Fair Dates
2012: August 9-19 2013: August 8-18 2014: August 7-17 2015: August 13-23
Many people have inquired about how the Fair dates are set. Historically, the Fair always ended on the Sunday one week before Labor Day and the earliest Fair dates were August 13-23. In 1994, the Iowa State Fair Board, in an effort to avoid earlier school start dates, moved the dates of the Fair up one week. The Fair now ends on the Sunday two weeks prior to Labor Day. Based on calendar shifts, the earliest Fair is August 7-17 and the latest is August 13-23.
While the Fair Board thought they had solved the problem, the first day of school for many Iowa districts continues to get earlier, despite a state law requiring that Classes may begin no earlier than a day during the calendar week in which September 1 falls unless September 1 is a Sunday. In that case, classes may begin any day during the week before September 1. School districts avoid this law by simply submitting a waiver request to the Iowa Department of Education.
Early school start dates also hurt Iowa’s nearly $5.8 billion dollar tourism industry. Hotels, restaurants, attractions and other recreational events throughout Iowa also feel the sting of schools starting early as families adjust their travel plans for school schedules. You may wish to contact your local legislator as well as your school board and superintendent of schools to voice your concerns about how early school start dates negatively affect our communities. For assistance with letters to the editor or contacting your legislator, visit the Travel Federation of Iowa's helpful and easy to use website.
The Iowa State Fair Board and staff are concerned about the Fair’s dates but are not able to change them without encroaching on county fairs. In addition, many exhibits like agricultural and horticultural crops, livestock, 4-H and FFA projects are simply not ready to be exhibited at the end of July.
The Iowa State Fair appreciates your ongoing support and looks forward to seeing you August 9-19.
