Iowa State Fairgrounds Reviews

The Iowa State Fair is huge—it is so big that it took us two full days to really feel like we’d seen it all. Here’s our observations as first-timers from out of state…

We had each downloaded the app on our phones, but we didn’t find the map all that useful. It was a little hard to use. We finally picked up a hard copy to use and that was actually much simpler. The app could be more user friendly, for sure.

The grandstand was awesome. We had tickets to concerts two nights in a row and our seats were great. Also there were tons of bathrooms and concessions inside, which was appreciated because the shows were long!

They have every food possibly available at the fair, and most of them are deep fried, lol. We made it a mission between us to try as many different things as we could. We came away feeling fat. One thing we do with is that there were more tables around—it was hard to eat some of these things without a picnic table or something. Oh—and the chocolate chip cookies live up to the hype—definitely take a bucket of those home with you!

We enjoyed the sky ride, even though the line was long. We really wanted to do the iconic slides, but the lines for that were crazy long and we just didn’t have the time.

Parking can be tough, especially if you get there later in the day. We had a great experience parking in a neighborhood yard and paying the homeowner to park there—this seems fairly common to do. And the neighborhood we were in was right across the street from Gate 11. As a bonus, the folks in the neighborhood were friendly and had some great tips—we chatted with them quite a bit, both before and after getting to the fair.

Finally, we found it shockingly hard to find the big name politicians—we thought that was kind of weird. Part of the reason we came specifically in 2023 was to see some of the big national candidates and we really struggled to find them. That was a bummer.

A little planning is needed because it's so big, but it's a pretty spectacular state fair and definitely lived up to its reputation as one of the nation's best.

The Iowa state fair is the one that the book and movie is based on. Forget the remake that featured "a different" state's fair, lol. Okay, perhaps Texas is bigger, but Iowa is the original.

Great selection of free entertainment, too many things to see, tons of fun. I have seen many world class entertainers at the free shows over the years. Not every one is to each person's tastes, but there is so much variety that there is something for everyone. You could spend hours just looking at the various art and craft exhibits.

The grandstand shows often feature world class acts, some in their prime. It tends mostly toward county, but there is always a popular show or two and more recently, something for the younger crowd.

Did I mention the food? Huge variety of "things on a stick" food. While there is the usual things like a hot dog on a stick, the pork chop is famous. A few of the more unusual ones are peanut butter and jelly on a stick, fried butter, fried Twinkie on a stick and salad on a stick. If it can be breaded and fried, they will do it here.

One day is definitely not enough. Plan on at least two days, and personally, I go for a few hours at least five times during the ten day run. Exceptional place to people watch too.

The Iowa State fair is a classic Iowa experience. Naturally it centers around the agricultural heritage of Iowa. Lots of livestock contests and exhibits. Usually, good entertainment and a classical fair ground midway rides for the adventurous. Iowan's love it and visitors should experience it. It's Iowa.

Had fun nice people relaxing and a friend of mine bought a " Mini horse" ! Had a fantastic day of fun.

This is a must see when it's going on there's fun for about everyone. Good food for days. So much stuff to watch to bands to people making art.

The Iowa State Fair is among the best of state fairs in the country. It is large, diverse, clean, has lots of animals for kids to see, and has oodles of yummy foods - such as fresh squeezed lemondade, homemade taffy, roasted turkey legs, fried twinkies, warm mini donuts (a must have), BBQ, and so much more. There is an Old Mill ride in boats on water through a dark tunnel (fun on a hot day), a chair lift that will take you for a nice high ride over the fair and save your feet (don't recommend for old folks), and whole carnival of rides for kids if you want to spend the money. You do buy tickets for rides in this part. Otherwise your fair ticket gets you everywhere - Cultural Building, Agriculture Building (see the bees, butter cow & latest butter scultpure), the 4H building with neat projects to see, the Varied Industries Bldg. (tatoos for kids, freebies), Conservation Bldg (fish etc.), under the Grandstand has various booths, up on the hill is Grandfather's Farm and building with country entertainment and lots of antiques etc. and of course lots of barns full of horses, sheep, pigs, exotic animals, rabbits etc. etc.
If you haven't been there try taking your family - think you will enjoy it - kids love it!

This was probably the best day I had all year! It's better than any Las Vegas vacation! There is great beer, food, music and people watching! Walk around with your drink, go into shops or exhibits ... Absolutely wonderful!! I'm definitely going back!

We were visiting the fair for Daughtry and Papa Roach (LOVE THEM). The grounds are well kept. Lots of different food and drink to choose from. Make sure you have you walking shoes. There was little shows going on at all the different stages ask the time. We saw the red trouser guys. They were awesome. Will definitely be back again, just hopefully it is not as hot!

Good Times. Great Food. Too much to see and do in just one day. Buy advance tickets. Go after 5. Try camping there.

I had always heard the Iowa State Fair was a must see and now I can agree with that statement! My husband and I travelled from Virginia to visit and we were not disappointed! We enjoyed visiting all the exhibits and animal barns. I especially loved Pioneer Hall, what a beautiful old building! The ice cream and chocolate milk in the agriculture building, yummy! We enjoyed a grilled turkey tenderloin sandwich and, of course, a footlong hot dog! We saw the cow and sesame street figures sculpted from butter. So much to see and do!

We visited my parents in Ankeny and attended the Iowa State Fair in August and had a wonderful time! I've been to the Texas State Fair and the Tulsa (Oklahoma) State Fair and they may be just as good in many ways, but the Iowa State Fair had an authentic agricultural feel throughout the fairgrounds. The Iowa State Fair in a fun, educational way highlighted the important impact the American farmer makes. There was an educational forum about bats and white nose syndrome. There was a beauty pageant, fair food, a great transit air ride and more. I'd recommend this fair over any other that I've attended thus far.

We stopped here on our drive through the upper Midwest. We needed something to do in IA and chose this over the Field of Dreams. We set off in search of food on a stick. Lots to chose from. Besides eating we checked out the livestock exhibits. It was new to us and very interesting. Loved the pork legs and ice cream.

I love to see all the projects Iowa FFA and 4-H students have done. It is amazing to see all the talent of these youngsters. There are many other exhibits displaying the talent at any age. The avenue of breeds is a nice way to show the variety of livestock and animals in our area. I also love the displays of champions. Thank you to the many volunteers that put this all together. It is a great way to spend the day.

Very high priced just to get into this place. $10 - $12 a piece. Another $10.00 just to park your car and then you WALK a hundred miles . But.... I must say the variety of foods is fantastic ! BUT also VERY expensive ! $5.00 for a watered down glass of lemonade ? Pop, the same. AND it is wall to wall people ! Very little courtesy.

You have to go to the Iowa State Fair when it is open, usually middle August. If you go another time. There isn't much there but a bunch of empty buildings. If you do go while its open though. It is a thing like nothing else. In 2019, over a million people came and went through the gates. The food and beer is pricey but the ambiance is worth it. Usually some good concerts to see. We have had Luke Bryan, Reba, Slip Knot. This year we have a bunch of big name acts. Well worth visiting the Iowa State Fair.

Our family we on Friday the 11th of August. The high temp was in the 80's, and we stayed all day. One of the best events was the mounted shooting in the Jacobson arena. We also enjoyed Pioneer Hall, the various animals, and horticultural building. All of the food was great including the bacon corn dogs, pork chops on a stick, regular corn dog, etc. Overall there is something for everyone at the Iowa State Fair!

The facilities have been upgraded and can accommodate a large amount of cattle. Fortunately, there are air conditioned buildings if you are attending a summer activity.

This place has everything. Something always going on even if it's not the actual fair. Fun to walk around off season too, many things to see. Great ingress location for extra fun too.

I totally enjoyed my weekend at the Iowa State Fair with my two preschool grandsons. There are many activities for small children and adults alike. Iowa does a nice job with their fairgrounds, they are accessible, shady, well laid out and kept clean despite the 100,000+ crowd.

The Iowa State Fair grounds provide a home for many different activities through the year, but the best of all is the State Fair itself. Young or old, the Iowa State Fair provides a multitude of opportunities ...including more than just fun things. There are many educationally oriented activities and events as well. There are a number of top-notch professionals who come to provide concerts, but also children, youth and adult performers on free stages that are a delight to watch and enjoy. And then there is the food! Who can begin to mention all of the food options ... including just about anything deep-fried. No, it may not be good for the waste-line or the cholesterol count, but these different items sure do taste good. A trip to the Fair each and every year is well worth the experience. Like the Broadway musical says, "Our State Fair is a great State Fair!"

This was my first time to the state fair (I'm 50+) and we had an awesome time, will most definitely go again next year.

The best part about the state fair is the people watching. Or eating food on a stick. Try the corndog - guaranteed to be the best one you've ever had!

The Iowa State Fair is one of those things everyone should put on their bucket list. There is something for everyone to enjoy at the state fair. You should go!

The Iowa State Fair is THE ONE that other states model their own dreams after. The Oldest, and the one about which the movie "State Fair" was a model, has something for everyone. The vastness of the grounds and numbers of featured exhibits make it necessary to see over multiple days!
There are at least 5 music stages going nearly constantly, while the Food, is the most varied and delicious you can find, nearest the source of production.
The nightly featured music concerts always bring the biggest national bands in Every genre, and are nearly always sold out!

My family has been going to the fair since I was a little girl. We go about five out of the 10 days I have other family members who camp out there for the two weeks. It's just something we enjoy doing and always find something new every year to see, eat and enjoy.

It is so much fun to look at all the sights and sounds of the fair. People watching is fun. Love the photography display in the cultural center. Kids love the animals. Many free things to do. And you can't leave out the food - we love the Pork tent.

There is something about a state fair. Iowa's staye fair is not only a true food experience for the adults it is also food on a stick for the kids. Kids can also see and touch all the baby farm animals. If you time it right you can even witness a live birth.

The Iowa State Fair is one of the nation’s best. I’ve been to the Texas and Arizona State Fairs, as well as The Orange County, CA Fair and Iowa tops them all. Bring an appetite and do some preparation beforehand to map out what you want to see and do. Like Disneyland, you won’t be able to see and do everything in just one day and prepare to walk as wear comfortable shoes.

Like food, like fun, like lots of activities - this is the place. Where else can you get a pork chop on a stick, look at a 1100 lb pig and meet lots and lots of America's best people.

Growing up in Iowa there is nothing like the Iowa State fair to close out the summer. The history and the way it feels like home. Iowans are great. How can the Iowa State Fair not be amazing with all of the food on a stick, cheese curds, and the butter cow?!

Simple fair rides averaged $5 per person. Average basketball/skeeball also averaged $5 per 3-ball game. Food was about $9-12 for entree. Parking was $10. Very over priced for a state fair from what I have attended, but to each their own. Clean and organized.

Super expensive and kind of boring. The food is always great, but if you've been to one fair you've been to all of them.

Iowa’s fair is so much fun for the family and kids. Rides, food, chuck wagon races, horses, other fArm animals, tractors and so much to buy. Great time

We came from Kansas to visit this fair. Was kind of underwhelmed.
Pros we came on a beautiful day . enjoyed watching the equestrian exhibitions. The quilts and crafts were nice. Would have loved to see Lindsey sterling but no good seats left when we looked. So they had good talent to come.
Cons. Maybe I expect too much and miss fairs from my childhood where actual crafters would have booths at fair. Didn't see hardly any craft people selling their stuff. Was mostly all businesses and manufactured stuff. Pools, spas, etc.
Iowa is known for corn, we went for roasted corn. So the heck do the vendors get off selling over roasted corn with concave dried up kernels for 8 dollars an ear? I saw the post of another person here. His ear of corn looked great. Ears looked like they sat way too long and should have been getting fed to livestock maybe as seconds. It was drying out and bad. 8 bucks a piece. I had planned to look for the Iowa twinkle and yhe bacon brisket grilled cheese bit after the corn, just decided not to waste any more on food.the cookies were good, we had gotten a cup before the corn. Those were worth the hype. But that corn seller should be ashamed they sold something as crappy as what they sold us. I wish I had taken a picture. Our ears were nothing like the juicy full kernels another posted. They looked more like the ears from the 7 years of famine corn in Egypt if you know what I mean. 8 bucks anyway. 4 would be a profit , 8 even for a good ear is just plain greedy.

We went on a spur of the moment trip. Won’t ever go back unfortunately. So many people. You get to anything without waiting in line. It was just hard to get around with a little kid and not constantly have to have a hand on her to make sure the crowd didn’t swallow her up. We found the kiddo section and it was almost empty. That was the best part!!

Had A FANTASTIC time last eve at the Iowa State Fair, and in particular the concert by ZZ Top with Ann Wilson as opening act. Have been to several concerts at the grandstand previously, and will return. BUT... we've attended concerts at many outdoor venues, and they've been loud. The sound system at the grandstand seems dated. I LOVE my music loud, but seemed the last cpl years the sound system hasn't been able to keep up with the amplification.

But again... we WILL be back!

Even tho this review isn't about the acts, I still gotta say... Ann Wilson: HER VOICE!!!
ZZ Top : They got it still.

I came back and edited this review as quick as I posted it. Yellow shirt staff members are abundant to point you to your seat and restrooms are HUGE.

The Iowa State Fair was the best fair we have ever been too. I was nice to see such a family and agriculture friendly fair. The little hand on the farm exhibit was amazing! Definitely will come back!

I’ve read about the Iowa State Fair being one of the 1000 Places to See Before You Die and finally got to check it off!

1st - WOW - the city of Des Moines does a beautiful job supporting this 10 day event in the middle of their city! We stayed right downtown at the Embassy Suites which offered a FREE shuttle to the Capitol where the DART (Des Moines Area Rapid Transit) offer a shuttle to the fair. $2 round trip but if you show your pre-purchased fair ticket, it was only $1!!

2nd - kudos to the Iowa DNR! Wow!! Their pavilion was amazing with ducks, turtles, fish, displays, and DNR employees demonstrating different activities for kids!! What a great interactive space!!

3rd - Food, Food, Food! Gotta try the fried pork tenderloin sandwich and the Campfire Cones (s’mores flavor!!)

4th - animals are cool! Tractors are cool! Lots of exhibits and vendors giving away free stuff!

5th - the tram ride over the top of the fairgrounds gave a great overview.

LOTS of entertainment opportunities for $12!!

All kinds of food, nice selection of craft beers, good choice of free live music and grandstand music (newly renovated grandstand and stage areas). Parking will cost you.

Visited with my wife on the first Saturday of the 2018 fair. We took the shuttle from the State Capitol to get to the fairgrounds. It was $2 total for both of us to get to the fair and back, not bad at all. Weather was very hot and crowds were dense. However, I must say that it was truly a blast to visit this fair. The event was well organized. The grounds are massive, and there are countless food vendors set up with a wide variety of different foods to try (lots on a stick). If you eat pork, I'd highly recommend the pork chop on a stick, but if you don't, there are hundreds of other food and drink options. You could spend hours walking around and seeing all of the different attractions. The butter cow is so popular that there was a line to see it. There are many free concerts, ranging from rock to bluegrass that you can see, and there is a nightly concert in the Grandstand that you can see for a fee since it is a more popular band or musician. There is an amusement park area with rides, and a section where you can see horses, cattle, pigs, etc. I would love to attend again another year.

This is my first time on state ground fair.
Loved. There is lots to eat and friendly people from many different parts of USA.

I loved the large animals, and some context..
Dont miss if you are around!

We have been coming to the Iowa State Fair for years and now serve as information volunteers. Even though the attractions seem to stay the same year after year, there are changes that make it worth seeing each year. When in Des Moines in mid-August it is well worth taking the time to see the fair. People from out of state always ask us-- what shall we see, we are only here a few hours. The Butter Cow for sure is the first answer. After that we ask people what interests you-- agriculture, history, crafts, talent shows and performances, foods or shopping? It's all here.

The Iowa State Fair has so much to do for everyone. The shows are great, the food is awesome, and it has a great vibe in the atmosphere throughout the fair.

Met friends here at the end of a road trip. A friend from Des Moines suggested we all go. What can I say? Multiple foods on sticks. Lots of fried goodness. More animals than you can count. Rides, wine, beer, baby animals, pig races....was a wonderful time. Tons of fun!

Been doing the fair since I was born - and it's still a minimum 2x a year visit still. Honestly, it takes a full two days (and nites) to get the real experience. So - to keep the list short here are some must dos:
Giant slide
Ski chair ride over the main drag
Corn dogs (veggie too!)
Baby animal barn
Butter cow
Iowa beer tent
Free music stages
Pork chop on a stick
Industrial building
Midway
At least one grandstand concert
Animal barns - horses and pigs r cool!
As much free stuff as u can carry

I think u get it - and this is the smallest of must do's - enjoy

More benches for people to sit on (never any empty ones so that tells you there is a need), more A;/C in bldgs. (expensive BUT would increase attendance on hot days because now everyone tries to jam into the Varied Ind's bldg.) and more transit around the grounds (the passenger trailer/wagons towed by tractors)

(and per the questions below- there are quiet/peaceful parts of the nearly 500 acres (check the NE corner) and some very nice floral plantings just E of the Hdq bldg. native prairie grass in places, corn of course, etc. Loook around!

The Iowa State Fair is the best fair around. The grounds are fairly easy to navigate and there is something for everyone! A detailed schedule of the fair can be found online. Every day includes free concerts, art, crafts, animals, great food, and more! Throughout the year the grounds also hold other events, which can be found on their website.

Iowa State Fair wasn't a bad deal. There was plenty of good food and refreshments. Something for everyone!
I do believe Missouri has a better one though

The state Fair is a unique experience. There are numerous activities for all ages. It is a great display of Iowa agriculture.

The annual State Fair is one of the biggest States Fairs and we really enjoyed it. Lots to see. Great venue.

First time going to the Iowa State Fair, it was enjoyable. The parking was ample and clean. Plenty of staff to direct traffic. Easy access to the entrance with rides available. The walk ways were wide and clean. Wide variety of food to try. Sweets for the young ones. Many places to sit when needed. Restrooms were easy to access and clean for the amount of people attending. Indoor exhibits were popular due to the heat so was kinda stuffy and elbow to elbow but was expected. The rides were fun and reasonable price. Will look forward to going again next year!

Love, love, love!! Awesome food & best place for people watching!!! Plenty of things to see and do for the entire family!

I didn't use to feel the love for this fair years ago. Now that I participate. It has so much to offer a wide audience. Please check the schedule in advance instead of showing up you won't know what's going on and will only get the typical fair experience.

Nothing like the Iowa State Fair. Good food. Good people. Great times. But bring cash. And wear good shoes.

The ISF is worth going to if you are ANY where near Des Moines in Mid August. After too many visits to count along attending other State Fairs... you will find the Iowa version is one of the best. Now to be clear, it's not "inexpensive" Food, Water, Rides, etc.. all will take $'s to enjoy, while there are a few "free" activities they are much fewer than the cost variety. That said, you can buy tickets early for a discount and if you are smart, you can attend without breaking the bank. While there stop by the Cultural Center to enjoy the photography exhibit, 4H building for many awesome displays, toss in the animal barns for a close up look at many thousand pound animals... make sure try the Hot Beef Sundae, Pork Chop on a stick, and those famous Chocolate Chip cookies.. you will love your time and the people throughout!

The Iowa state fair was what we went to- excellent accommodations for handicap seniors- (went with parents) All the buildings were air conditioned and very handicap accessible for restrooms and buildings plus parking. Very clean and well kept.

I grew up going to the Indiana State Fair and continued to take my children all the years they were at home.
Moved to Iowa in 2011 and haven't missed a year of the Fair since 2012!! It is almost as great as Indiana! If you haven't been you need to go!

There are so many things to do and see you need more than a day to really enjoy this. The buildings are full of items that people in the area have worked hard on to make it to this event. My favorite must see every year is the butter sculpture. It is different every year. I like to go the first and last days. First to see the beginning stage of it and the last to see the final result. The food trucks are another great must. You never know what the new items are going to be.

It was overwhelming! Everyone had something to do. We weren’t sure where to start. I don’t think we will go on a weekend. So many people!! I think you need to go more than one day to see everything, then I don’t think you can see everything. My family wants to come back again.

Great time at the Iowa State Fair!
Courteous vendors and all the food stands took pride in serving you good food!

Wow! I went here this past weekend for a bachelorette party and it was a lot of fun.

First off, take out cash before you go because most places only accept cash and it's much easier to make purchases when you have cash.

They have just about everything you can imagine there that's fried - cheese curds, chicken, turkey leg and a bunch of sweet options too such as ice cream and sundaes. The people watching is very entertaining. Lots of free music, rides for kids and adults, free petting areas, etc. Check this place out for a few hours if you can. They also have plenty of bathrooms everywhere you look. Make sure you bring some sunscreen.

We loved the fair. Have been there 3 years in a row and we are driving from NJ. Free concerts were great. We also saw a couple of big ticket bands.. Got to love the butter cow. and 1500lb pumpkins. the best is seeing baby cow being born.

No more comment needed. You can find anything and everything to eat. Some nutritious, some just sinfully delicious.

Never miss the greatest show on earth. Best food, best people watching, best everything. It's pricey but well worth it.

Great way to experience Iowa. The Animal Learning Center is a great addition and a wonderful learning experience!

It was all it was described to be and it was fantastic. I used to hate corndogs but obviously I hadn't had a good one until I came here because I love them now. Honestly I came for the food and to eat everything that I would think would give me a heart attack if I ate it anywhere else. I went to as many of the new food stands as I could before I couldn't eat anymore and they did not disappoint. It was worth the 900+ mile drive.

For a fair experience of good people watching, mouth watering food on a stick, and dancing to some good music, it doesn't get much better than the Iowa State Fair.

We came from Wisconsin to see Gabriel Iglesias for my son’s graduation present. We were not disappointed. Honey lemonade was fantastic. We had bacon wrapped songs that were also something to write home to mom about. Three refills of shaken up lemonade as well as apple egg rolls. Very sugary day, but it was vacation. Rides were a little pricey for $5-$6 each

A lot to see, a lot of walking. This is for the curious. If your in to high action of a theme park you might get bored although they have Nice rides, but they don't have the quality shows of major theme parks. Lots of animals to see and different works of art and antiques. A lot of fried food and sweets. Beef and pork excellent and a good deal. Fries and especially corn overpriced ($6 for an ear). Bring cash, most food concessions only take cash. Nights have a lot of music and shows. Free ones by recording artist too, although you can pay extra to see the headliners in the grandstand. Personally, I thought the free shows the artist were giving there very best because they are at like the AAA of baseball level and you could walk around and get food or get as close as you are determined to get since you're not confined to a seat.

My husband and I visited the fair on Friday, August 8, 2025. We got there early and parked in parking lot A. Be prepared for a long line to get into the parking area. Parking was $10. The fair opens at 9:00 and the buildings open at 10:00. We purchased tickets online before the fair opened. They were a couple dollars cheaper at $11. We have been to other state fairs and we were disappointed because the food was not as good and there were no bands anywhere. The exposition center had mainly businesses and very little hand crafted items to purchase. We found the Minnesota State Fair and the Wisconsin State Fair to be so much better.

Great food for any appetite. Especially like the pork chop on a stick and Campbell's corn dogs. All types of sweets. Lots to see from art in the cultural center to all the cattle and farm animals. Crafts, contests and fun everyday. Something for everyone and lots of chances for people watching!

Tom went above and beyond to give us a fabulous history of the town, house, farm, movie, and other interesting information that made the trip more meaningful. Thank you all for the incredible hospitality!!!

By far one of the US's better State Fairs, and with so much to see it doesn't hurt to visit more than one day. Some things aren't to be missed, take your pick of amazing food and meat can be ordered. The animals are a major highlight and competition is stiff for the biggest, best of breed and more! Decent midway with plenty of rides for the kids, but the tickets are a bit of a hassle. All in all this is a fantastic annual event that won't disappoint. Great for families and friends!

Great fair. Lots to do and see; food fair average as compared to a few other fair venues.
Definitely recommend taking city bus ($1 per person) from the Capitol. Easy to park and return later.

Best place to see big names in concert without paying hundreds of dollars and you get close! Best state fair in the USA. Butter cow a must see!

Its best to get there as soon as the gates open. You're able to really enjoy walking around before the crowds get there. You can see all the animal barns then go back to the buildings when they open

Oil enjoyed working their health issues have stopped that but I would highly recommend in going there with family and friends you'll have a ball their enjoy

We love the fairgrounds for several events! We have been to numerous things here. Our favorites are the annual doll show & of course the Iowa State Fair!!!!

Iowa has one of the best fairs in the country with lots of things to see and do everyday. Great entertainment on the stage at night and free concerts at different places every day.

This car show here in Iowa is one of my favorites! We cannot wait to return. Love Iowa- great time.

One of the great features upon arriving in parking lot, all the employees/volunteers. You rock!!! You had the direction of all entrances moving pretty good. No gridlock, I believe when some other shows charge to park...it takes so much time - of- stop & go. No parking fee here.

Thank you for providing the golf carts for rides to and from our vehicles. It was so hot during our visit.

I'm calling this show my #2 favorite. Very nice hot rods!

The Iowa state Fair is always a great place to visit. Buy your tickets ahead of time for a nice discount. Pack for the weather, bring your own water and carry a bag or back pack for shoppers. The state fair is an all day adventure and one you won't forget. Oh! A quick $ tip, a couple can easily spend $50 in two hours.

came to iowa to see the fair and a concert . being from minnesota i know what a great fair is and i'm not going to compare the two just tell you what i think about yours . easy to get to,easy to park we paid 20 dollars one block from gate but most parking was 10 dollars , fair is big but easy to get around , clean , and most vendors had normal lines . fair food is fair food we tried and shared lots of items , loved them all and didn't think the prices were to high , drank lots of beer and liked the beer halls , the free music and people watching . two in our group don't drink beer so maybe some better choices would have been nice, local wine or spirts . grandstand and the concert were great(Doobie Brothers). but the thing we all took away from our day at the fair is how nice the people of iowa are ! thank you for a great experience .

This has become a tradition with our now 4 year-old grandson. We go early and look around the children exhibits, wait until 10 am for the rides to open, he rides to his heart's content, and we choose a place for lunch. It's clean family fun. We have taken the glide ride across the fair grounds for the last two years. He loves being able to see the tractors, from above, and being above the trees. All in all, it's a great experience.

Touring from New Jersey, my wife and I scheduled a day at the fair early in our two week itinerary. It's something we've always heard of and wanted to experience firsthand. First, the fairgrounds is huge and requires some preplanning to make the day more manageable and enjoyable. We parked our car in the Capitol lot and took advantage of the bus shuttle service - perfect. We're in our seventies and mobility has become an issue; we were able to on-line rent scooters, picked up once inside the bus entrance, which enabled us to tour the whole complex with ease. The next thing we did is get on the aerial bucket ride which traversed the whole park giving us a grand preview of what we would experience and how to navigate it. We made sure to see some animal exhibits, get our photo in front of the massive State Fair mural, see the traditional butter cow, and of course sample the park cuisine. We enjoyed the traditional pork chop on a stick, apple egg rolls, pulled pork, chocolate chip cookies, and of course ice cream. Great day, wonderful experience, nice people.

Lived in Des Moines 40 years. And went to the fair most of them.
I also worked there several years running a beer tent for the Amanas on the hill.
I went to the 2016 fair and was shocked at the prices.
The fair should be for the people.
NOT money hungry wealth seekers.
I drove through the fairgrounds last week.
Not going.

The fair never disappoints, lots of excitement and entertainment. The good, is the events, the seating, the vendor choices on foods. The wine event in grandfathers cabin is a must for wine enthusiasts! If you like craft beer, plenty of choices, if you want a hydro massage, go to the events building! Inside the fairgrounds is almost a five star event! Now the bad, parking changes were made this year and the changes are. It marked well, creating backlogs and confusion! The really bad, the limitation of the Shriners not allowing them to transport to the gates and into the grounds, first you removed a huge convenience for fair goers, second you took away huge revenue as the shuttles were operated on a donations basis! If this was first year experience I would not return, the Shriners communicated how to navigate the fair for a first time attendee! So if you are attending be prepared doe frustartion in parking and getting to the gates!

It was our first time at the Fairgrounds and we’ll be going back for sure! What struck me the most was the excellent organization at the venue which began at the car park and never ended. The staff was helpful and well informed, and events were fun and not something you can see/do in other places. The amount and types of foods was just stupefying, in other words if you miss seeing farm animals and enjoy stuffing yourself silly, it is the place to go to. The activities for he children were simply great as well, fun, educational, and exhausting!!! On the downside... the prices are a little exaggerated and here and there you could see that the conditions the animals are kept in should be improved, the most striking example was the world’s tiniest horse which was kept in a tiny dark tent! How can the owner possibly keep the poor animal there all day just to earn 2 bucks from each person coming in to see it? We say NO to animal abuse and naturally didn’t go in! The authorities will be notified.

We went to an RV show here in the spring. Free parking, plenty of space. Nice area for the large RVs and boats that we saw. Clean grounds. Friendly staffers. Marcydiner tantrum scale of 5/5-no screaming kids and despite the buildings large size, and the crowd, it still wasn't that loud.

If your a traveler you must visit. There is alot of food, exhibits, rides, and games. History comes alive. Some air conditioning buildings, concerts, some free. It's a yearly tradition for locals.

My advice is to buy an admission ticket early, at reduces rate. Show your admission ticket to the bus gate keeper, You will get a half price ride on the DART bus. Enjoy a no stress ride in a clean comfortable bus with a safety conscious bus driver. Arrive at the SE corner of the fairgrounds and skip the admission line. This can save you 10-15 minutes alone.
Enjoy the Iowa State Fair,. At the end of your evening on the DART bus, it will return you to your destination. You do not need a ticket for the return trip.
On the back of the admission tickets, You Will find a coupon for a free Potato Oles'
order by September, no time to waste CASH-IN!

Our first time at the fair ... nothing materially different than other state fair experiences. I was surprised that the main hall was filled with retailers. Did enjoy the art and photography displays, although with any amount of people in the room, it was challenging to see the photographs. Glad we went, but probably won't repeat the experience. We arrived just after opening on Wednesday and paid the $10 to park on the grounds. We were under a walnut tree with nuts falling, which was a bit dangerous, but shaded when we returned.

We love visiting the fairgrounds for the Iowa State Fair every August. It's become a family tradition that our girls will not miss. So much to see, do and EAT!

Ever since i was a little kid i remember the fascination of the Iowa State Fair all the rides on the midway,all the people in line to have some fun,and all the great horses in competition for this and that,cool cows,pigs,even chickens and rabbits and most of all the infamous Corn Dog yummy... I have read that the Iowa State Fair is the greatest fair to go to in the United States if you are reading this i hope you make it to my IOWA STATE FAIR ....

With the park and ride, drop off at gate 10.
After seeing a few sights, it was time to hit the craft beer tent to peruse the awesome selection that is available.

There is truly something for everyone, whether you browse the vendors under the Grandstand or in the VI Building, or watch the Husband Calling Contest in Heritage Hall. There's the tiny museum of Fair history, and a huge model train display. You can watch demonstrations of Dutch oven cooking at the DNR Buiding, and admire the Butter Cow and other sculptures while strolling through the Ag Building sipping your honey lemonade or munching a sample hard boiled egg from the Egg Council. Visit Little Hands on the Farm with your children. From the Biggest Bull to the newest baby piglets, there's something new to see every day. Many quality free shows and concerts throughout the Fairgrounds, as well as the paid nightly entertainment at the Grandstand . Fabulous food all over the Fairgrounds, including hidden gems like the old-time soda fountain with real old fashioned malts and shakes. Watch a chain saw carver create a work of art in a few minutes, sing along at the Hymn Sing at the little church, or hold your breath while four year old kids try their hands at mutton bustin'. The midway is typical. You can park and ride from Southeast Polk High School on the east and the Capitol grounds from the west. Parking in these two places is free, and the bus ride is $2, with veteran discounts, and discounts for prepurchased Fair admission. Parking on the grounds is available for a fee. You could attend all 10 days of the Fair and never experience it all.

The different kinds of food is great . There is something for everyone. We rode across from one end of the fair to the other on the sky cable seats.it is a great view.It is a very nice fair..

On a recent business trip, the Iowa State Fair was in progress. We spent the evening at the fair. Being from Ohio, I wanted to see if this fair was typical of the Ohio State Fair. I feel like the fairgrounds were a little smaller, but in general same fair type activities and attractions including the butter cow. In general, the fairgrounds were nice and this was an enjoyable evening overall.

I was so excited to visit this fair for the first time. I had heard great things, and was told it would outshine any fair I had ever been to before, but to be honest, I didn't see the appeal. There seemed to be a lot of dead space with nothing to do or see. There were less rides than I've seen at any state fair which was strange, too. The food was very disappointing and overall the whole experience was a let down. The parking system was great compared to other state fairs, but the fair itself was not what I had heard about and left us wanting.

This is the second largest state fair in the country. And it shows! So much to see & experience. Plus, they are constantly giving away food (corn, pork, eggs, etc) so the only reason you need to buy food is to have the obligatory fried thing....preferably on a stick.

Great time for anyone, as long as you can walk places. The Iowa State Fair has rides, agriculture, animals, food, drinks, entertainment. They do have people cleaning up, constantly, so fairly clean. $12 to get into the fair and most foods and drinks are pricey. But it's once a year. Family friendly. Marcydiner tantrum scale of 5/5-no screaming kids. Surprisingly. They also have some of the top shows each year. This is one of those not-to-be-missed things!

We'd been wanting to go for years to see the butter cow, the giant bull, and all the crazy fried food. We went early so it wasn't suffocatingly crowded and the lines weren't terribly long. An iconic American experience.

We've been to a lot of fairs and this one was definitely one of the best that we have been to. It was amazing!

Everything was laid out wonderfully and there was so much to see and do that we couldn't possibly see everything in one day. When we arrived we got a map that was for that day and laid out every event hourly until it closed.

We went and saw the Butter Cow; which was worth it to see; not something at every fair. There were many different buildings; we went through the agriculture building, saw their souvenir store; lots of different merchandise to purchase, It was also very family friendly! There were different events going on all day that were geared towards kids, a playground and even a splash area.

It was so incredible, and if we are traveling through the area a the same time another year we would definitely stop again. I would highly recommend this fair if you are looking for something to do and see. Fun for everyone in your family.

Love state fairs? Then this is one to go to. Clean fun and a lot of good food! I for some reason thought they would have more corn :-) but no such luck!

This review is for the fairgrounds and not for the State Fair.

The fairgrounds has a nice new building that is air conditioned and used for exhibitions and events year 'round. There is also the huge brick grandstand as well as the traditional barn type farm buildings.

They hold auto shows, gun shows, Baconfest and more on the grounds.

I do not like the State Fair at all, but the grounds are good.

We went down to Johnston to see our daughter and son-in-law. My daughter wanted to go to the fair. This place is very fun and plenty to see. The one thing that gave me chills is when they sing the Star Spangle Banner. Everybody freezes, men take off their hats and everybody put their hand over their hearts. It really sent chills up my spine. There is plenty to eat and see but the respect was a breath of fresh air. The pork chops on a stick were huge. The one thing we didn't like is we went to have a hearing test and the found out we were from Minnesota so they took everybody ahead of us. I thought that was very rude. Everybody else were very friendly.

Visited from Los Angeles (our local fair is nothing like this!) and had a wonderful time. From the butter cow, egg on a stick and agriculture to the amazing Peter Noone, who put on a fabulous (and free!) show, it was a really authentic and fun experience. Highly recommend a visit!

My wife and I have visited the Iowa State Fair numerous times. And I always very much enjoyed every visit. I love the layout of the fairgrounds and the fair. Countless food choices of all kinds. It gets very crowded here but we do not mind as it is part of the experience. This is one of my favorite places to visit as we enjoy looking around and grazing on the food and drinks.

Always hot temp when I go. Hope they bring back the truck and tractor pulls. Dippin dots have been gone for two years now-hope they come back. Pineapple whip is so good and refreshing.

Love going to the fair every year! Nothing Better then all the fun foods, wonderful vendors, Shows, Rides and attraction. Best Place ever!

If you haven't gone to the Iowa Fair during the political season, you're missing out. Iowans put on one heck of an event from rides and games, to great food, and tributes to the many folks who provide the food commodities to our nation. The politicians are at their most informal. A safe event as well

Had concert tickets several years back and this was my first adventure at the Iowa state fair. Parking needs updating. Venues are fun & interesting. Who can't crave fair food. They have it all.

Best state fair look forward to it every year. Will be going back for the next 20+ years. You can camp to see live music to artists making art out of wood to iowas live stock to all the food on a stick.

Definitely worth the visit but don't expect low prices.

Enjoyed everything EXCEPT deep fried Pecan pie on stick. NOT worth price. People weren't friendly and taste was bland.

I was in town for a training course and had the swing by. I was blown away by this Fair. The amount of food, drinks, music, rides, animals and people is more then I’ve ever seen at a fair before. The people working all over were kind, helpful and genuinely excited which was refreshing. I could spend all week here and not get bored!

Highly recommended if in town when it’s open.

I think that the experiences was nice, I saw and listened music, nice people and interesting products...

O believe too that somethings had an expensive price...

I love Iowa fairs, being from Iowa, so I'm a little biased. But I haven't done the state fair with my kids since they were 4 and 6. They are 7 and 9 and had a great time. It's large so you definitely have to pick and choose.
I highly recommend the shuttle from the Southeast Polk schools. This is the first time I used a shuttle and it was great. It runs often, there are multiple buses at once, and better than navigating downtown for that shuttle stop, especially during rush hour during the week. And you don't have to pay for parking on the fairgrounds.
I also recommend getting discounted admission tickets online ahead of time. Very reasonable for myself and 2 kids. Unless you are sure you want to do the activities in the fun packs, I would bypass those.
Also, I let my kids spend $15 each on rides and they were able to go on 4 each in the new Thrill town.
Plenty to do and see that is free otherwise!

The Iowa State Fair is really fun. Great fair food, lots of exhibits, good concerts, lots of animals to look at, everything a state fair should be.

We thoroughly enjoyed the first two days of the 2017 Iowa State Fair. LOVE how much space there is on the grounds. LOVE the focus on agriculture--animals & crops. LOVE the Animal Education Center where everyone has the chance to see new baby animals come into the world. LOVE that there were virtually no lines at the rides. LOVE LOVE the Pork Chop on a Stick and Pork Leg--that's right--not Turkey Leg--Pork Leg.

Very impressed with the Little Farm Hands area that is so very well thought out with interesting tidbits on industries of crops, milk, eggs, wool, & even fuel. AND, the kids get to choose the item they want to "purchase" from the store with the "money" they earned from their harvest. Our NC State Fair has a similar activity that is always one of our daughter's favorite stops--this one was steps above!

Loved seeing the Butter Cow & Laura Ingalls in butter, too! Loved the flower and crops competition displays, quilts and threads/sewing competitions AMAZING. Loved seeing the "FarmHer" displays & meeting Iowa's Maple Syrup Farm crew.

I refuse to "STOP" the texts alerting me to when new farm babies arrive! My daughter was up close when a calf arrived on day-two, watched baby chicks hatch themselves out of their eggs, and completed a passport scavenger hut, which helped her learn many amazing facts about agriculture, and Iowa's impact on the National economy.

We talked to families in the sheep, horse, & cow buildings who basically live at the fair for the duration showing their animals. Without exception, all were wonderful, friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to answer questions.

Wonderful Trip.

Surprises--BEER EVERYWHERE!! (Yay), Lots of SPACE, Universities had Gigantic booths in the commercial building with wonderful displays of students' projects in a variety of majors.

The Iowa State Fair which usually occurs in August every year is the Pinnacle of Iowa tradition. Every year hundreds of thousands of people go to the State Fair it's on for about 10 days and usually tops 1 million visitors. If you're a foodie you're in heaven we have more items on a stick than you in any other state fair in the country that's right items on a stick. Like how about a fried Snickers on a stick.

Loosen your belt and go have some fun

Great facility for many events. During the Iowa State Fair it really shines. Some of their buildings are available for use year around.

I first visited The Field of Dreams with my wife in the summer of 1992 during a cross-country drive. Years later I returned with my family on a few other occasions. In 2022 my wife and I, by then Iowa residents, attended the minor league game at the Field of Dreams, and we followed that with another visit a year later. During all that time, we had never participated in the Home Tour.

This summer, however, we had friends from out of state visit us, and so we made it a point to visit the movie site with them, and this time we made it a point to take the Home Tour.

Before the tour began, we were cordially greeted by Craig, a member of the Field of Dreams Ghost Players, on the front porch of that now famous movie site house. As the tour began inside, Craig began to describe the house, its history, its use in the movie, how it was chosen, and much, much more. At any time of the tour, we were invited to ask questions, all of which were kindly and thoroughly answered by Craig. I don't exaggerate to say that by the end of the tour, everyone on the tour exhibited what can only be described as touched by the true magic of the Field of Dreams experience!

Thank you SO much, Craig, for the wonderful experience that we ALL enjoyed in a very special way at a very special place!

The Iowa State Fair is a must-attend for our family every year. We love the butter cow and the ag building, not to mention all the great food. I also am amazed by the number and quality of quilts on display in the upper level of the Varied Industries Building. Would recommend you go during the week - the weekends this year were packed.

I've lived in Iowa most my life...when little went to the Fair.....Grown up now won't...Rude people, that want to drink over priced, warm beer and create violent situations that affects too many other people...Never, Never go to the East Side Night that they created, Unless you like to insult people, think you're tough and want to prove it by fighting or shooting...Wow, let's ride the Roller Coaster....I think this is my first negative review.

Love the Iowa State Fair. Variety of things to do and see. Can do at your own pace. Great food places to try. Loved the Bill Riley stage and Country Band performance.

If you are visiting Iowa in August or haven't attended the Fair in awhile, I recommend at least one visit. If you prefer times without crowds, going during the weekdays and starting early will help. The most crowds are on weekend days. We attend at least two days every year. The layout, food, exhibits and animal events are the same every year, but we find by the time a year has past, we are looking forward to it again. We have six year olds and a teenager and here are the things we love best:
- We arrive by 10 am to park in the main lot, which is reachable from University and turning right into the main gates. If the signs say full, you can drive another two or three right hand turns further east and park in additional labeled fair lots. This means that there are Shriner golf carts there to drive you into the Fair. These are our favorite places to park for the Fair.
- The golf cart will stop to help you buy tickets and then will typically take you to the center of the main roads at Ye Olde Mill (or east entrance if you parked to the east). We donate $1/a person for the golf cart ride in. We walk so much at the Fair, it is nice to get a ride in. Near Ye Olde Mill is also a pick-up spot for later if you want a ride back to your car.
- We love (and our kids love) to go see the baby animals in the Animal Learning Center building near Ye Olde Mill. You can see babies being born and most kids love to see the small animals. There are baby chicks, ducks, calves, goats and pigs among other animals. North of that is Hands on the Farm, where kids can complete a route to understand more about our farms and how food is grown and used. North of that there is a petting area where kids can interact with more animals. We love the goats.
- We also visit the Butter Cow, purchase merchandise and go upstairs for all of the honey products at the Ag Building (with the large pumpkins and the spinning earth in front).
- We have our favorite lemonade and corn dog, followed by our Fair favorite food: Bauders ice cream bars (peppermint or mocha). These are large and amazing. Bauders only makes them for the Fair.
- The kids like to try a few rides at the Midway.
- We always take the Sky Glider up the hill and see the Fine Arts Exhibit in the Cownie Building. I love seeing the photography and art on the 3rd floor.
- Everyone loves the Giant Slide and our favorite Fair entree is near there, the Pineapple bowl (with Chicken Teriyaki).
- We walk through the barns to see the various animals.
- We always do spin art.
This last year, we were at the Fair for breakfast, lunch and dinner and finally left after trying the pizza up on the hill past the Fine Art Exhibit/Cultural Center. This is a lovely spot to relax and unwind in the evening. There was live music and a great view of downtown Des Moines at sunset. It was great, but after 12 hours it was time to get home!
An additional recommendation is to bring lots of cash. I seem to hand out $20 for everything and it typically will cost our family $200 for the day of activities and food.

Was not too busy when we visited but we did take a nice drive around. The place has numerous venues for the various activities of a state fair with vintage and cool buildings. Definitely worth a visit.

The Iowa State Fair is an iconic piece of Americana. Take your kids, your grandkids, friends, total strangers, everyone, anyone...just go and share!! I was born and raised on a small farm in SE Iowa and a few days at the State Fair was our only family vacation each year. But, this was my first visit since I graduated from Iowa State and left Iowa in the mid-70's. I loved it when I was 10, but now, as a grizzled veteran of many amazing life experiences, I can truly appreciate what an outstanding family event this is. Go and eat the decadent food (DO NOT CHECK THE CALORIE AND FAT CONTENT ON THE FAIR FOOD APP!!!), take a picture with the Butter Cow, wander the livestock barns (make sure you see the Big Boar, Big Bull, Big Ram), catch some free entertainment at the outdoor stage, let the kids climb the ginormous farm equipment, go through the Varied Industries Building and spend lots of money on things you didn't even know you really needed, etc., etc., etc. Finally, just enjoy the amazingly nice folks from Iowa!!

Now, for a dry logistical note... We parked at the Capitol and took the shuttle bus to the Fairgrounds. Worked great. Lots of free parking on the streets and surface lots around the Capitol and the bus ride was only a few bucks round trip. Drop off is right at one of the main gates.

It's a classic! The type of fair that honors the tradition and celebrates agriculture. Kids and adults can participate and the activities are many.

We had heard a lot about the Iowa State Fair. Lots and lots of fried food (including twinkies). The exhibits were good. The cow made from butter was really something!

For starters, we were there at 10 AM on Saturday and all lots were full. Finding parking was an issue. Finally found an overflow lot. These were in a hilly area, long walk to the gates. They do have carts for elderly, handicapped, etc, but would be nice if the tractors ran out there.
Overall, the fair was much better than the state to the west. Lots of history with this fair location. I think I enjoyed the architecture as much as the exhibits. Livestock was well represented here. Rides and attraction prices were fairly steep.

What an amazing show. Over 4000 cars. My feet were sure sore after all that walking. They had food also so you could eat there.

We visit the fair every year. It is always very fun with so much to look forward to. We enjoy the food and the free entertainment as well as the exhibitions.

If you are in Iowa in August you cannot miss the Iowa State Fait. It is quintessential Iowa. Enjoy the sights, the tastes and of course, the smells of this classic Iowa tradition.

If you have not taken the time to go to the fair it is something you have to experience at least once I your life. It is not for every person, but there is something to do for everyone no matter their age.

The fair offers every aspect of what it means to be an Iowan on a farm or someone living in the city. When you stop and look at all of the options at the fair there will be something for you.

Watch animals be born, ride rides, listen to free music or larger shows, drink craft beer or Iowan wine. No matter what you like there is something to enjoy even if it is just food on a stick.

As always the Iowa State Fair is a great and fun experience. Go early and see as much as possible in the morning. The buildings open at 9:00 but all the animal barns are open earlier. Fine a place to rest in the afternoon, the wine tent is a good option, then after 3:00 the crowds start yo think out. The online app is good to find things to do that interest you.

If you enjoy being outdoors in the summer, enjoy amusement rides, enjoy farm related things, entertainment or trying new things, visit the Iowa State Fair. 1 million people visit every year.

The Fair was amazing. So much to see and eat. The sweet corn was to die for. The BBQ looked so yummy.

Temperature was moderate. Tried the "Almighty Pork" and found it good butmybe evenoverprced for fair food. 4-H exhibits were wonderful and show a lot of creativity in the next generation. The animals were top notch. Looked like a very large crowd today. We took the DART Shuttle bus into the Fair from the capital. It made driving a snap. Enjoyed a Twinkie, snickers bar, military bar, and a cherry tart deep fat fried on a stick. Great Day!

From the Grandstand to the Midway and Beyond! Truly representative of all that's good in Iowa - food, live animals, horticulture, craft beer & wine, music, entertainment - great fun for the entire family. Haven't missed one in over 20 years - really, it's THAT GOOD!

I love it because you get to be free and no one is rude or is unsafe everyone just loves it! :) :) :)

The Iowa state fair has been subject of at least three movies and a stage play. It is the BEST state fair in the country. I have been to others and read about many of them but you can not better the one in Des Moines Iowa in August every summer. The variety of food is almost criminal or even, sinful, but WOW! If you go away hungry you just didn't try. The entertainment continues all day long and variety of things other than food (animal barns, gadgets, furniture, clothing items, games and the best thrill rides) makes this a must-see event.

Had a good trip. Was reasonably priced. The kids had a lot of fun as well. Plan to return next year.

The Iowa State Fair was great. We were able to do everything in a day and a half, and spent some additional time at the Demolition Derby. They have a lot of American Food (with bacon). The exhibits were interesting, especially the butter cow and sculptures.

I was at the fair with 2 young children. A fight broke out around all the little kids and none of the workers did anything. I asked 5 workers to call security or do something and none of them did. They told me to speak with a manager (while they watched the fight), when I found the manager, she had her back to the fight while counting money. Family friendly....not! Iowa should be better than this. Disappointed. No wonder kids get stabbed there

It is said that the Iowa State Fair is the 10th wonder of the world - ok it was Dad who said it, but I agree with him! Ah, the smell of corn dogs, cotton candy, Gyros, Guinnea Grinders, mammoth turkey legs, blooming onions, and funnel cakes fill the air, mingled with screams of excitement from roller coaster riders, sounds of anticipation from farm animals being shown, and the barking of skilled salespeople selling the latest inventions and gadgets. In addition, every form of music that you can imagine, from talented musicians and singers on the free entertainment stages to the national acts performing at the Grandstand. To top it off, each night at 10pm is a spectacular fireworks display. This year, the Iowa State Fair boasted 106 foods on a stick, including: Corn Dogs, Foot Long Corn Dogs, Bacon Wrapped Rib, Pork Chop, Salad - (yes I said salad on a stick), Veggies, Corn-on-Cob, Chicken, Deep Fried Twinkies, Pickle, Pickle-Dawg, Cotton Candy, Fruit Kabob, Ice Cream Bar, Wonder Bar, Butter, even a Funnel Cake on stick! Whatever your interests are, I guarantee you will find it at the Iowa State Fair.

Everyone should visit the Iowa State Fair. Something for everyone and a great place to people watch. New food items every year. Most are really good but not necessarily good for you. Still very tasty. Only complaint is the food prices. $7 for a footlong corn dog WOW! Drinks however were a pretty good deal with cheap refills across most of the food stands. All that being said not something you should miss

We enjoy going to the Iowa State Fair each summer. The live concerts, food, and other activities are definitely worth the trip. I read once that the Iowa State Fair is supposed to be the best in the U.S., and should be on everyone's bucket list. I may be biased due to living here, but I would recommend going at least once.

The iowa state fair management has decided to exclude horse competitions from Jacobson arena except from August to October. Funds were raised for the Jacobson facility to be a horse and livestock facility. Now after the namesake, Mr. Jacobson has passed, they are eliminating horse shows and competitions.

The Fairgrounds haven't really changed for years and that's what I like about the place...brings back good memories.
The Good-Guys Car Show, Horse Shows, Auto Swapmeets, and local gunshows are events we regularly attend there

Loved the grounds, facility and parking! Everything was very well kept and accessible!

I had a great time!!!!

Just a leisurely stroll through the grounds to see what you want, eat what you want, do what you want.

The fairgrounds cover a large area. We have been here for the state fair several times. We choose to park in someone's lawn along the perimeter of the fence. There is shuttle parking also. There are at least 8 gates to enter. You can purchase tickets at any gate. They have credit card machines. Plan on doing a lot of walking and get a map. There are information desks spread throughout grounds. Lots of food stands. Cattlemen's stand is our favorite but if you go avoid popular times like noon and 5:30 or you will be waiting in long lines. Lots of things (and people) to see. Thank you to all the volunteers that make it possible.

Very clean and well laid out. Beautiful buildings with air conditioning made for nice breaks along the way.

This was our very first visit. It was amazing. Everyone was nice and helpful. Great food and anything you can imagine to eat. My favorite was the bucket of chocolate chip cookies. There were exhibits and animals and lots of rides. Lots and lots to see and do. Well worth the money

My parents first took me to the fair when I was one. I have gone almost every year. It is always new. yet there are things I visit every year. Good is expensive, but you can get some things only there.

...and year round activities.Constantly being upgraded & improved. Great facilities. My personal fave is the Fabrics & Threads exhibit. It showcases hundreds of quilts along with other needle crafts.

Very interesting architecture and a beautiful park-like setting made this one of the neatest fairgrounds I've visited. I was there for the National Junior Angus Show, but would love to visit during the Iowa State Fair.

The Iowa State Fair happens once per year for ten days in August. The food will give you indigestion, but you won't be able to resist. Perhaps the one bright spot for food is the Jennie Grinder. I can never go to State Fair and not have a couple. This is serious comfort food! Now remember this is a state fair, but also keep in mind it is like no other state fair. A million plus people all coming to one place for ten days. More like an agricultural Woodstock than a carnival; although there is a very large midway.

What a perfect state fair experience! I traveled from Ohio to spend four days at the Iowa State Fair. I had wanted to attend and, being somewhat of a political junkie, 2019 was the time to do it as nearly all of the presidential candidates were there. Saw/heard many of the candidates from a mere few feet away. Loved loved loved all of the animals...the pigs were exceptional in their quality and quantity. The usual offerings as well as an emu, glorious elk, baby ostriches, Clydesdale horses, newborn calves. The music was fantastic...from the bands playing around the beer tents to the mandolin contest to the fiddlers dance. So much variety! I love fair food and there were so many great options...standard fare as well as new creations. It seemed that effort was made to ensure a lot of variety without too much repetition (aside from corn dogs)...and prices were reasonable. The grounds are very nice...lots of restrooms...reasonably clean, especially given the number of people...many trees and shaded areas...older, historic buildings. I had no difficulty finding parking everyday, although patience (and $10) was required, and the transport to/from the parking areas to the fair entrance was wonderful.

I was quite surprised that bags, backpacks, strollers, etc. were not checked upon entrance to the fair...especially given that we had just had two more mass shootings, the presence of the presidential candidates, and the sheer number of people attending the fair.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the fair...where else could you experience the sheer variety of entertainment, food, etc. options for $8 (I had bought my tickets online in advance)?! I would happily return...perhaps in another four years.

Always a good time at the isf(iowa state fair) tons of food, lots of attractions, rides, animals and people! If you're ever in iowa during the fair time, it's a must to come to the fair!

The Iowa State Fairgrounds is an Icon in the midwest, with multiple events held there, in addition to the marvelous Iowa State Fair. A must see.

The 2019 Iowa State Fair is a must do if you are anywhere near Des Moines. Get tickets at a grocery store for $8, park close and pay $5-10 for parking near Walnut and arrive as close to 8am as you can. Try to go during the week as it is more crowded on weekends. Google the Iowa State Fair for a schedule. You will need money for food and drinks - they do add up. You can plan to spend an entire day and get a stamp if you want to leave and come back in. Overall, this is a great family activity - for couples too.

Food of all varieties. Free shows that highlight the best of Iowa. Car display is ok. The animal shows are amazing. Highlights are the butter cow, largest bore, and largest bull.

So many things to do! Great animal barns, great entertainment, and great 'fair food". This is an annual 'must do'.

The Iowa State Fair is a classic that everyone should attend at least once! Living in Iowa, I've been many times but I always manage to find something new. First off, the fair is in August and it can be HOT here in August, so dress appropriately and remember to drink tons of water. The fair showcases all aspects of Iowa agriculture from the crops to the livestock to the machinery that helps it all happen. All of that is interesting but there is so much more! Tons of entertainment, a lot of it free (minus admission to the fair itself), fun contests to watch (example: husband calling contest lol), tons of interesting exhibits to peruse (model train museum, for one of many), midway rides and games, and the food! Fair food is an entire category of its own! There are the standards,like corn dogs, homemade lemonade, beef, pork and a host of other items. There's an entire category of foods on a stick: corn dogs, pork chops, bacon, pineapple, even salad on a stick! There's also an entire category of fried foods, many of them on a stick as well: fried snickers, deep fried oreos, waffle chicken, deep fried butter (sounds gross but I'm told it tastes like a cinnamon roll), fried veggies on a stick, the list is endless. Finally, every year there are new foods to try and those judged by a panel prior to the fair to be the top 3 or 4 new foods are then in a contest for the duration of the fair to win the title of "best new fair food". Yes, there are tons of people. Yes, it's hot. Yes, it can be pricey. However, with a little pre-planning, you can lessen the negatives with a little research. The Iowa
State Fair has its own website, which is a great source of information, and this year there is also an app, which we found very useful. Long review short, I would highly recommend a visit here, you won't regret it!

I have been to many state fairs, and the one in Iowa is absolutely one of the best. They really pride themselves on it, and it is packed full of things to do and see. From classic fair rides, and games, to all of the great (not so great for you) fair food and drinks. To the livestock exhibits, bands playing, tractor pulls, racing, butter cow, literally there is something here for everyone. This is a great place, and a great way to spend a few days, or almost two weeks if you want to stay for it all!

The Iowa State Fair is the largest and arguably the best State Fair in the entire country. I make it an annual outing taking my grandchildren. If you've never been to a fair this is the one to go to

The Iowa State Fair is 11 days of entertainment, events, and fair-food - there's nothing like it! There's truly something for everyone. There's far too much to see and do to jam into one day.

Originally the fair grounds was used for ten days and then it sat empty the rest of the year. The Blue Ribbon Foundation and several wealthy, generous donors have remodeled several old buildings to add features and air condition them. Now there are year around events. The site is busy almost every weekend. The top draw is still the Iowa State Fair in August of every year when over a million people come to the annual event. The Main Grandstand and the Varied Industries Building are worth going to see even if they are not in use at the time.

The Iowa State Fairgrounds is the best place to attend a state fair, City people get to see, hear and smell all types of animals. There is free and pay entertainment all day long. The Fairgrounds also host many other events during the year. We have attended multiple of these.

IOWA state fair was a lot of fun. Seems like mostly animals and food. Lots of things on sticks and Fried foods. Booths and Booths everywhere. Wish there was a map. Also wish the headliner concerts were less expensive.

This is a wonderful fairgrounds! Lots of historic areas, plenty of walking areas and when there's a cattle show some great restaurants are open too. This is one of our favorite show sites.

This year was at least the third time we’ve made the three-plus hour trek from Kansas City to this fair. Each time, it’s been on a Sunday,, and we had to drive back that evening to get to work the next day.

It’s worth the trip to us because this is a great Midwest fair, and we always have fun here. This fair always seems busy and has a certain vibrancy. Being Iowa, there’s plenty of livestock and agriculture displays, but it also has a strong emphasis on the arts, mostly in the form of the Culture Building, which is always one of our favorites. We spent nearly two hours in this three-building this time, and enjoyed all the art on the display, which included that of contestants in various categories, as well as vendors selling their wares. We especially enjoyed the cases on the ground floor which were full of past winners in the egg decoration competition (it’s no surprise that there are a lot of them decorated as ears of corn), and the photography on the top floor.

We also like the Agriculture Building, which is a huge two-story and old-fashioned looking structure which is wide open with ornate stair cases and a balcony featuring a wide variety of vendors upstairs. This is also where the famous butter cow is displayed in a glass-sided freezer, which also has some ice art. Other displays in here feature floral arrangements, bonsai trees, and entries in the agriculture competitions.

In our wanderings at the fair, we sat through parts of two different horse competitions in two different arenas, both of which were air-conditioned. We were a little disappointed that there wasn’t a building devoted to goats, at least not while we were there, although we saw a few.

Unlike the state fairgrounds in Missouri and Kansas, Iowa’s aren’t completely flat. Towards the eastern side, and particularly in the northeast corner, it gets a little hilly. There’s a modern wind turbine atop one of the hills, and it’s cool to see one up close.

Especially if you’ve never been, if you get a chance to go to this fair - Go!

What a nice fairground, plenty of shade and easily walkable. There are trams that will take you around the grounds. Lots of great exhibits and animals. Don't miss the super bull ,this year's was 3050 lbs!

If you're in Iowa in August then you MUST stop by this iconic fair. Deep fried for days and everythings on a stick! Including pork chops, deep fried vegetables, hot dogs, corn dogs, I could go on. One of the best state fairs in the country, make a stop and you won't regret it!

Lots of things to do! Plan on spending several days to be able to see everything. Lots of on-site parking is available. However, local residents offer many options for parking as well as several "park-and-ride"sites are also available. Many AG events including horse, cattle, swine shows and competitions as well as a large Varied Industries building with many exhibits and services. The Fair also boasts just about every kind of food imaginable! Anything grilled is a must try! Simply amazing Pork Chop on a stick, bacon wrapped ribs and bacon brisket bomb are irresistible! Large midway with many rides for folks needing more excitement in their lives along with multiple free entertainment entertainment stages are everywhere. Grandstand events are sure to please by offering a wide variety of acts from Country ti Hip Hop. Also, dont forget many on site restaurants also have live bands both day and night with something for just about everybody. Make certain to pick up a guide to Fair events, available in multiple locations, to assure you see everything you are interested in doing!

So many things to see and do. Revamped ride areas made for a much better experience. Buy a ride pass before the fair opens and the kids ride all day.
Pioneer hall, Varied industries and new foods never disappoint.

We attended the Iowa State Fair on the last night. Most displays and animals were gone. It was still fun to walk around, except that it was so hot! The venue is very nice and well kept. The rides seemed to be very popular. There were still many food vendors which our group enjoyed. We had picked this night, because we had tickets to The Doobie Brothers 50th Anniversary Concert tour. The sound was a little jumbled, which made it difficult to make out some of the lyrics, but we thoroughly enjoyed the concert. It started about 45 mins. late, but ran for 2 1/2 hrs., including the encore. We liked the fact that our seats in the grandstand allowed us to sit for the performance and we had great views of the stage and screens. A fun night!

Great place to eat fun food, do fun activities, take the kids to see the animals, awesome concerts and drink expensive drinks but totally worth it!

Great place to have the largest antique truck show Yet!! Great accommodations,showers in campground on the hill. We Really enjoyed our time there!!

We attend the Iowa Pigeon show every year. The fairgrounds is a great location. The food court is top notch and everyone is friendly and helpful.

I grew up going to and working at this Great Fair. I have been to fairs from Texas to GA and many others but none compare.

The fair is very big, food was good and the beers were ice cold. The mutton busting was fun to watch and there was some other fun competitions. Make sure to bring good walking shoes and stop by the vendor with the handles for your beer cup! Really cool and came in handy.

Must be one of largest fairs in America!! This is an event that definitely takes more than one day if you really want to see it all.

I guess I just don't see all the hype. I like smaller town fairs better. Just seems like they don't have anything different for being so big.

Our 2nd attendance to the IA State fair was a fun time. Parking was a breeze (on a Friday night no less). We found some new fun food (Apple Eggroll was yummy) and got see many of the animals. The buildings are well laid out with plenty of room to walk around, even when it's crowded. Plenty of shade to keep you cool in the August heat. They also have an IA craft beer tent for the adults. There are many games and rides for the younger folks, as well.

People watching, pork chop on a stick, corn dogs, grandstand shows, free entertainment, arts & crafts, businesses selling things. Off-season they have shows and other attractions.

We had a great day out at the fair. We went on a Friday so it wasn't too crowded during the day. There was plenty to see, do and eat, as well as a small rides/game area to keep young and old entertained.

Best food, hundreds of different foods, craft beers, rides, animals and more animals.
New experimental foods, great deals on hot tubs, mowers, food

Lots to see and do! You must go multiple days to do it justice! Foot long corn dogs and Iowa craft beer tent are must do a long with the butter cow, the Methodist church tent for breakfast, seeing the animals and fair entries. Don't forget the 4H exhibits! And the quilts! Tried operating a long arm quilting machine and playing a steel drum. Where else would you have this much fun?!

It truly is the best state fair in the U.S.! Forget your diet on this day--eat something on a stick, have some lemonade, and share some freshly made chocolate chip cookies. Catch a free music act and wander through the Varied Industries Building. Don't forget to go down the Big Slide and see the butter cow. Great for the family!

Always great good at fair! Especially fond of nutty bars. Need more Nutty Bars at fair.
There is something for everyone!

The many Veterans present on Veterans Day at fair is fantastic. Great day to be at Iowa State Fair!

Whether or not you have been here before, it is not to be missed! There is always something to do at the Fair. From concerts, to the hundreds of food selections, to the livestock exhibits, to the famous Butter Cow...you will not be disappointed!

A truly jaw dropping experience.
The fair ground is on a massive site.
Fun fair,food stalls,bars and concerts every night.
The variety of food and beers is mind boggling.
Farm animals,farm equipment are well represented.
A truly memorable experience.

What a treat to 'roam' this iconic state fair's diverse attractions...from commercial exhibits to farm animals & their young or older handlers, veggie/flower arrangements & an array of creative fair food fare. Worth a journey during annual dates ;-)

We were in Iowa for the Knoxville Nationals and realized the fair was happening. Glad we did. It is a great fair. Something for everyone. I was glad to see all of the interactive stuff for young kids and people taking advantage of it. Tons of animals, machinery, exhibits, food and rides. Really nice buildings and many had air conditioning. Place was clean and people were very nice. Lots of places to sit down and shade too! Trams for people that can’t walk well. There are a few inclines in one section. We will go again if we are in the state. Nicest fair I have been too and if you are from New England way better than the Big E

I have been waiting ALL MY LIFE to visit the Iowa State Fair. I had a Fantastic time. You have to have patience because there is a lot of people. Take advantage of the free buggy rides from parking to the fair. There was A lot of Agriculture things to do, free concerts and lots lots more.

We went to The Iowa State fair for the day and the first building we went into was the animal education building. Expecting to see educational information to get kids excited about animals and nature I was disgusted at what I observed. The building was full of pregnant female animals who were very close to or had very recently given birth. I can not imagine the amount of stress these poor animals were under being observed while in labor. How would any person feel with hundred of observers while they are in labor. It is unsafe for the animals! While I can see why some people would think it would be "cool" its just not right.

Loved this experience, highly recommend. We traveled from Maryland. Saw the butter cow and experience all of the great food and fair.

We love the fair and can easily spend 12 + hours here! Every year is different, every day is different. We like to tour all of the animal barns and catch a couple of judging contests. It is also fun to see the 4-H projects submitted - what talent! The photography is fun. It's also fun to see the commercial exhibits and pick up some "freebies". We tour the DNR building. There is a lot of walking, so taking in a few shows gives your feet a break. There are animal shows, music, tumbling, hypnotists, you name it... We never make it to the amusement area. We pack our own lunch and the day is really pretty cheap for our family of 7.

Very nice arena for a dog show with plenty of free parking, vendors and bathrooms. The kennel club staff are helpful and put on a great show!

Yes the state fair is worth the hype. So many things to see here, so much is very Iowa too, which is totally the point of going. Livestock, crazy food (try to plan ahead of time as it can be overwhelming trying to find specific eats), people-watching, half-million dollar farm machinery, you name it. Mild weather is helpful as some 90 degree muggy Iowa days can kill your spirit and endurance a bit...

Finally made it to the Iowa State Fair at age 68. It was truly an experience to remember. Lot’s to see but so many people it was hard to walk through the crowds sometimes. Food was expensive. Once is enough for me.

Tip 1: Avoid the first Friday of the fair which is unofficially known as "East Siders Day", where people that went to school in the area all come to the fair. Both of our Uber drivers warned us of this day as it is both crazy busy and it can get a little rowdy (one driver witnessed a fight right outside the main gate).

Tip 2: If you're not familiar with the area, take an Uber or Lyft. We paid $25 each way for a ride from Altoona (9 miles away) and it was well worth it as it was a stress-free experience. We waited about 5 minutes to get picked up from Altoona and less than 2 minutes when we were ready to leave the fair. I suggest driving to within a couple miles of the fair and parking on a side street and then calling for a ride.

Tip 3: Go early. By 8PM we noticed that a lot of things were already closed down, which was disappointing.

No way anyone leaves here hungry! So little time – so may choices, so may sticks.

But there is so much more to see and do:

- We always enjoy the exhibits, especially the building with the newborn animals. Very educational, especially for children.

- You can’t miss the Butter Cow; and nearby, the hand dipped milk shakes.

- The horse show each evening is a favorite.

- Take a trip down the Giant Slide and on the Sky Ride.

- Visit the model train building.

- And take time to appreciate the historic buildings, especially up on the hill.

We really like this State Fair Campground. It is the 4th one we have stayed at across the country. It was on grass and most sites were nicely shaded. Our site was a bit uneven but it was 50 Amp full hookup. The bath house was close if needed and there were plenty of dumpster and areas for dog walking.
I can't speak to the bathhouse as we did not use them.
We would stop here again.

We centered a visit to Iowa around a visit to the State Fair in August. We had been to the MN State Fair and wanted to see another....we don't have good midwestern fairs in the southeast so we have to travel ;)

So this was a good fair, but the map is terrible - so hard to know what is in each place with just a building name. We had to just wander around to see what was where.

Fair food. Animals. Rides. It was a fair.

We did enjoy the Shriners who picked us up in the parking lot and drove us right into the fair and then returned us to our car at the end of the day - all for a small donation. Excellent way for them to raise money and help out tired fairgoers!

Most everyone in Iowa knows that the Iowa State Fair is the best in the land, and soon everyone in the nation will know. After all, the musical, “State Fair,” and the movie by the same name were inspired by none other than Iowa’s state fair
On a recent trip to Des Moines we heard the Polk County Fair was running at the state fairgrounds so we drove over to take it in. Although not nearly as large as the state fair, it was fun to see the domesticated animals there for judging and all the buildings and exhibits they contain. The buildings, many with art deco details, were very well maintained, as were the grounds. Everything looked ready for the state fair, which is held every August. The grounds will be hopping with large crowds, food stands, horse and tractor pulls, 4-H exhibits, livestock contests, midway rides, did I say food stands?, car racing, big name entertainment, baked goods contests, and food and dining tents, just to name a few of the attractions.
Anyone who enjoys summer picnics, ice cream socials, or county and state fairs will love the Iowa State Fair. Trip Advisor does not have a rating high enough to do justice to this perennial favorite event.

The Iowa State Fair is a 10-day long celebration of agriculture, concerts, food and family! You should check it out at least once in your life!! It's HUGE and a ton of fun! Try to pick a day that's not so hot! and a weekday is even better! You can park at the fairgrounds, but we always park in the residential area to the west...it's almost a party in itself! You can park for $5 - $10 and it's very easy to get out of the area vs riding a shuttle to the gate and fighting a line of traffic getting out of the grounds. We've never had a bad experience parking off-site. There are even bike taxi's to take you to the gate if you'd like. Entrance is $12, which seems ok for a day of fun. Check out the food - a little of everything! There are also bars/beer gardens (several) so it's a party! We went to Little Big Town on Friday night and sat in the far west grandstands - not good seats for seeing the band well, but there were 5 or 6 big screens so it was ok. The fireworks show directly after the concert was short but AMAZING!! :) You should probably try to find the "butter cow", and check out the "Avenue of Breeds" in one of the animal barns. There were a couple of HUGE pigs there also! The shakes at the dairy barn are very good! We caught the draft horse show (outside the venue - there was a charge to go in). Didn't have time to stay long, but we thoroughly enjoyed watching them get ready and go INTO the show! Beautiful!!
Highly recommend!! We try to do the fair every year!

The Iowa State Fair is really great. I try to go every year. It is impossible to see everything in one trip. Each year there is always something new to discover. We went to the Charley Daniels and Alabama concert. Two wonderful performances in one show. The food is wonderful here as well. Love this state fair.

I love the fair but it’s really hot out here and no water in sight. I’ve walked over 30 minutes and still no water. Almost all of the vendors don’t carry water. So where do you get a cold water at? I’d even pay for it but none to be found.

It is the best state fair in the USA . We have acres of beautiful green space and the best food on a stick lol . It is a place for young and old .

The song from the movie keeps popping into my head. The Iowa State Fair is a "great state fair, don't miss it, don't even be late." It was so much fun spending the day at the Fair. So much to see from the animal barns, the midway, the "made in Iowa" building, and of course the butter cow (and tractor). We had great fun with the corn producers scavenger hunt to get our corn t-shirts. There are so many food booths, it is difficult to decide on what to eat - anything on a stick? or a sit-down meal. We opted to get out of the heat for a bit and had a great pulled pork sandwich. If you are in Des Moines mid-August, this is definitely the place to be.

We like to catch the concerts at the Grandstand every summer. Before hand, we go early to walk through the 4H exhibits and show cattle. We especially like to go see the Butter Cow and get a free egg on a stick. Lots of things to do and see. Being from Minnesota, I still think Minnesota has a wider variety of ethnic foods available to try.

We came to the fair to see the 2018 cowgirl queen coordination and was surprised at how expensive the food was at the fair. We really didn't get much chance to walk around since we only got their in time for this event. Need to have more signs telling you how to get to the fair from the interstates.

I’ve heard that this state fair is awesome, and after our first visit, I’d had to agree. What a cool experience. Have to say though, the Iowa Craft Beer tent is WAY TO POPULAR and over-crowded! On the flip side, the Pickle Tickle Beer was really cool. This fair really requires two days to even come close to “seeing it all”. Side note: Andrew Zimmerman was their filming an episode for his TV show. Nice guy!

The Iowa State Fair is the best summer activity that I can think of. There is food for any craving that you could have.

Iowa state fair is a great state fair . Something for everyone whether you go to a concert by professionals or local talent including the bill Riley talent competition at noon daily or enjoy agricultural sites from the biggest boar co test to the butter sculptures. Plenty of benches to rest . Fun to people watch. Plenty of food choices ! Plan for at least half a day , but will probable stay longer or come back . It lasts 10 days . Half price in the evenings.

We visit the Iowa State Fairgrounds every year for the Iowa Horse Fair. Great food offered throughout the fairgrounds and easy parking.

August may be very hot and humid in Iowa, but you must make a trip to the Iowa State Fair! It's one of the biggest state fairs in the whole United States.Great food, with new items added every year. Great concerts every year. The butter cow, ice sculptures, chainsaw carving demonstrations, the big bull, the big boar, beautiful horses, midway rides, skyride, contests, live news at 5, free stages with concerts, and lots of good people watching. Do it! make the trip to Iowa! you won't regret it.

Great Fair. This is our second time visiting the Iowa fair. We travel from St. Louis to come to this fair. The food is fantastic and so much to do and see👍

First trip to the state fair. Crowded is an understatement, but we had a great time. Guides are handed out at the gate that help you plan your day. No matter what you choose, you'll have a great time. Great food, too!

We attended the Iowa State Fair. Weather was warm, lots of walking, lots of people, lots of food and drinks. Kids enjoyed looking at the animals and rides.

Something for everyone and the free stages have great entertainment! Unlimited food options and excellent people watching! Don't miss it!

The Bill Riley Talent Search brings us to the fair, multiple times each year. I love the improvements to the Anne & Bill Riley stage; kudos! Other than that, the layout and grounds appear to be the same old, same old.

My favorite part was the large building that had vendors in it for the Good Guys show. It was super hot and humid that weekend! It was our first time at this venue/event and overall it was nice. The only part we weren't fully fans of was how spread out the show was. There were a bunch of roads all over and it was hard to be sure we saw everything. We also weren't in the mood to walk up and down and all over hills with how hot it was. The people working the event seemed helpful and friends. The main road in the fairgrounds where the cars and food booths were, was really nice though! Overall a fun time!

From the Iowa state fair to gun show, craft shows, and many many events that happen at the fairgrounds, there is literally something for everyone.

This is a great venue that only keeps getting better. There were about 6,000 cars here this weekend. Some price gouging on water and soda. Still under construction in some areas.

I haven't been an Iowa resident for 25 years but go back for the Iowa state fair every year. They have the worlds best corn dogs and lemonade. So much fun to check out what new food on a stick they have.

A year without the Iowa State Fair is a year deficient in sunshine, music, laughter, and love. It's impossible to see and to do everything at an Iowa State Fair. With scores of simultaneous competitions and events, every year requires trade-offs. But, some things can't be missed, like time in the 4-H exhibits hall for this year's photography display and craft projects, or time at the incomparable Pioneer Hall, or at the arts show in the Cultural Center where the new year's photo competition and artisans' demonstrations always are captivating. Every Fair visitor marvels at the year's biggest animals and giant pumpkins. People who aren't creeped out by butterflies love the magic of walking through the butterfly tent; and, no fan of America's horse-dependent history can miss the modern horse area with its awesome draft teams, trick shooting competitions, magnificent animals, and Cowgirl Queen contest. Iowa State Fair's food offerings are incomparable, but wait at least 1/2 hour before trying the latest thrill ride on the midway. People who get the most for the least physical exhaustion are those who remain for the whole Fair while camping at the adjacent, historic Iowa State Fair campground.

Have been there many years in a row and 2 times this year. So much good food. Must check out the Varied Industries Bldg, the livestock barns, midway and everything. Truly and great Iowa Tradition!!!

Great food - especially lots of "food on a stick" (trademark specialty of the fair), so many animal exhibits, competition exhibits (4H, food, agriculture...), great featured entertainment.... Their "schedule" for the 11 days is pages long, and almost all worth seeing if you only had the time. We are planning to go back next summer for a few days.

ISF is one of my favorite things to do every single year!!! Entertainment, food, drinks, more food, laughter, fun...I could go on and on. Can't wait for Iowa State Fair 2017!

The Iowa State Fair defies comparison. It's homey, safe, eclectic, upscale, traditional and immense. It's difficult to see it all in one day. There is parking on-site, but attempting to secure a spot in the morning will put you in a line of cars that can stretch a mile or more. Towards the afternoon or evening lines to the parking lot are greatly reduced or non-existent. Parking at one of the offsite shuttle lots is very safe and convenient and will have you walking through the Fair gates in about 15-20 minutes with much less stress. Activities and entertainment cater to all ages. There are areas and programs for children and an active adult nightlife with an abundance of music venues and concerts featuring nationally known music headliners. All sorts of farm animals and livestock shows where it's OK to "touch"; an immense midway with rides and diversions of all sorts; many comfortable and quiet spots to sit, relax and people watch or let young ones nap, and a food menu that ranges from all things suitable to place on a stick to TV casual dining and microbrews. It's huge, many faceted, accessible, diverse, very interesting and extremely fun! World famous for many reasons and not to be missed.

All the fixin's and shows of your county fair. A lot of food on a stick. Pricey though. Plan on $7 for a sandwich and add the cost of sides and drinks. Worth a visit in your lifetime. A lot to see and do. Tix online will save about $4 per person, depending on the day.

The best thing about the State Fair is the DART transportation, along with the free parking at the State Capitol. $2 round-trip is a bargain. Everything else? Overpriced and unhealthy food.

This was our main reason for visiting Iowa; we had a great time. Exhibits were interesting, & nice variety of foods to try.

Lots of food, fun and surprises! Not to expensive and a real family fun! Lots of food many displays and good concerts!

I had a blast at the State Fair. It's about the same price as Toronto's CNE to get in and food/beverages are always a bit more costly at these places. I enjoyed my experience and even went on a couple rides. They have options for everyone from roller coasters to the classic ferris wheel. In terms of food there is no shortage and they offer a convenient shuttle from the state capitol downtown right to the entrance. No need to pay for parking!

The Iowa State Fair had everything for everyone. Transportation away from the fair grounds is the way to go.. Buses take you right to the main gate. You will spend two days there and still not see everything.

Being going to the Iowa State Fair for years. They have every thing under the sun there. Grand stand, so many vendors of food (deeelicious) walking shoes are required because you will not see it all in one day. SO take your time and do it in a mini vacation. Lot of fun, games, shows to see ride on the carnival rides. All kinds of live animals to see for the kids... Tractor rides. Beer tent is a hoot.

This is the best state fair in the Union exclamation point the foods are of great variety and always very interesting. The animal display the rides the industrial building all have quality display.

Went to see Reba at the fair and it was wonderful. Parking was easy, the facilities were clean and access to the concert was a breeze. Will definitely visit again!

This year you could have gone from Wisconsin State Fair, to Iowa State Fair, and then go to the Minnesota State fair. It was not a bad fair. The Iowa State Fair had three location where you could park and ride. Being out of town, Google found Polk High School the easiest to find. The lot had full sign but no one listens to that since people come and go regularly. We did find a spot. It was two dollars for the bus. The fair was not bad. They even had a stand with a veggie dog and another with a salad on the stick. One of the big ones for meat eaters was the turkey leg. They had a small garden area and a children's area. They are working hard at making the state fair generate its own energy through geothermal, solar, and a wind turbine. The big items was the butter sculptures which there was a long line, I cheated and looked around those looking at it from the line, did not see as much detail but still cool. Also, went through the three story building that had wood, photography, painting, etc. It was not bad and it was an air conditioned building. Did not spend much time with the animals though there an opportunity toe milk a goat, see the babies, and see the Clydesdales. My favorite was watching the red trouser act which played throughout the fair. We also went to a State Fair concert that was Ok, I had never been to an out door concert and it seemed to have a lot of base, in fact the group did an encore without the microphones to get the true sound. Worth going at least once.

I can see why visiting Iowa State Fair ranks in the 100 things to do! The fair has everything, playland for children as well as petting "zoos", music for every age, farm animals galore for the backyard farmer, demos on all sorts of items, and the prerequisite largest farm animals, i.e.; hogs and bulls. But let's not forget the carnival food, practically anything deep fried, huge turkey legs, desserts,including great ice cream and all things that can be impaled upon a stick. Start early and stay late.

For years, I’ve wanted to see the Iowa State Fair. It’s universally considered the iconic American state fair and is in the book, “The 1,000 Places You’ll See Before you Die.” Everyone always seemed baffled by this, considering I lived in Philly. When we recently relocated to the Minneapolis area, I knew this was going to be our summer vacation. I was NOT disappointed. It was like stepping back into the 1950s. Virtually everything could have existed then except for the two craft beer tents. No new and innovative foods for millennials, no gluten free or vegetarian options...(though I’m sure there are some!) All of the rides and games were the exact same ones I loved during county fairs in the early 90s. There was a general happiness in the air. I was expecting it to be pretty rural, and there were a fair amount of farmers since a large part is the animals and agriculture competitions (they still award actual blue ribbons!). But also just a diverse crowd from all walks of life. I did goat yoga and loved it! I even got to take home my mat. I recommend the Sky Ride, since you get a view of the whole fair and the line was way less than the Ferris Wheel. The craft beer tent was awesome, all local Iowa beers and great live music. We had BBQ, pork chop on a stick, and got ice cream from an old-fashioned soda shop. So worth this trip into American nostalgia...

Weather was mild, low temperature and humidity...very pleasant day. Fun seeing the new Budweiser Clydesdales; even though they are babies born this year, they were taller than the trainer. Gorgeous horses. Corn growers sent us on a scavenger hunt, which involved seeing a lot of the Fair grounds. Saw pumpkins between 300-840 pounds! Exhibits were great, always love the butter cow and all of the ice sculptures. We ate from the vendor booths until all of us were good and greasy...fried Oreos, Fried Twinkies, Pork Chops on a stick, hard boiled eggs on a stick, corn dog, fried potato swirls, ice cream with brownies coconut and whipped cream, fresh squeezed lemonade, freshly baked chocolate chip cookies in a bucket, many many more. Fun way to spend time with my grandchildren before they go off to high school and college for another school year.

We both really enjoy the fair a lot there were a lot of things to do lots of concessions great foods

I've been going to the iowa state fair regularly for 20 some years.
I've occasionally heard people comain't about the crowds which I find amussing since it's no secret that it's the largest agricultural based fair in the country. There is something for everyone,so go online and check the schedule, as well as make some time to just walk around and find something new.

Admission this year another record. Wow you wouldn't have known this from the traffic. Des Moines Police did a fantastic job in and around the entire perimeter of the Fair. I've lived in Texas for 19 years and was born in DesMoines and ill tell you this Iowa's state fair is the BEST state fair in the country.

Our family drove in from Chicago. We all had a wonderful time. Lots to do and lots of fun. Take your time and enjoy the animal barns and watch the judging. We avoided the midway, but check out the agricultural and varied industry buildings. So many options to eat junk food. Fried ice cream was a favorite. Enjoy yourselves!!

We stayed one night in our motorhome. The area was muddy and not level, but what is to be expected from a large campground (over 3,000 sites).
It was VERY difficult to find the campground from the main road as it was down season and they are not allowed to have signs outside the grounds.
Perhaps there can be a sign as soon you enter? The first we found was about 1/4 mile in.
The hosts in the Brown Cougar were great.

Absolute best state fair in the U.S. it has everything a state fair should have and more! Don't miss the Iowa State Fair!!

Farmers to city folk will enjoy seeing animals, produce, art and loads of entertainment. There is a plethora of diverse free entertainment on several stages. Go with family or friends to share the amazing variety of foods; you will save calories and money and be able to try more items. The grounds are amazingly clean for the amount of people and activities. There are lots more benches to have a rest when needed. Be sure to check the daily schedule of events to plot a course and save footsteps.

We decided to go to the fair and take Grandchildren and friends to the state Fair we give them the choice of which food stand to go to but there were so many food. Vendsers that.we finnaly chose one that served several different choices and that was the Iowa pork booth everyone had something different but we weren't disappointed it was delicious and of coarse the children road on several rides they enjoyed the afternoon and was Very tired by the time we arrived home

This was our 1st visit and we spent a whole day here. the grounds are very large with food vendors everywhere, barns everywhere, entertainment stages everywhere and corn dogs everywhere. Tip...buy a large drink and you can get refills at any food stand for only $2. Download the app for a listing of the food selections and then happy hunting. Take the 2nd sky chair lift for an overview and then walk back.

The Iowa State fairgrounds have a really great place because the food is really good it has a lot good exhibitions and it has a lot of good rides for kids. And I have been to many fairs this one is the best.

The inn's personnel made this trip memorable and comfortable. This was a first time experience to the midwest and found new things which made this a big learning experience.

I'm going to try to keep this simple and to the point! The fair is expensive, you have to pay to get there. You have three options when it comes to getting there you can pay to park at the fair which is crazy expensive or you can park at someone's house near by, this is a little cheaper but your leaving your car with a stranger probably named Steve and Steve doesn't really care what happens to your car he is just waiting for you to get back so he can sell your spot to the next person. The third option and best option is to park at the state capitol, its a great attraction its self and take a DART bus to the fair. It only $2 a person $1 a person if you bought tickets ahead of time and it drops you at the front gate and takes you back to your car when your done for free. Now to the fair its self, in my opinion you take away all the food vendors its not real special and I wouldn't have a reason to go each year because once you see the fair once you seen it for about a decade. People come back for the food, some foods are just dumb like deep fat fried butter that's probably why they have an ambulance on property but others are a must have. Items like footlong corn dogs and cheese curds, also be prepared to walk and its always going some of the hottest days all summer so be prepared to be hot. So in conclusion if you like food and don't mind spending some money its fun, but if your cheap and not a big eater we have other things to do in Iowa.

ive been going to this fair for over 40 years it is and has been the best from the grinder sandwichs to the animals its a fun family all day event this year however no stock car races what idiot did this people love the races besides that if you haven't been then go plenty of parking 10.00 now was free for 38 years the only fair ive heard is bigger and better is Minnesota fais so I'm trying it next year and will let you know ps the midway needs bar rescue

We came to Iowa during the State Fair, and spent a day there. Large fair, with lots of food and attractions. There is a free tram that takes you around the entire park, so that's good to get an overview. We spent 7 hours there, on a very hot day, and could have spent even more time seeing things. Exhibits, animals, shows - it has it all. Just downhome good clean fun.

I’ve been to many state fairs but this is absolutely my favorite! Great concerts, great food and great people! well worth traveling if you’re coming from out of state! This is not a small attraction if you’re visiting be sure you plan a couple days you’ll never see everything at the fair!

Visited on second last day of fair, tons of people and very hot. First time to a state fair and just like a county fair. Brought back fond memories of youth. Got my pronto pop fix and root beer. Sky ride great way to plan my visit. Lots of animals and exhibits.

Took the family out to the State Fair and loved a lot of the changes they have made. In addition to building improvements one of the biggest hits for our family was the way the Midways were laid out. Since we have a younger grandchild (under 4) and an older one (10) the break to family friendly ‘zones’ was much appreciated.

I cross five states to come to this annual fair. There are great exhibits and fun foods fir everyone. Iowa, known for corn so don’t miss the sweet corn and corn dogs.

We have been to the Iowa State Fair many times. This last summer we had friends from New Jersey make a trip to Iowa primarily to go to the fair. They were not disappointed. The fair is one of those one of a kind experiences that is hard to describe. From the people to the food to the agricultural displays to the entertainment, the animals and just plain down home fun. Wholesomeness that is hard to find these days. Maybe old fashioned but in this day and age that's not a bad thing. Everybody should experience the Iowa State Fair at least once!

We attended the Iowa State Fair with our oldest son and his wife.We had a great day visiting the various learning pavilions (animal or produce barns) around the fairgrounds and of course we tried different food dishes, 90% of them junk food and expensive too.

This is our first time at the fair. I dint see anything interesting so went for the rides. The new roller coaster at the end stopped suddenly and we were hurt both on the legs and the elbow... in the back seat there were few kids too what about them? The fresh fried fries in the thrill ville( at the end of the rides) are very good .. but no vegetarian food at all which is of no surprise. The fried fruit is the worst just loss of money. The Saratoga chips by the barns are also not satisfying most of them were all way too browned.

This fair is the best. Delicious foods, great concerts, excellent rides. Favorite is the Barclays chocolate chip cookies.

If you have not been to the Iowa State Fair put it on your bucket list. It is like no other state fair. The food is amazing. If it fits on a stick you will find it on a stick at the Iowa State Fair. The best lemonade is by the sheep barn. Bring your friends, bring your family and bring your wallet. It is worth every penny!

Did not make a special trip just for the fair but saw a commercial advertising the event. Decided to take the time and really glad I did.

Was the first time I visited the Iowa State Fair since I was 5 years old. This place is huge and very intimidating for people who don't walk a lot. I suggest going if you ever have the chance and park out away from the fairgrounds and ride the DART buses. Much cheaper and more convenient. Also, take your wallet!!! Everything is EXPENSIVE!

This is the Heaven of everything fried, if you like grease bites on bites, you have ARRIVED! and if you like fried everything, even ice cream, then look no more, call your friends and tell them you found guide and you'll be going off the grid for a while, because this is all what is offered here.

What an amazing time. This was our first ever visit to the state fair and we will be returning. Awesome selection of food vendors with plenty of different options to choose from. The "Butter Cow" display was amazing. There were more things to see and do than we had time in the day. We definitely will be back.

Opening day at the state fair. Arrived mid afternoon and parked in the main parking area. Greeted with a golf cart to take us right in gate to grand concourse. This was our third visit to this fair. Make a trip to see the museum. Lots of yummy food. We love the avenue of breeds to see the variety of animals in one place. Biggest bull and boar, varied industries building, and butter cow are worth a visit too.

The fairgrounds are lovely and it is nice to just drive down and park somewhere, then just walk around and look. While it is great during the fair, it is also very nice when it's quiet!

I love the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Unlike other fairgrounds, this venue has a lot of trees that provide cooling shade. There are many, many benches along the walkways to stop and take a rest. Frequent rests/breaks help keep you energized for all the walking you'll do on these HUGE fairgrounds!

We have attended the fair for most of our libes and each year the fair brings something old and something new. It certainly should rate a 5 stars, but the management is so money hungry they have taken the fun out for many families that can no longer afford to attend. Look for special deals on tickets and eat before you go to help on the cost. Too much to see to describe here. There are many other activities on the grounds during the year, but they are confined to small area and user targeted.

The Iowa State Fair is the best state fair! There is something for everyone ... Animal barns, baby animals, Budweiser Clydesdales, butter cow, big slide and awesome selection of food are just some of the awesome highlights!

There is something of interest for anyone and everyone ... the best of midwest hospitality pride ... clearly a great asset for the USA!!!

My family attends the ISF annually. It is a tradition that has been passed down through several generations. There is so much to see and do! And lots of food to try. If you haven’t been it should be on your bucket list!

If you enjoy a fair, then this is a good time. There's really nothing significant that seems to change year-to-year, but the organizers do a nice job putting on a big fair. A few tips, we usually park a couple of blocks north of the fairgrounds on the street. Not so much to save the money, but more to save pain that can be getting into the official parking, especially on weekend days. Best place too cool off is the building where they show the horses. If you want to see the butter cow right up close, go early, otherwise just look over other people's shoulders and skip the line.

everyone should go to the iowa state fair at least once in their lifetime!the food,the shows,the livestock and of course people watching

I went to the Iowa State Fair Grounds to attend a Good-Guys car show. It was the first time that I had been to the fairgrounds and I was impressed at how big and well maintained the grounds are. It was also the first Good-Guys car show that I have been to, and was impressed at the quality and quantity of the cars. I can't wait till the next car show at this facility.

Iowa State fair ranked top five in the nation so I had to go. This is one of the cleanest fairs I have ever been to a lot of food and a lot of different things to do including different entertainment options. They also have some great craft beer tents. Would definitely go again.

Half price day. Arrived early. Weather cool. Entered Ag building as it opening avoiding the butter cow line. Daughter loves her egg council egg on a stick. Played in the fun forest. Scrolled through the cultural center and loved the fine art scavenger hunt- a great annual activity!! Showed daughter she could exhibit and began to get her interested. Cookies and freebies at varied industries. Hit all the fair high points in three hours limiting the crowds. Hope to plan a similar trip next year!!

The Iowa State Fair is held in August every year in the beautiful city of Des Moines over several days . There are a great deal of Sideshow attractions for the young and old and an incredible number of food stands with a vast collection of diversified selections of different snacks to choose from . There is a chair lift ride which takes you from the bottom of the Fairground to the top and back again . There are so many attractions there you would never get bored ; go see the wood carving , vintage cars , farm machinery , ride on lawn mowers , horses , cows , sheep , goats etc and all the crafts exhibited in the halls .
There's more than enough to keep anyone amused ; it's cheap to get in and there's plenty of parking available close buy .
Well worth a visit , drop in and have fun .

The Iowa State Fair is huge! I thought I knew what large crowds were like after going to east coast events like a pro football game or college championship game. Go early because the parking lots fill up quickly. Otherwise you will have to pay to park in somebody's front yard 10 blocks away from the fairgrounds. This is a family friendly venue with lots and lots and lots of things to see, do, eat and drink. There were more deep fried food choices on a stick than I thought was possible. There is a different music group performing in the grandstands every evening. It is easy to spend the whole day here and the fair closes at 1:00 am on the weekends.

Second trip to the Iowa State Fair, and added a day this time for a 3 day visit. Awesome time. Lots of great food, friendly people, musical presentations, chain saw artist, acrobats, free swag from displays. It was plenty sunny and warm, but it's August in Iowa, and you prepare yourself. The crowds are all over, but fluid and were courteous to my husband in a wheelchair.

The Iowa State Fair offers great fun for everyone. Huge variety of things to do. Witnessed a draft horse pulling event at the pavilion along with several musical acts at stages scattered all across the grounds. Two skygliders to choose from and of course you can't miss the Butter Cow. Expect to queue for that. Only thing to drag down the rating a bit was the price of food. Food was great but surprisingly expensive compared to other State Fairs I have been to (MN, WI, U.P. State Fair). $9 for a piece of chicken on a stick, $6 for a corn dog and $7+ for beers.

Love the new Thrill Parks setup. We were able to navigate the fair without having to visit those with the kids. Everything was very well kept, and it will be a family tradition to visit the state fair as often as possible.

I am gluten free and since this was my first time going to the Iowa State Fair, I was very concerned. However, it all worked out for me. Although there are not a lot of choices there, there were enough. Unless you like grilled sweet corn and turkey legs, I suggest you eat before you go. I've been here since 2007 and finally gave in and went to the fair. It was an interesting experience but perhaps I can handle going every other year or so now that I finally went.

The fair doesn't start until August 10 but we are ready to go! Love the free concerts! Always yummy fair food. Never know how many times we'll go because we can't see it all in one day! Love the Iowa State Fair!

What a fantastic Fair! The organization, planning, maps, event brochures cannot be duplicated anywhere. Congratulations to everyone from food vendors, crafters, amusement rides, animal farmers, florists, gardeners Entertainment etc., etc., etc. Loved it all! And.... don't forget the butter cow display!

We attended a motorcycle rally here along with about 5000 others. The place is huge and the staff exceptionally helpful. The grounds are very clean and easy to get around.

We always enter the fairgrounds off of 33rd and I must say the improvements to the entrance are outstanding! New streets, ticket booths and the fencing along the rides is gone. I had to stop to take it all in. Kudos ISF for a fabulous improvement!

Family friendly and something for everyone at this fair. Foods. Drinks. Animals. Agriculture. Shopping. Entertainment. Marcydiner tantrum scale of 5/5-no screaming kids.

What a great state fair. From watching the parade honoring our veterans, seeing the bell that was cast out of medals, dog tags and other metals, to viewing livestock in the barns, to enjoying all kinds of food on a stick wrapped in bacon. Their is something for everyone. Don't miss next year. You won't be disappointed

Went to the fair on probably the busiest day, Sunday. I now know why it is has been many years since I have gone to the fair. We were a large group 9 people with 2 strollers and a handicapped individual, and it was hard to navigate the crowd. The walk can be a good distance just to park and go to fair, so plan ahead if you have someone who can't walk long distances.
I most likely will not be back again for awhile.

The Iowa State Fair is a huge Iowa event. Many people, like us, go every year. But if you're not from Iowa, come check it out. The gate admission is only $12 and includes a lot of free entertainment. Food is expensive but if you like food on a stick, you will love it! Avoid the standard carnival food like hot dogs or pizza slices. If you like dogs, the corn dogs are battered and cooked fresh. Other good options: Italian sausage sandwich, giant turkey leg, pork chop on a stick, food from beef producers tent, deep fried cheese curd, gyros and BBQ. So much more. Sweets are plentiful- people go crazy over fresh baked cookies in a cup or fresh made mini donuts. I prefer ice cream from Bauders, dipped in chocolate desserts or strawberry shortcake. Deep fried candy bars are so good but you will want to share it because it's so rich .
If you're not familiar with farming- go see the Big Boar and Super Bull . Wander through the barns to see unique goats or sheep, beautiful horses , and lots of cows and pigs. Small fees are charged for larger animal shows such as draft horse competitions. Animal husbandry building has lots of baby animals.
Free entertainment includes kids shows, country , rock and sometimes some well known groups. Grandstand concerts every night this with ticket costs similar to other concert venues. Fireworks every night after the concert.
Other free buildings highlight natural resources, fruits and vegetables, art and shopping. If you're from out of town, skip the Varied industries building ( unless you're a quilter because the prize winning quilts are displayed there. ) . Of course, there are plenty of midway rides for additional cost. Giant slide is a good value. More to see in 1 day. You just won't see it all. Go on a weekday for less crowds, but if the weather is nice, it will be crowded. Get a program when you go in the gate to see what events are scheduled that day. And if you plan to eat and drink a lot, being a lot of money. ATM is available. We spend about 300-400$ for a family of 4 adults including beer, but we stay all day.