WE’VE GOT FAIR SPIRIT.
HOW ’BOUT YOU?
It’s a big birthday for the United States this year (250!) and the Iowa State Fair has been selected to throw a red-white-and-blue bash worthy of the occasion. With a stuffed lineup of All-American spectacles, old-school traditions, new thrill rides, and cutting-edge culinary creations, we figured you could use some best-of recommendations from the fair’s biggest cheerleaders.
1. BUTTER COW
There is nothing more Iowan than a homage to dairy. Proof? Each year since 1911, people have lined up to see 600 pounds of pure cream butter painstakingly carved into the likeness of a life-sized dairy cow. This year's companion sculpture is titled "Meet Me at the Pepsi Clock," which sounds like it may require even more butter than the iconic cow?
Where: Agriculture Building
2. PIONEER HALL
This stop is for vintage gearheads and competitive husband callers alike. Historic Pioneer Hall, built in 1886 for the first Iowa State Fair at its current location, holds all sorts of early farm equipment and gadgets to explore. Oh, and the Rural Americana Olde Tyme contests happen here as well: husband calling, beard growing and cow chip throwing. Just make sure you Google what a cow chip is before you pick one up.
Where: On the East End of the Fairgrounds
3. GRANDFATHER’S BARN
Everybody's talking about 250 years ago this summer, and hey, you can get pretty darn close by heading to this genuine basement barn that is still standing in the same spot it was built in 1865.
Where: East Vermeer Lane
4. TIME CAPSULES
Did you know the State Fair has not one but TWO time capsules buried on the Fairgrounds? Both over by the Anne and Bill Riley Stage, these babies are a must-see for anyone who considers themselves a State Fair aficionado. And while they won’t be opened for decades, we recommend grabbing a grinder sandwich nearby and checking them out.
Where: East and West Sides of the Anne and Bill Riley Stage
5. MUSEUMS
Yes, the Ralph H. Deets Historical Museum is, well, a museum. But really, it's the quickest way to travel back in time through more than 15 decades of Iowa State Fair history. Get up close and personal with artifacts and memorabilia. After all, there’s no better way to celebrate America’s 250th birthday than by learning about the best State Fair in the U.S.A.!
Where: Richard L. Easter Museum Complex
1. FERRIS WHEEL
Some of the most magical moments at the fair take place at the top of the Ferris Wheel. Make sure to take the time to look out over the whole 445 acres of fairgrounds between the thrill of dangling over 100 feet in the air. Time your ride just right so you’re at the top when the sun goes down and the lights turn on for story-worthy photos.
Where: Thrill Ville (Between the Grandstand and Ye Old Mill)
2. GIANT SLIDE
The only thing standing between your family and a core memory are the 71 steps to the top of the iconic green-and-yellow Giant Slide. Promising a smooth trip down on a gunny sack (a burlap mat), the slide has provided the perfect mix of giggles and squeals for millions of riders of all ages.
Where: Along the Grand Concourse
3. YE OLD MILL
As the oldest permanent ride at the fair, Ye Old Mill has built up quite the reputation. Not only is it an excellent excuse to get out of the sun and off your feet, the dark, nostalgic, and romantic boat ride is the best spot at the fairgrounds — dare we say the state? — to finally make your move.
Where: Along the Grand Concourse
4. THRILL VILLE
With more than 40 rides and games, Thrill Ville is an adrenaline junkie's dream come true: seats that spin, cars that bump and drops that make your stomach do funny things. And in the true spirit of the fair, you haven’t done your due diligence if you don’t leave a winner, with a giant stuffed animal slung over your shoulder.
Where: Between the Grandstand and Ye Old Mill
5. THRILL TOWN
If you’ve got younger fairgoers looking for their fair share of fun, Thrill Town is where you want to be. There’s more than 20 kid-friendly rides, games, and activities, making it the perfect turf to start working their way up to mega drops and whirligigs for next year.
Where: East of Gate 10, North of the Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center Lawn
6. THRILL ZONE
If you're serious about screaming, there's only one place to go: Thrill Zone. Here, in the third, final and most thrill-filled territory within Thrill Nation, there are plenty of ways to catapult yourself into the air and get a bird's eye view of Des Moines. Just brace yourself for the ride back down.
Where: North of Gate 11
7. SKY GLIDER
Need a moment away from the crowds? Trying to get from one side of the fair to the other? Hop on the Sky Glider for a ride on the most relaxing form of transportation in the whole state. Plus, up here, there’s always a welcome breeze to escape the August heat.
Where: Stations Located near Ye Old Mill, Thrill Town, Pioneer Hall, and Rock Island
1. FAIR FOOD FAVORITES
Because the delicacies you’ve dreamed of all year long are only back for 10 short days, you’re encouraged — sorry, required — to gorge. Fresh-squeezed lemonade, Barksdale cookies, a turkey leg the size of your kid’s head, an order of cheese curds … pick your favorite. Or per our recommendation, pick them all.
Where: Throughout the Fairgrounds
2. MORE THAN 200 FOOD STANDS
When we say the fair has every food you could imagine, we mean that quite literally. And yes, while fried and on a stick is the specialty, there’s something for everyone, even vegans. Approach your meals like a scavenger hunt: always stay moving and look for the unexpected.
Where: Throughout the Fairgrounds
3. NEW FOODS
Just when you think they’ve thought of everything, the culinarians of the Iowa State Fair fill the list of new foods with some unheard-of creation that has you thinking, "Why don't we serve bacon dipped in chocolate year round?" Explore the list here and create your plan of attack.
Where: Throughout the Fairgrounds
4. PORK CHOP ON A STICK
In between the fried butter and mini donuts, make sure you hit your protein goals with the classic Pork Chop on a Stick. An Iowa farmer’s staple, these simple yet flavorful treats get the job done. And there’s only one rule: No utensils allowed.
Where: Multiple Locations
5. IOWA CRAFT BEVERAGES
Scattered throughout the fairgrounds are prime opportunities to try one (or two, or three) of nearly 250 local craft beers. All libations are packed with a unique flavor profile designed to quench the thirst that only comes with hitting 5,000 steps before noon.
Where: Grandfather’s Barn, Craft Beer Tent, Wherever Else You See a “Beer” Sign
6. SWEET TREATS
At the fair, dessert is considered its own meal. We recommend starting with a course of fried Oreos, then working your way into a Bauder’s peppermint bar before ending with one of those dangerously addictive strawberry smoothies.
Where: You're Always Within 10 Feet of a Sweet Treat on the Fairgrounds
7. PEOPLE-WATCHING WITH A SNACK
There’s no better place to people-watch than the fair. Grab a snack (preferably deep-fried and on a stick), find a bench (or better yet, a curb) and let the field observations begin. Our findings show that the Grand Concourse provides the most potential to spot T-shirts that will have you laughing out loud.
Where: Everywhere