State Fair!! Here in Iowa the State Fair is a BIG DEAL. Maybe your state doesn’t have anything like this, but here in Iowa it’s a “thing” as people say. The Fair has been around for one hundred and thirty years! It also has had a movie made about it…can your state fair claim that distinction?
We are very proud of our Fair. People come from all over the world to experience it. During political campaign years the politicians flock to Iowa. It’s the place to be seen. I’m pretty sure I have seen more famous people at the State Fair then anywhere else. People watching is one of my favorite parts of the Fair. You see all shapes and sizes, outfits and lack thereof! Tattoos, hats, bandanas, jewelry and the list goes on. If you can imagine it you will see it at the Fair.
No Fair would be complete without food. The Iowa State Fair is famous for having all sorts of food on a stick. From the classic corndog to a lobster tail on a stick we have it all! I highly recommend the corndogs and pork chop on a stick. Another fan favorite is the turkey legs. Now these don’t come on a stick but they are AMAZING. Ever heard of a hot beef sundae? While there is no ice cream involved, if you love delicious mashed potatoes and roast beef than this is the dish for you. You can’t forget your classic funnel cake. Really anything you can fry can be found at the Fair. If you prefer something straight from your grandma’s kitchen go for Barksdale’s famous chocolate chip cookies!
I hope you are properly hungry now! With all the walking at the Fair you are going to work up an appetite. There is so much to see. No Fair would be complete without livestock. 4-H and FFA bring youth from all over the state to the Fair to show off their animals. Want to see a giant bull? Every year the Fair has a competition for the biggest animals. Bull, pig, and ram! The bulls almost always weigh in well over 2,000lbs and are handsome as can be. Boars (hogs) are just as impressive usually close to 1,000lbs or over. Now that’s a big pig! The rams are also incredible often 400-500lbs.
Not every animal is a giant though, you can milk a perfectly normal sized dairy cow or see piglets being born in the Animal Learning Center. There are goats, horses, and lots of other critters. Chickens, geese, ducks, if you can show it, you will find it at the Fair!
Then there are all the exhibits and rides. The State Fair has historical sites to visit, art, vendors selling all kinds of products, and of course scary rides to fill your adrenaline needs. Ye Olde Mill is the perfect spot for couples to take a romantic ride while the slingshot will leave adrenaline junkies screaming.
For the concert lovers, there are free bands running almost all day and the Grandstand themselves have a stellar lineup every year. The Fair Board works hard to bring in amazing acts and they do not disappoint. The Iowa State Fair has hosted famous names from country to rappers with headline names that will not disappoint.
If you love a day out with good food, entertainment, a chance to stretch your legs, and much more then check out the Iowa State Fair! For my family and I it is a yearly staple that we look forward to. Join the many others who have made the trip and see why the Iowa State Fair is the best in the country!