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Fair Dates & Attendance


Fair Dates & Attendance

Upcoming Fair Dates

Historically, the Fair 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 dates are August 7-17 and the latest are August 13-23.

YEARFAIR DATES
2025Aug 7-17
2026Aug 13-23
2027Aug 12-22

Daily Attendance

The State Fair is Iowa’s largest event, annually attracting visitors from all over the Midwest, as well as the rest of the U.S. and many foreign countries. Following the Fair, daily attendance estimates are set aside and an actual count of tickets including daily sales, advance sales, exhibitors, concessionaires, campers, children, credentials, half price, etc. is made to determine the final total attendance.

FAIR DAY20222023
Day 182,86287,380
Day 2103,556101,177
Day 3113,012118,286
Day 4110,661114,937
Day 587,599100,214
Day 699,965101,244
Day 797,90198,751
Day 899,715101,475
Day 993,348112,048
Day 10128,298112,732
Day 11101,84685,714
Total1,118,7631,133,958
Fair Dates
Year Fair Dates Fair Theme
2023 Aug 10-20 Best Days Ever
2022 Aug 11-21 Find Your Fun
2021 Aug 12-22 How Do You Fair?
2020 No Fair (due to COVID-19 pandemic) How Do You Fair?
2019 Aug 8-18 Nothing Compares to State Fair Favorites
2018 Aug 9-19 Nothing Compares to State Fair Moments
2017 Aug 10-20 Nothing Compares to State Fair Thrills
2016 Aug 11-21 Nothing Compares to My State Fair
2015 Aug 13-23 Nothing Compares, Fair Tour
2014 Aug 7-17 Nothing Compares, Amazingly Amusing
2013 Aug 8-18 Nothing Compares, Happiness Is
2012 Aug 9-19 Nothing Compares, It's Fairlicious
2011 Aug 11-21 Nothing Compares, 100 Years of the Butter Cow
2010 Aug 12-22 Non Stop Fun
2009 Aug 13-23 State Fair Time
2008 Aug 7-17 U Gotta Love It
2007 Aug 9-19 Sounds Like Fun
2006 Aug 10-20 Only at the Fair
2005 Aug 11-21 America's Favorite Fair...and it's right in your own backyard
2004 Aug 12-22 Still the One
2003 Aug 7-17 One in a Million
2002 Aug 8-18 The Big One
2001 Aug 9-19 It's a Winner!
2000 Aug 10-20 Zero In, August 10-20, 2000
1999 Aug 12-22 Knock Yourself Out