LAST CHANCE TO GET FAIR FOOD THIS FALL
We still miss the Fair and we just can’t stop thinking about the food. So, we are giving it one last “go” this year. Don’t miss your chance to grab some Fairtime favorites like corn dogs, funnel cakes, cheese curds and more. The Fall Taste of the Fair events are slated for September 25-27, October 2-4 and October 9-11 on the Grand Concourse on the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
Each weekend, roughly 20-25 vendors will be spaced out along the Grand Concourse on the Fairgrounds for walk-up orders. You can choose to enjoy the foods at a safe distance or take them home. Masks are encouraged and hand sanitizer will be available. Please obey social distancing markers.
Taste of the Fair, Week 1
Friday, September 25 4 p.m.-8 p.m.
Saturday, September 26 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Sunday, September 27 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Taste of the Fair, Week 2
Friday, October 2 4 p.m.-8 p.m.
Saturday, October 3 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Sunday, October 4 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Taste of the Fair, Week 3
Friday, October 9 4 p.m.-8 p.m.
Saturday, October 10 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Sunday, October 11 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Find a place to park on the grounds and walk up and down the Grand Concourse to enjoy the last tastes and smells of your deep fried, piled high, sweet or salty, on-a-stick, in-a-boat or on-a-plate items.
No beer will be sold during the events. For safety and sanitization purposes, limited restrooms will be available behind the Service Center near the Administration Building.
Enter through the Grand Ave gate off East 30th or the University gate off East 33rd.
No parking is allowed on the Grand Concourse, but parking is available in the Elwell Family Food Center parking lot, behind the Varied Industries Building, in the North parking lot or in the Midway/Thrill Ville area.
Vendors and Menus (As of 9.15.2020. Vendors and menus subject to change.)
Blue Ribbon Foundation Merchandise will be available at the Taste of the Fair events.
Interested in Volunteering?
Volunteers will be helping preparing buckets for sale and helping serve cookies and drinks at the customer windows. Volunteers will be working alongside Iowa State Fair staff and board members, Barksdale’s Cookies employees, and various county fair volunteers. All volunteers will be required to wear closed toed shoes, hats, and masks while working. Gloves for food handling will be provided. The building is temperature controlled and volunteers will be working inside. No heavy lifting will be required, but volunteering will require longer periods of walking and standing. Proper hand washing, CDC guidelines for COVID-19, and food safety protocols will be followed.
What are the shifts?
Volunteers must be over the age of 14. Time slots are between 4 hours and 6.5 hours depending on the day. If you volunteer to fill a shift, please make sure you are informed about what to wear and arrive 15 minutes before your shift. Temperatures will be checked upon arrive and if you are feeling ill or have been exposed to COVID-19, please refrain from volunteering. A full time Iowa State Fair staff member will train volunteers. The days and shifts will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Each volunteer will receive a free cup of cookies for working.
Please email info@iowastatefair.org if you have questions
Full Time Food Vendors During Covid-19
The Iowa State Fair would like to give a shout-out to the Fair partners who are offering carry-out or call-in orders during the COVID-19 pandemic.
-G. Mig's 5th Street Pub (DSM): Call 515-255-4550 or 515-975-3053 to order.
-Court Avenue Restaurant & Brewing Company (DSM) : Visit courtavebrew.com or call 515-822-BREW for curbside pick-up.
-Gilroy's Kitchen (DSM): Visit gilroyskitchen.com or call 515-809-1727 for curbside to-go.
-Great Caterers Of Iowa: Call 515-264-8765 for orders.
-A&W Drive-In (Indianola): Call ahead at 515-961-3553 to order or visit the store for carry-out or drive-up.
-Iowa Orchard: Call 515-276-0852 for take and bake pies and homemade preserves.
-Kippy's Place (Elkhart, IA): Order online at kippysplace.com/home or call 515-367-3104.
-Turkey Time Concessions and Brenda Smith Concessions: Visit fairfoodfridays.com or call 515-745-6601 to order.
2019 New Fair Foods
The Iowa State Fair is known for fun, interesting and delicious food. Each year, a list of new culinary adventures from sweet to salty, to strange and tasty are announced.
2019 Iowa State Fair New Foods Brochure
Here is a list of the past winners:
- 2013 Leslie Soukup - Shrimp Corn Dog
- 2014 Arnold Blewer - Funnel Sticks
- 2015 Rib Shack - Ultimate Bacon Brisket Bomb
- 2016 Iowa Turkey Federation - Not Your Mama’s Taco
- 2017 Steer n Stein – Pork Almighty
- 2018 Applishus – Apple Eggrolls
- 2019 G Mig's Wrap Stand - Georgie's Roast with the Most Wrap