Iowa State Fair facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Iowa State Fair |
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"Nothing Compares"
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| Genre | State fair |
| Dates | 11 days |
| Location(s) | Iowa State Fairgrounds Des Moines, Iowa, United States |
| Coordinates | 41°35′44″N 93°32′55″W / 41.59556°N 93.54861°W |
| Years active | 1854–present (excluding 1898, 1942–1945, 2020) |
| Next event | August 7–17, 2025 |
| Attendance | 1,182,682 (Record) (2024) |
| Area | 445 acres (180 ha) |
| Website | Official Website: https://www.iowastatefair.org |
The Iowa State Fair is a super fun event that happens every year in Des Moines, Iowa. It takes place in August and lasts for 11 days. Imagine over a million people visiting! That makes it one of the biggest and most famous state fairs in the United States. It all started way back in 1854.
Contents
A Look Back: Fair History
The very first Iowa State Fair happened in Fairfield from October 25 to 27, 1854. It had a small budget of just $323! The Fair was held in Fairfield again in 1855. After that, it moved around to different towns in eastern Iowa for many years.
Some of the towns that hosted the Fair included Muscatine, Oskaloosa, Iowa City, and Dubuque. It also visited Burlington, Clinton, Keokuk, and Cedar Rapids.
In 1878, the Fair found a permanent home in Des Moines. Then, in 1886, with money from the state and the city, it moved to its current spot. This is at East 30th and East Grand in Des Moines.
The Fair didn't happen in a few years. In 1898, it was skipped because of a big World's Fair nearby and the Spanish–American War. From 1942 to 1945, it was paused during World War II. The fairgrounds were used to store supplies for the military. In 2020, the Fair was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But a "virtual fair" was held online instead! The Fair came back in person in 2021.
The Iowa State Fair was even featured in movies! It was the setting for the 1933 film State Fair and its musical version in 1945.
Exploring the Fairgrounds
The fairgrounds are huge, covering about 450 acres. That's like 340 football fields! About 160 acres of this space are used for campsites. You can find the fairgrounds at East 30th Street and East University Avenue. It's just a quick 10-minute drive east from downtown Des Moines.
During the Fair, the grounds are buzzing with exciting carnival rides and lots of food stands.
Fun Contests and Competitions
Farm Animal Shows
The Fair has many exciting contests, especially for farm animals! You can see competitions for the largest boar (a type of pig), ram (a male sheep), bull, and rabbit.
There are special shows for young people in 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA). They show off their sheep, pigs, cows, horses, goats, llamas, rabbits, chickens, and even dogs!
Unique Fair Challenges
Beyond the animals, there are super fun and sometimes silly contests. These include rooster crowing, hog calling, and wood chopping. You might also see pie eating, monster arm wrestling, outhouse racing, and even cow chip throwing!
The Famous Butter Cow
One of the most famous things at the Iowa State Fair is the Butter Cow! It's been a tradition since 1911. The first one was made by J.K. Daniels.
From 1960 to 2005, an artist named Norma "Duffy" Lyon sculpted the Butter Cow. She made all six types of dairy cows. But she didn't stop there! She also sculpted famous people like Garth Brooks and John Wayne. She even made butter versions of the Peanuts characters and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. One year, she sculpted a butter version of Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper!
Since 2006, Sarah Pratt, who used to work with Duffy Lyon, has been the Butter Cow sculptor. In 2023, she created sculptures of famous Iowa athletes like Jack Trice, Kurt Warner, and Caitlin Clark.
Delicious Fair Food
The Iowa State Fair is famous for its amazing food! There are over 200 food stands, offering everything from healthy options to gluten-free treats.
Food on a Stick
The Fair is especially known for its "food on a stick." In 2015, there were over 70 different things you could eat on a stick! Some of the most unique ones are deep-fried, like Snickers bars, Oreos, and cheesecake. There's also the "pickle dawg" (pastrami or ham with cream cheese and pickle).
A very popular and unique addition in 2011 was deep-fried butter! In 2020, apple egg rolls became a new favorite. In 2023, the People's Choice Best New Food was Deep-Fried Bacon Brisket Mac-n-Cheese Grilled Cheese.
Other popular "on a stick" foods include the pork chop, which is a huge favorite because Iowa is a top pig-producing state. You can also find a bacon-wrapped hot dog dipped in cornmeal batter. And of course, the classic footlong corndog is a must-try at the Iowa State Fair!
Food Competitions
Food isn't just for eating at the Fair; it's also for competing! In the Elwell Family Food Center, you can see the best cooks and bakers from Iowa show off their skills. From delicious pies to amazing cinnamon rolls, many tasty creations are judged every year.
Exciting Entertainment
Grandstand Shows
The Iowa State Fair Grandstand is a big stage where many famous performers have played. It was built in 1909 and has been updated several times to make the seating even better. It's located right off the main gate on Grand Avenue. The band Grateful Dead even played there in 1974!
The Bill Riley Talent Search
The Bill Riley Talent Search started in 1959. It's a competition for talented Iowans aged 2 to 21. Bill Riley hosted the show for many years. In 1996, he retired, and the stage was renamed the Anne and Bill Riley Stage. Bill Riley Jr. has hosted the show since 1997.
Almost 100 local shows are held around the state to find contestants. There are seven days of preliminary competitions for younger kids (Sprouts, ages 2–12) and older kids (Seniors, ages 13–21). Then come the semi-finals, and finally, a Sprout and Senior champion are chosen!
Past Fair Spectacles
The Iowa State Fair has had some amazing and wild entertainment over the years! In 1932, a man named Joseph Connolly arranged for two old trains to crash into each other in front of 45,000 fairgoers. It was a fiery show!
Other past entertainment included a plane crashing into a model house, a circus elephant, and even a human cannonball!
Iowa State Fair Parade
The Iowa State Fair Parade is considered the biggest parade in Iowa! It has about 200 floats, vehicles, and performers. The parade happens the evening before the Fair officially opens. It starts at the State Capitol Complex and travels west on Grand Avenue.
Political Soapbox
The Iowa State Fair is a popular place for politicians to visit. Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first president to visit the Fair in 1954. Since then, many presidential candidates have come to the Fair.
The Des Moines Register newspaper sponsors something called the "Political Soapbox." This is a special area where candidates can speak to the public. They have 20 minutes to talk and can answer questions from the crowd. Because the Iowa caucuses are often the first step in choosing a presidential candidate, visiting the Fair is a great way for candidates to be seen and heard.
Fair Police Department
The Iowa State Fair has its own police department, which started in 2018. Before that, security was handled by private guards and local police. The Fair's police officers wear blue uniforms and special white cowboy hats. They are state-certified officers and work all year round, not just during the Fair. They help keep everyone safe at the Fair and other events held at the fairgrounds.
Upcoming Fair Dates
- 2025: August 7–17
- 2026: August 13–23
