Iowa State Fair

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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
2023Aug 10-20
2024Aug 8-18
2025Aug 7-17

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 DAY20212022
Day 177,70082,862
Day 2104,177103,556
Day 3111,603113,012
Day 4107,410110,661
Day 595,62187,599
Day 690,68899,965
Day 791,51097,901
Day 896,06499,715
Day 9101,95293,348
Day 10117,764128,298
Day 1199,991101,846
Total1,094,4801,118,763
Fair Dates
Year Fair Dates Fair Theme
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
1998 Aug 13-23 Way Too Much Fun