Fair Dates
The Fair is an 11-day adventure held every August.
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.
Upcoming Fair Dates
| Year | Fair Dates |
|---|
| 2013 | August 8-18 |
| 2014 | August 7-17 |
| 2015 | August 13-23 |
| 2016 | August 11-21 |
| 2017 | August 10-20 |
| 2018 | August 9-19 |
| 2019 | August 8-18 |
| 2020 | 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 more than $6 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 8-18.
Fair Dates 1854 to Present
Fair Dates 2000-Present
| Year |
Fair Dates |
Fair Theme |
| 2000 |
August 10 to August 20 |
Zero In, August 10-20, 2000 |
| 2001 |
August 9 to August 19 |
It's a Winner! |
| 2002 |
August 8 to August 18 |
The Big One |
| 2003 |
August 7 to August 17 |
One in a Million |
| 2004 |
August 12 to August 22 |
Still the One |
| 2005 |
August 11 to August 21 |
America's Favorite Fair...and it's right in your own backyard |
| 2006 |
August 10 to August 20 |
Only at the Fair |
| 2007 |
August 9 to August 19 |
Sounds Like Fun |
| 2008 |
August 7 to August 17 |
U Gotta Love It |
| 2009 |
August 13 to August 23 |
State Fair Time |
| 2010 |
August 12 to August 22 |
Non Stop Fun |
| 2011 |
August 11 to August 21 |
Nothing Compares, 100 Years of the
Butter Cow |
| 2012 |
August 9 to August 19 |
Nothing Compares, It's Fairlicious |
Fair Dates 1975-1999
| Year |
Fair Dates |
Fair Theme |
| 1975 |
August 15 to August 24 |
The Colonizers |
| 1976 |
August 18 to August 29 |
Spirit of Iowa '76 |
| 1977 |
August 18 to August 28 |
New Horizons |
| 1978 |
August 17 to August 27 |
Take a Closer Look |
| 1979 |
August 16 to August 26 |
Get In Touch With Iowa |
| 1980 |
August 14 to August 24 |
Celebrate, Iowa |
| 1981 |
August 13 to August 23 |
So Much More To Go For |
| 1982 |
August 12 to August 22 |
So Much More To Go For |
| 1983 |
August 10 to August 20 |
So Much More To Go For |
| 1984 |
August 15 to August 25 |
Just See Us Now |
| 1985 |
August 15 to August 25 |
Augustfest! |
| 1986 |
August 14 to August 24 |
Come Home to the Iowa State Fair |
| 1987 |
August 20 to August 30 |
Celebrate an American Classic |
| 1988 |
August 18 to August 28 |
An Old-Fashioned Good Time |
| 1989 |
August 17 to August 27 |
An Old-Fashioned Good Time |
| 1990 |
August 15 to August 26 |
Iowa’s Blue Ribbon Fun Fest |
| 1991 |
August 14 to August 25 |
Iowa’s Blue Ribbon Fun Fest |
| 1992 |
August 20 to August 30 |
The Only Fun of Its Kind |
| 1993 |
August 19 to August 29 |
The Only Fun of Its Kind |
| 1994 |
August 11 to August 21 |
The Only Fun of Its Kind |
| 1995 |
August 10 to August 20 |
The Fun and Only |
| 1996 |
August 8 to August 18 |
Let Yourself Go |
| 1997 |
August 7 to August 17 |
Go for It |
| 1998 |
August 13 to August 23 |
Way Too Much Fun |
| 1999 |
August 12 to August 22 |
Knock Yourself Out |
Fair Dates 1950-1974
| Year |
Fair Dates |
Fair Theme |
| 1950 |
August 25 to September 1 |
|
| 1951 |
August 25 to September 3 |
|
| 1952 |
August 23 to September 1 |
|
| 1953 |
August 29 to September 7 |
|
| 1954 |
August 28 to September 6 |
|
| 1955 |
August 27 to September 5 |
|
| 1956 |
August 24 to September 2 |
|
| 1957 |
August 23 to September 1 |
|
| 1958 |
August 22 to August 31 |
|
| 1959 |
August 28 to September 6 |
|
| 1960 |
August 26 to September 4 |
|
| 1961 |
August 25 to September 3 |
|
| 1962 |
August 17 to August 26 |
|
| 1963 |
August 16 to August 25 |
|
| 1964 |
August 21 to August 30 |
|
| 1965 |
August 20 to August 29 |
Our Indian Heritage |
| 1966 |
August 19 to August 28 |
Our Explorer Heritage |
| 1967 |
August 18 to August 27 |
Our Pioneer Heritage |
| 1968 |
August 16 to August 26 |
Our Gay 90s Heritage |
| 1969 |
August 15 to August 24 |
Our Roaring 20s Heritage |
| 1970 |
August 21 to August 30 |
Discover Iowa |
| 1971 |
August 20 to August 29 |
Discover Mexico |
| 1972 |
August 18 to August 28 |
Discover Canada |
| 1973 |
August 17 to August 27 |
Discover Hawaii |
| 1974 |
August 16 to August 26 |
The Discoverers |
Fair Dates 1925-1949
| Year |
Fair Dates |
| 1925 |
August 26 to September 4 |
| 1926 |
August 25 to September 3 |
| 1927 |
August 24 to September 2 |
| 1928 |
August 22 to August 31 |
| 1929 |
August 21 to August 30 |
| 1930 |
August 20 to August 29 |
| 1931 |
August 26 to September 4 |
| 1932 |
August 24 to September 2 |
| 1933 |
August 23 to September 1 |
| 1934 |
August 22 to August 31 |
| 1935 |
August 21 to August 30 |
| 1936 |
August 26 to September 4 |
| 1937 |
August 25 to September 3 |
| 1938 |
August 24 to September 2 |
| 1939 |
August 23 to September 1 |
| 1940 |
August 21 to August 30 |
| 1941 |
August 20 to August 29 |
| 1942 |
No Fair (World War II) |
| 1943 |
No Fair (World War II) |
| 1944 |
No Fair (World War II) |
| 1945 |
No Fair (World War II) |
| 1946 |
August 21 to August 30 |
| 1947 |
August 22 to August 29 |
| 1948 |
August 25 to September 3 |
| 1949 |
August 24 to September 2 |
Fair Dates 1900-1924
| Year |
Fair Dates |
| 1900 |
August 24 to September 1 |
| 1901 |
August 23 to August 31 |
| 1902 |
August 22 to August 30 |
| 1903 |
August 21 to August 29 |
| 1904 |
August 19 to August 28 |
| 1905 |
August 25 to September 1 |
| 1906 |
August 24 to August 31 |
| 1907 |
August 23 to August 30 |
| 1908 |
August 20 to August 28 |
| 1909 |
August 27 to September 3 |
| 1910 |
August 25 to September 2 |
| 1911 |
August 24 to September 1 |
| 1912 |
August 22 to August 30 |
| 1913 |
August 20 to August 28 |
| 1914 |
August 26 to September 4 |
| 1915 |
August 25 to September 3 |
| 1916 |
August 23 to September 1 |
| 1917 |
August 22 to August 31 |
| 1918 |
August 21 to August 30 |
| 1919 |
August 20 to August 29 |
| 1920 |
August 25 to September 3 |
| 1921 |
August 24 to September 2 |
| 1922 |
August 23 to September 1 |
| 1923 |
August 22 to August 31 |
| 1924 |
August 20 to August 29 |
Fair Dates 1875-1899
| Year |
Fair Dates |
| 1875 |
September 27 to October 1 (opening ceremony is on September 28) |
| 1876 |
September 11 to September 16 (extended one day because of rain) |
| 1877 |
September 17 to September 21 |
| 1878 |
September 16 to September 20 |
| 1879 |
September 1 to September 5 |
| 1880 |
September 6 to September 10 |
| 1881 |
September 5 to September 9 |
| 1882 |
September 1 to September 8 |
| 1883 |
August 31 to September 7 |
| 1884 |
August 29 to September 5 |
| 1885 |
September 4 to September 11 |
| 1886 |
September 3 to September 11 (extended one day because of rain) |
| 1887 |
September 2 to September 7 |
| 1888 |
August 31 to September 7 |
| 1889 |
August 30 to September 6 |
| 1890 |
August 29 to September 5 |
| 1891 |
August 28 to September 4 |
| 1892 |
August 26 to September 2 |
| 1893 |
September 1 to September 8 |
| 1894 |
August 31 to September 7 |
| 1895 |
September 6 to September 13 |
| 1896 |
September 4 to September 11 |
| 1897 |
September 11 to September 18 |
| 1898 |
No Fair (World's Fair held in Omaha, NE, Trans-Mississippi
Exposition and Spanish American War) |
| 1899 |
August 25 to September 2 |
Fair Dates 1854-1874
| Year |
Fair Dates |
| 1854 |
October 25 to October 27 |
| 1855 |
October 10 to October 12 |
| 1856 |
October 8 to October 10 |
| 1857 |
October 6 to October 9 |
| 1858 |
September 28 to October 1 |
| 1859 |
September 27 to September 29 |
| 1860 |
October 2 to October 5 |
| 1861 |
September 24 to September 27 |
| 1862 |
September 30 to October 4 (extended one day because of rain) |
| 1863 |
September 15 to September 18 |
| 1864 |
September 27 to September 30 |
| 1865 |
September 26 to September 29 |
| 1866 |
September 18 to September 22 (Tuesday was rainy - opening ceremonies postponed until Fair extended one day) |
| 1867 |
October 1 to October 4 |
| 1868 |
September 29 to October 3 (Fair extended one day because of rain) |
| 1869 |
September 14 to September 17 |
| 1870 |
September 13 to September 16 |
| 1871 |
September 11 to September 15 |
| 1872 |
September 9 to September 13 |
| 1873 |
September 8 to September 11 |
| 1874 |
September 22 to September 25 |
