Iowa State Fair

state fair, Des Moines, Iowa, United States

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July 22, 2026

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The Iowa State Fair is a major annual event held in Des Moines, Iowa, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each August. The fair features a livestock show, exhibits for visual and performing arts, various vendors, amusement rides, and competitions. It has a long history, having begun in 1854. The fair is a significant attraction in Iowa, contributing to the state's tourism industry.1

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Des Moines
The annual state fair, held in August, is the city’s premier event, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors. Living History Farms in Urbandale (northwest) is an outdoor historical museum replicating the homes and activities of 19th-century settlers and of the Native Americans who once occupied the…
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The annual state fair, held in August, is the city’s premier event, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors. Living History Farms in Urbandale (northwest) is an outdoor historical museum replicating the homes and activities of 19th-century settlers and of the Native Americans who once occupied the…
Read More