazed both at its variety and size. And, of course, there’s the FOOD! The Iowa State Fair is known for many creative foods on a stick - everything from strawberry shortcake to fried Snickers to (of course) foot-long corn dogs. Many state fairs and larger county fairs have unique and very tasty offerings. This year I tried strawberry shortcake on a stick, a chocolate shake from a stand that’s been there for many years, and a corn dog on a stick. They were all delicious! You certainly don’t come to a fair to diet; that’s for sure!
There were a bunch of activities for folks of all ages. There were 4-H and FFA animals to visit, contests such as photography and cake decorating to view, thrill rides to enjoy, farm machinery and a host of other household and outdoor items to learn about and purchase, performances and concerts to take in, cows to milk, drawings for free prizes to enter, and home-grown produce to see - like giant pumpkins. Many days there are politicians to meet and greet. And, of course, at the Iowa State Fair - the butter cow is not to be missed!
If you only have one day to attend the state fair, plan your trip strategically. Look ahead at the fair schedule and the weather and plan your date several days in advance. It’s best to attend during the week when crowds are smaller, but, heck, the state fairs are so big everyone can spread out and still enjoy themselves. Bring some water, as it’s likely to be hot. If you have small children with you, be sure to bring a stroller or a wagon. Little feet get tired and overwhelmed pretty fast. If you cannot walk several miles with brief rests in between, you might want to consider renting a motorized cart or wheelchair, or planning your day very strategically so you can frequently rest. Try to get to the fair as early as possible. Crowds grow progressively bigger throughout the day. If you only have a few hours, check to see if the fair has a discount for night-time attendance only. Also scout out where you would like to park and if there are park and ride shuttles from other locations. Shuttles can greatly reduce fair traffic and save a few bucks on parking.
On the day I was there with my two adult children, we spent some time in the Varied Industries Building at the booths for the three Iowa universities. I even tried out a gel mattress with a pillow top that I’m hoping to save up my pennies to buy. The kids visited the farm animals and I checked out the variety of rabbits at the fair. I was amazed at the size and look of some of them. If I didn’t already know that a few of them were rabbits, I would not have guessed. But they were all adorable. I took in the photography contest exhibit, making a mental note to try to enter a photo next year myself. I also enjoyed the miniature/dollhouse exhibit in the cultural building. There are some very talented and clever folks out there! While we didn’t have time to take in any shows, I have attended many performances and concerts at a number of fairs. They are usually excellent and allow you to “take a load off” and forget about your aching feet for a while. They are also a good place to sit and enjoy a snack or meal, as long as it’s not too messy. You or your family members may get drafted to participate so you don’t want your ice cream to melt or your corn dog to get cold while you are on stage.
What should you be sure to bring to the fair? Here’s my recommended list:
Hat
Sunscreen
Water
Money (have some cash, as some vendors cannot accept cards)
A map - either on your phone or a paper one from the fair entrance
Stroller or wagon for the kiddos
Umbrellas, if it might rain
Hand wipes or hand sanitizer
Comfortable clothes, weather depending
An adventurous attitude - try new things and check out things you wouldn’t normally enjoy. You never know, you might decide later that was the best part of your day!
What should you take home from the fair? Items like these:
Brochures for future consideration and purchase
Photos of your day there
All manner of free items from the vendor booths
Souvenirs from the midway for the kids
Whatever food specialty will travel well. We bought home a bucket of chocolate chip cookies and they are fabulous!
Lastly, your tired, overstimulated, but happy family who will remember the trip for a lifetime, if need be.
Sadly, there is only one day left (Sunday, the 20th) of the Iowa State Fair, but here are some additional midwestern fairs to enjoy:
Nebraska State Fair - Grand Island / August 25 - September 4, 2023
Minnesota State Fair - Mid-way between Minneapolis and St. Paul / August 24 - September 4, 2023
Clay County Fair - in Spencer - northwest Iowa / September 9-17 2023
Iowa State Fair - Des Moines / August 8-18, 2024 (Make plans for next year!)
If you’re a fair junkie, you might want to check out the biggest fair in the country - the Texas State Fair, more than three weeks in length and visited by more than two million people annually. Minnesota and Iowa rank in the top 5 in terms of attendance. California also has a number of county fairs that boast more than one million attendance rates.
Whatever fair you choose to attend and/or participate in, you’re sure to have a wonderful time and learn a few new things along the way. Your children and grandchildren will be more than entertained and you certainly won’t go home hungry!