Iowa State Fair | Food

Aug 13 - 23, 2026 | Days | Hours | Min

Iowa State Fair

Fair Spirit

August 13-23, 2026

Quick Links

Be Social with Us

Home

>

Food

Food

Food is one of the main attractions at the Iowa State Fair! The Fair boasts nearly 200 food stands and over 50 delectable items available on a stick.

Choose Iowa

The Choose Iowa Favorite Fair Food Contest celebrates Fair food menu items made using ingredients sourced from Iowa to help honor Iowa's farming foundation. Fairgoers are invited to vote for their favorite fair food featuring Iowa ingredients during the Iowa State Fair until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, August 19. The food stand with the winning Choose Iowa Favorite Fair Food will be recognized on August 21 when the Iowa State Fair’s Best New Food is announced.

Choose Iowa Favorite Fair Food Contest Map

Vote August 13-19

Sit-Down Food Vendors

Find a map of the sit-down food vendors at the Iowa State Fair. Find your favorite foods to eat, sit down and relax!

Food Vendors with Seating

Souvenir Cups

Find a map of where you can buy refillable souvenir cups at the Iowa State Fair. Each vendor has their own refillable drink policy. Please check with each vendor about refill costs.

Souvenir Cups

Iowa State Fair Food Vendors

Food Vendors

Learn which food stands have your favorite foods and where they are located on the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

Iowa State Fair New Foods

What's 
New

The Iowa State Fair is known for fun, interesting and delicious food. Find out what new and exciting foods and drinks will be found at this year's Fair.

See What's New

Enjoy a corn dog at the Iowa State Fair

Food on a Stick

The saying "If you can find it at the Fair, you can find it on a stick" is true. With over 50 mobile foods on a stick, which one(s) will you try?

Food on a Stick

2019 Best New Deal Winner: The Cookies and Cream Wonder Bar ($4)

Value 
Prices

Check out the best deals at the Iowa State Fair. There are hundreds of foods all over the Fairgrounds, and you can find foods that the whole family will enjoy for an affordable cost!

See the Value

Barksdale's State Fair Cookies

State Fair Cookies

Cups and buckets of chocolate chips are a must-have at the Iowa State Fair Learn about Barksdale's State Fair Cookies.

Barksdale's State Fair Cookies

Melon at the Iowa State Fair

Healthy Choices

The Iowa State Fair does have a healthy dose of good for you foods. From salad-on-a-stick to melon to grilled turkey sandwiches, you can find healthy options at the Fair!

View Healthy Choices

Best New Food Contest

Past People’s Choice Award winners include:

  • 2013: Shrimp Corn Dog - Zag's Po Boys
  • 2014: Funnel Cake on a Stick - multiple vendors
  • 2015: The Rib Shack - Ultimate Bacon Brisket Bomb
  • 2016: Iowa Turkey Federation – Not Your Mamma’s Taco
  • 2017: Steer ‘N’ Stein – Pork Almighty
  • 2018: Applishus – Apple Eggroll
  • 2019: G Mig’s Wrap Stand – Georgie’s Roast with the Most Wrap
  • 2021: Cluckin’ Coop by the Iowa Egg Council/Iowa Poultry Association – Chicken Egg Salad with Fry Bread
  • 2022: The Rib Shack – The Finisher
  • 2023: What's Your Cheez - Deep-Fried Bacon Brisket Mac-n-Cheese Grilled Cheese
  • 2024: Winn & Sara's Kitchen - Bacon Cheeseburger Eggroll
  • 2025: Winn & Sara's Kitchen - Bacon Chicken Ranch Eggroll

Special Diet Options

Find helpful PDFs listing dairy-free, gluten friendly, vegan and vegetarian food options available at the Fair to make planning your visit a breeze.

2026 Dairy-Free

2026 Gluten Friendly

2026 Vegan

2026 Vegetarian

This list is intended for general informational use and should not be relied upon as a definitive statement of ingredients in vendors’ food and beverage items at the Iowa State Fair. Each vendor is solely responsible for its own food safety practices, ingredient disclosures, and allergen protocols, and the Iowa State Fair relies on vendors’ representations when producing this list. Any individual with food allergies or dietary restrictions is strongly encouraged to exercise caution and consult directly with individual vendors regarding specific ingredients and preparation practices. The State Fair makes no guarantee that any vendor item is free from allergens, and consumption of vendor items at the Iowa State Fair means you acknowledge and accept this risk.