Know Before You Go to the Iowa State Fair

DES MOINES, IA (07/31/2025) (readMedia)-- Only 1 week, 168 hours, 10,080 minutes or 604,800 seconds until the 2025 Iowa State Fair! Here are a few things you should know before you go to the Iowa State Fair this year.

BUY TICKETS NOW

Purchase advance admission tickets online at www.iowastatefair.org or in person at the Iowa State Fair ticket office or area Hy-Vee and Fareway stores. Advance admission tickets are good any one day of the Fair. Adult tickets are $11 and $7 for children ages 6-11. Children under 5 are free. August 7-17, admission tickets are $16 for adults and $10 for children. Skip the lines and save money!

Grandstand tickets are still available for most shows and can be purchased at www.iowastatefair.org. Beware of third-party ticket sellers and only purchase your Grandstand tickets from the Iowa State Fair. Select VIP Experience tickets for Fair After Dark are also on sale while supplies last.

SAVE MONEY

Purchase discounted Thrill Park passes before August 7 and SAVE! Advance Thrill Passes are good every day of the Fair on rides and games for $30. Advance One-Day Ride Wristbands are also on sale for $40, but are limited to use on Monday-Thursday and do not include game credits. Both these deals disappear when the Fair starts.

During the Fair, you're in luck, save a buck. Monday-Thursday, EVERY ride and game in Thrill Town (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and Thrill Ville (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) is $1 off.

Value packs (save over $16) for select Fair favorites are still on sale but only available at the Iowa State Fair ticket office until August 6.

WHAT'S NEW

Get ready for a sweet time at the Iowa State Fair, August 7-17, 2025! With 11 days of delicious food, heart-pumping rides, toe-tapping tunes and tons of family fun, there's something to make sweet memories at every turn. This year, we've added even more ways to enjoy all 11 days-so your Fair Sweet Fair can be even sweeter!

Find out What's New on the Iowa State Fair website, https://www.iowastatefair.org/participate/whats-new.

GETTING TO THE FAIR

Taxis, Uber and Lyft can pick up and drop off at Gate 8 off Dean Ave. For location purposes, the address is 203 Rock Island, Des Moines, IA 50317.

Buses will be directed through Lot A off University Ave to the paved road north of the Grandstand and drop off is located at the west end of Lot A (Gate 13).

On-site parking is available off University Ave in Lots A, B and C for $10. Cash and credit/debit cards are accepted. These lots contain both paved and hard-packed ADA/Accessible Parking spaces. Bicycle parking is free inside Gate 11 on Grand Ave.

PARK & RIDE

Fairgoers can park their car for free at one of three convenient locations around the metro and catch a ride to the Fair. Services available from 8 a.m. to midnight (service to the Fair will end at 9 p.m. on Sunday, August 17).

• 7th & Center St. Park & Ride (830 6th Ave., Des Moines, IA 50309)

• Iowa State Capitol (Located on E 12th St., between E. Grand Ave. & E. Walnut St.)

• Southeast Polk High School (7945 NE University Ave., Pleasant Hill, IA 50327)

The cost of each ticket covers the ride to the Fair and back. One-way tickets are available on request.

Regular (ages 10 and up) - $3

Children (6 – 10) - $1

Seniors (65 and up), Medicare Card Holders - $1

Children 5 and Under – Free

All buses are accessible by mobility devices. For shuttle ticket prices and more information about DART Park & Ride Services visit rideDART.com/fair or contact DART Customer Service at 515-283-8100.

PLAN YOUR DAY WITH THE FAIR SCHEDULE

Planning your day or days at the Fair is easy with our online daily program and official Iowa State Fair App. Search by date or keyword to create your very own personalized adventure.

Plus, get ready to light up your night! Don't miss the dazzling Drone Show presented by Travel Iowa, soaring over the Fairgrounds the first three nights-August 7, 8 and 9! The Drone Shows will follow the Grandstand show each of the first three nights.

GETTING AROUND THE FAIR

More picnic tables and shade structures have been installed on the Fairgrounds to make your visit more comfortable. We've also added a new set of stairs from the Cultural Center to Fairview Hill, and kids of all ages will get to enjoy the NEW Variety Star Playground in Hy-Vee Fun Forest. The joint project between the Blue Ribbon Foundation and Variety - the Children's Charity of Iowa is a welcoming space where kids and adults of all abilities can laugh and explore.

Please plan accordingly for additional walking and stay hydrated during your days at the Fair. Look for water bottle refilling stations or visit a water bottle station through the Blue Ribbon Foundation.

Shuttles for Fairgoers run from the First Church to the Campgrounds with a stop at Pioneer Hall. Scooter rentals are available at Gate 8, 10, 11, 13 & 15 or can be reserved ahead of time through HomeTown Mobility.

FAIR HOURS

The Fair is open from 8 a.m. to midnight, August 7-16, and from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on August 17.

  • Most buildings are open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Thrill Ville is open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
  • Thrill Zone is open 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., weather permitting
  • Thrill Town for little ones is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  • All rides and games close at 9 p.m. on the last night, Sunday, August 17.

From August 7-16, be sure and enter the Fair before 10 p.m. On the last day of the Fair, August 17, enter before 7 p.m.

SAFETY

Safety is our number one priority. Please allow additional time for bag checks and metal detectors. Bags and purses are allowed but are subject to inspection at the gates and additional checks are made when entering the Grandstand.

NEW: The following items are allowed at the Iowa State Fair: small soft-sided coolers, outside food or drink, and diaper bags and backpacks. Please refer to iowastatefair.org/safety for items not permitted at Iowa State Fair, in the Grandstand or in Elwell Family Park.

Weather changes quickly in Iowa and alerts from the National Weather Service impacting the Fairgrounds will be announced grounds-wide. Weather that could impact events or concerts will be shared directly with ticket holders and on social media.

In the case of an emergency, First Aid stations are located near the Ag Building and at the Service Center on Grand Ave. Kid find bracelets are available to little Fairgoers at all information booths, the Iowa State Fair Public Safety Building, in the Hall of Law and at the Des Moines Media Group booth in front of the Grandstand.

TIPS

Wear proper clothing for August weather and comfortable shoes. Bring sunscreen and sealed bottles of water are allowed to carry in to help keep you hydrated.

Cash and credit cards are accepted at all of the Iowa State Fair food stands and vendors.

Bags, purses and soft-sided coolers are allowed but are subject to inspection at the gates and at the Grandstand.

Headed to the Fair for the first time ever? Check out the First Time Fairgoer brochure and stop by any Information Booth to grab a special button to celebrate your very first trip to the Iowa State Fair!

Stay up-to-date with all of the latest and greatest activities and news at the Iowa State Fair website or on the official Iowa State Fair App.

Text FAIR to 844.844.8508 for special offers, updates on concerts and daily activities, weather alerts and more.

Have fun! The Fair is the place to make memories, so don't forget to have fun while you are here. Stay hydrated, map your day ahead of time, enjoy free shows and entertainment, ride a few rides, try new foods and grab a seat in the Grandstand. With over 3,000 events in 11 days, there is something for everyone!

The 2025 Iowa State Fair, Fair Sweet Fair, runs from August 7-17.

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Frequently ranked as one of the top events in the country, the Iowa State Fair is the single largest event in the state of Iowa and one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country. Annually attracting more than a million people from all over the world, the Iowa State Fair located at East 30th and East University, just 10 minutes from downtown Des Moines, is Iowa's greatest celebration with a salute to the best in agriculture, industry, entertainment and achievement. Fair Sweet Fair, August 7-17, 2025. For more information, visit www.iowastatefair.org.