Iowa State Fair
| Iowa State Fair | |
|---|---|
"Nothing Compares" | |
| Genre | State fair |
| Dates | 11 days |
| Locations | 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 13–23, 2026 |
| Attendance | 1,160,121 (2025) |
| Area | 445 acres (180 ha) |
| Website | Official Website |
The Iowa State Fair is a state fair held in Des Moines, Iowa, every August. The first fair began in 1854 in Fairfield and has been held in the Iowa State Fairgrounds since 1886. It is based near the state capital over an 11-day period in August. With over a million visitors, it is the largest event in Iowa.
The fair is known to hold many competitions including the butter cow competition and multiple agricultural contests. It hosts multiple forms of entertainment for fairgoers including concerts hosted at the grandstands and a parade that takes place before the opening of the fair. It's also known to host many concerts, with the most sold showings being Sonny and Cher in 1972 which attracted 26,200 people, Johnny Cash in 1970 which attracted 25,300 people in two shows, and the Beach Boys in 1975, attracting 25,402 people.