Win Red, White or Blue at the Iowa State Fair's America 250 Celebration

DES MOINES, IA (01/22/2026) (readMedia)-- In 2026, the Iowa State Fair is proud to be celebrating America's 250th birthday, August 13-23. The theme, Fair Spirit, announced in late 2025, will mark a once-in-a-generation celebration that honors the country's history while highlighting Iowa's traditions, innovations and contests.

At the heart of the celebration is competition, a tradition as old as the Fair itself. A lineup of special competitive event classes has been created to highlight creativity, pride and bring out the best in red, white and blue craftsmanship in honor of America250. Exhibitors of all ages are invited to let their patriotic spirit shine and encouraged to start preparing their entries now.

Additional displays and entertainment will be announced, but here is the current list of America250-themed competitions for 2026:

Creative Arts

• Basketry: Historical Basketry
• Building Blocks: Celebrate America - building with only Red, White and/or Blue Blocks
• Tole & Decorative Painting: Famous Places in America
• Other Creative Arts & Crafts: Color of the Year: Red, White & Blue (your art must feature the color of the year prominently)
• Other Creative Arts & Crafts: Paper Mache - Famous American Places & Faces

Fabric & Threads

• America 250 Division - Entries should celebrate America 250 with patriotic red, white and blue creativity in fiber.
  • Needlework
  • Crochet
  • Hand Knitting
  • Weaving
  • Hooked Rugs
  • Shuttle or Needle Tatting
  • Quilting (no size requirement)
  • Clothing Construction
  • Sewn and Other Items for the Home
  • Toys and Dolls
  • Machine Embroidery
  • Junior Division
  • Senior Citizen

Photography

• Theme Class: America 250 https://www.iowastatefair.org/participate/competition/enter-fine-art-photography (Select Photography from the drop-down menu.)

Food

• Celebration Pies: Red, White and/or Blue Pie (adult class)
• Kids' Gingerbread Barn Decorating Challenge! American 250 theme Gingerbread Barn (youth class)
• More classes to be announced

Floriculture

• Seed Art Adult Seed Picture: Fireworks in the Sky
• More classes to be announced

4-H (must be an eligible Iowa 4-H member and enter through Iowa 4-H)

• 4-H Horticulture: America 250 – Red, White and Blue Platter
• 4-H Poster Communication Exhibit: 4-H for America's Next 250 Years

Also, in celebration of America's 250th anniversary, winning entries that showcase patriotic themes will be eligible for a commemorative America 250 rosette and premium of $25, in addition to regular premiums.

Full details and entry instructions will be posted at iowastatefair.org on April 1, 2026.

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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 Spirit, to be held August 13–23, 2026, promises to stand as one of its most historic events yet. For more information, visit www.iowastatefair.org.