The Inspiring 2024 Iowa State Fair!
I just returned from yet another fun day at the Iowa State Fair! You might think a fair in 2024 is an old fashioned place that only a few folks attend. Not so in Iowa and several other places in the U.S! In fact, in 2023 more than 1.1 million folks attended the Iowa State Fair and this year at least one daily attendance record was broken, so the Fair just keeps getting more and more popular. This year’s Fair runs from August 8-18. Two more days for the 2024 Fair, folks! 😎
I personally had a blast this year at the Fair! There’s truly something to enjoy for almost every interest or endeavor. There are popular (and famous) free and grandstand (pay) concerts and entertainment every single day. There are cooking demonstrations, art and craft demonstrations, wood carving demonstrations, husband and mom calling contests, tractor-pulling contests, hot sauce contests, a classic car show, a hymn sing, an antique tractor show, a history museum, ag products and judging, yoga with goats, thrill rides for all ages, tons of activities for kids, and SO MUCH MORE.
To get a sense of all that the Iowa State Fair offers, check out their robust website:
And because the Fair schedule changes daily, click below to see all the events and opportunities available each day.
There is so much to do at the Fair, I’d recommend going two days if you are able. Two six-hour days would be my optimum annual visit. I would start when it opens at 8:00 and be done for the day at 2:00 (especially if it’s hot or crowded or both) and go to a hotel and rehydrate and take a nice nap. Maybe next year! 😁
Some things I enjoy every year are the following:
The World-Famous Butter Cow (and other creations) -2024 Version (in the Ag Building. Go early in the day. The line gets long). All of these are sculpted in butter! 😮
Steve Higgins and Jimmy Fallon sculpted in butter ⬇️
I also enjoy seeing the exhibits and project judging displays in the Ag buildings and the Arts and Culture Building. Here’s a few examples!
Biggest Pumpkin Contest!
I also love all the arts displays and projects (no photos due to copyright). I especially enjoy the photography contest and the dollhouse contest every year. But, seriously, investigate all the food, agriculture, 4-H, and vendor exhibits of interest. And please visit the Arts and Culture Building! It’s bursting with Iowa talent in many forms!
The Iowa State Fair is known for its new (and returning) foods each year. Many of these foods are available from small vendor booths scattered throughout the Fair. There are hundreds of different types of food and drinks available. Many foods are created to eat on-the-run and sometimes presented on a stick so you can walk around and take in fair events or easily take it to a bench to enjoy.
Each year there is a contest for the best new food that year - voted on by Fair attendees. This year the prize goes to Winn & Sara’s Kitchen for their bacon cheeseburger eggroll. While this item was on my list (or at least a bite of it from my son), our energy wore out before we made it there. It will certainly be on my list for next year! Below are a few items I did try. Keep in mind some of them I only took one bite or my son ate it. So, while I am not eating dinner tonight, it’s not because I ate everything in sight. For us, the Fair is about trying small portions of new foods that you share with your family or friends. After all, the fastest way to leave the fair with a tummy ache is to eat everything that looks good. It ALL looks good!
Atomic Strawberry Shortcake (I think the word “Atomic” may mean HUGE. Best to share!). 😉 This item was the New Fair Food winner for 2021. It was certainly worthy of that distinction! 😋😋😋
Cinnamon Crunch Apple Taco - This was fabulous but only tried a bite. It reminded me of apple pie with a really delicious and flaky cinnamon crust. This was in the list of new notable foods for 2024. I hope it’s back next year!
Deep Fried PB & J (Great review from my son. I didn’t even get a bite!) 😆
Fresh Peach Shake (Excellent! Especially on a hot day like today). 😋
Piggy in a Donut (Very good and very filling). It’s not health food, so best to share. It’s a sausage and cheese deep-fried combination, rolled in sugar, and accompanied by syrup.
Hard-Boiled Egg on a Stick (Popular with my kids) - Free in the Ag Building!
A Cup of State Fair Cookies (To be savored one or two at a time). Ok, that’s MY plan. You do you. 😉
One new area I “discovered” at the Fair this year was the Discovery Garden, just outside the Agriculture Building. I have no idea why I haven’t seen this before. It’s been there for years! I spoke with one of the 30+ volunteers from the Polk County Master Gardeners and he said he works on the garden about two times per week. In the winter season the group plans the new features/flowers/plants and gets items ordered and when Spring comes the actual gardening work begins. I thanked him and requested he thank the others as it was a large and gorgeous area! Plus it had some of the biggest bumble bees I’ve ever seen! Obviously it met with their approval! A few photos below!
This one made me laugh. 😂 ⬇️
Even a tunnel for kids! ⬇️😁
As you can see, I adored the Discovery Garden! 😁😁😁
And, a funny story…while I was in the garden area a women and her young son stopped me and told me I had a bug on my hat. I thought it was a bee. Nope. She had taken a photo. It was a cicada! I had never seen one up close! I’m guessing it came from a tree I was using to stay out of the sun (likely not in the garden). It both creeped me out a bit and fascinated me at the same time. 🧐😮🥴
I also made it to the Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall and the surrounding area this year. I loved looking at the vintage items that were on display and for sale. On the way there I passed the classic auto show and the fair museum, neither of which I knew existed, maybe because both are up a rather steep set of hills.
There is one unintended photo I took that sort of sums up the Iowa State Fair for me. See below. ⬇️ I was taking a photo of the birdhouse but the food stand juxtaposed behind it made me laugh. Yes, you will be welcomed with open arms at the Iowa State Fair! Would you like some fries with that?!? 😂😂😂
As you can see, there’s plenty of food, entertainment, and exhibits to go right along with it! That’s what keeps 1.1 million folks of all ages going back year after year! 😁😁😁
Make your plans to go before August 18, 2024 or next year (2025) at: