THERE? BO WELL, MARCUS, THIS IS WHAT WE’RE DOING THIS YEAR. THAT’S REALLY COOL. THIS IS OUR KCCI EXPERIENCE. BOOTH YOU CAN COME UP HERE, DO AN ANCHOR AUDITION. THIS IS KCCI. IS TODD MAGEL SHOWING THEM HOW TO DO IT. THEY’RE GOING TO READ OFF THE SCREEN HERE AND THERE’S A STORY LOADED INTO THE TELEPROMPTER. AND THEN YOU MIGHT CATCH YOURSELF ON KCCI OR ON OUR WEBSITE OR MOBILE APP. NOW, EARLIER TODAY WE VENTURED OUT ALL AROUND THE GROUNDS TO SHOW YOU WHAT IS NEW AROUND THE FAIRGROUNDS. THIS YEAR. YOU GUYS HAVE A GOOD TIME. THE IOWA STATE FAIR HAS BEGUN. THANK YOU. YOU’RE WELCOME. AND SOME ARE STROLLING IN WITH NEW TRADITIONS. THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME. WHETHER IT’S THE NEW FOODS IS REALLY GOOD. DEEP FRIED GRILLED CHEESE. 650, PLEASE. GRINDER BALLS AND THE IOWA TWINKIE. YEAH, ANOTHER ONE LATER. WHAT YOU SMOKING IS A POPULAR BARBECUE JOINT FROM LUTHER OPENING A STATE FAIR FOOD STAND FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR. HERE WE GOT A BUNCH OF TWINKIES GOING ALREADY ON THE GRAND CONCOURSE. THE STEER AND STEIN HAS A BUNCH OF NEW RENOVATIONS. A BEER THAT POURS ITSELF AND FOOD DELIVERY BY GOLF CART TO THE CAMPGROUNDS. REALLY JUST TRYING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THINGS MORE CONVENIENT AS WE HAVE SO MANY FOLKS. THAT CAMP AT THE FAIRGROUNDS, EVEN BEFORE FOR THE FAIR, OFFICIALLY OPENS SOME GOT AN EARLY START. OTHERS NAPPED IN THEIR PAJAMAS ALL DAY LONG. FOR ARCHERS AND FFA STUDENTS ARE ALREADY HARD AT WORK IN THE SHEEP BARN, GETTING THE SHEEP READY FOR THE SHOW. A NEW RENOVATIONS TO THE BUILDING FROM A STATE GRANT AND FUNDRAISER IMPROVED THE ROOFS. THE OTHER LIVESTOCK BARNS WILL SEE MORE WORK DONE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, GIVING THESE KIDS THE BEST FACILITIES TO SHOW OFF THEIR PROJECTS THEY’VE BEEN RAISING FOR THE LAST 12 MONTHS, SHOWING SHEEP TURN OUT REALLY WELL SO FAR. WORKED A LOT WITH THEM THIS YEAR. TURNED OUT VERY WELL. EVERY YEAR, MORE THAN WE’RE OUT HERE, EVERY DAY UNTIL RIGHT AROUND 8:00. AGAIN, THIS IS THE KCCI, 8:00 EXPERIENCE BOOTH. YOU CAN COME OUT HERE, DO AN ANCHOR AUDITION. IT’S LOCATED JUST ON THE CORNER OF GRAND AVENUE AND EAST 34TH STREET. IT’S ON YOUR WAY TO THE MID-AMERICAN ENERGY STAGE, WHERE YOU CAN CATCH OUR SHOW EVERY DAY, EVERY WEEKDAY AT 5:00 IN THE AFTERNOON. BUT FOR NOW, WE’RE LIVE FROM THE IOWA STA
Day 2 guide to the Iowa State Fair: What to see, do and eat on Friday, Aug. 11
![KCCI logo]()
Updated: 9:20 AM CDT Aug 11, 2023
Here's what you need to know about Day 2 of the 2023 Iowa State Fair.Day 2: Friday, Aug. 11KCCI at the fair: You can see KCCI 8 News live at 5 p.m. every weekday during the fair from the MidAmerican Energy Stage. We will also have a new booth this year between Fun Forest Stage and the Agriculture Building, where fairgoers will have the chance to sit at the anchor desk and read the news.You can also stream KCCI 8’s coverage of the Iowa State Fair for free on the Very Local app. Click here to download Very Local to your phone.See all of our Iowa State Fair coverage here.Grandstand: Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line with Parmalee, 8 p.m.; ticketsFree stage headliners: Blake Guyre (tribute to Elton John/Billy Joel) on Susan Knapp Amphitheater, 7 and 9 p.m.; Rockland Road on Anne and Bill Riley Stage, 7 and 9 p.m.; The Nadas on MidAmerican Energy Stage, 7 and 9 p.m.Weather: Partly cloudy with an isolated strong to severe storm possible in the afternoon with a high of 89 degrees. Check our daily forecast here.Daily attendance record: 115,703 on the first Friday in 2001.Eat something: Don't skip the classics, especially the fair favorites that come on a stick, including:Jumbo plumper footlong corn hot dog. Fyfe Concessions, located on the north side of the triangle, will have all sorts of corndogs, including the jumbo footlong. Vendors across the fairgrounds will offer a variety of corndogs in different sizes and meat options.Deep-fried strawberry shortcake on a stick. Smith's, located on the east side of Riley Stage, will offer a sweet "on a stick" option with its deep-fried strawberry shortcake on a stick.Don't miss: For decades, the first Friday night at the fair has been East Side Night, an annual reunion of Des Moines eastsiders — and honorary eastsiders — who meet up at the Bud Tent and other areas of the fairgrounds. From the archives: Tightrope walker Tino Wallenda preps for high-flying featWatch: Volunteers get animals ready for Cuddles and Snuggles at Iowa State FairAdmission, hours and more for the fairLocation: The fairgrounds are located at East 30th Street and East University Avenue in Des Moines.Hours: Fairgrounds are open each day of the fair from 8 a.m.-midnight, and buildings are open 9 a.m.-8 p.m.Thrill park hours include:Thrill Ville: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. (Sunday-Thursday); open until midnight on Friday and Saturday nightsThrill Town: 10 a.m.-10 p.m.Thrill Zone: 10 a.m.-midnightAdmission: Adult admission costs $16 at the gate and $10 for children ages 6-11. Kids 5 and under are free.Iowa State Fair: Watch our 5 p.m. newscast on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023Attendance recordsLast year's fair was the fourth-biggest ever with more than 1.1 million people attending. That's about 50,000 short of the all-time record of 1,170,375 set in 2019.Top 10 biggest fairs2019: 1,170,3752018: 1,130,2602017: 1,130,0712022: 1,118,7632015: 1,117,3982008: 1,109,1502012: 1,097,1422021: 1,094,4802011: 1,080,9592004: 1,053,978Highest daily attendance all-timeFirst Thursday: 101,262 in 2008First Friday: 115,703 in 2001First Saturday: 127,277 in 1991First Sunday: 112,396 in 2017Monday: 105,522 in 2017Tuesday: 102,953 in 2019Wednesday: 109,323 in 2019Second Thursday: 107,449 in 2015Second Friday: 112,891 in 2019Second Saturday: 128,298 in 2022Second Sunday: 119,754 in 2012Watch: Fun-filled first day at the Iowa State Fair
DES MOINES, Iowa — Here's what you need to know about Day 2 of the 2023 Iowa State Fair.
Day 2: Friday, Aug. 11
KCCI at the fair: You can see KCCI 8 News live at 5 p.m. every weekday during the fair from the MidAmerican Energy Stage. We will also have a new booth this year between Fun Forest Stage and the Agriculture Building, where fairgoers will have the chance to sit at the anchor desk and read the news.
You can also stream KCCI 8’s coverage of the Iowa State Fair for free on the Very Local app. Click here to download Very Local to your phone.
See all of our Iowa State Fair coverage here.
Grandstand: Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line with Parmalee, 8 p.m.; tickets
Free stage headliners: Blake Guyre (tribute to Elton John/Billy Joel) on Susan Knapp Amphitheater, 7 and 9 p.m.; Rockland Road on Anne and Bill Riley Stage, 7 and 9 p.m.; The Nadas on MidAmerican Energy Stage, 7 and 9 p.m.
Weather: Partly cloudy with an isolated strong to severe storm possible in the afternoon with a high of 89 degrees. Check our daily forecast here.
Daily attendance record: 115,703 on the first Friday in 2001.
Eat something: Don't skip the classics, especially the fair favorites that come on a stick, including:
- Jumbo plumper footlong corn hot dog. Fyfe Concessions, located on the north side of the triangle, will have all sorts of corndogs, including the jumbo footlong. Vendors across the fairgrounds will offer a variety of corndogs in different sizes and meat options.
- Deep-fried strawberry shortcake on a stick. Smith's, located on the east side of Riley Stage, will offer a sweet "on a stick" option with its deep-fried strawberry shortcake on a stick.
Don't miss: For decades, the first Friday night at the fair has been East Side Night, an annual reunion of Des Moines eastsiders — and honorary eastsiders — who meet up at the Bud Tent and other areas of the fairgrounds.
From the archives: Tightrope walker Tino Wallenda preps for high-flying feat
Watch: Volunteers get animals ready for Cuddles and Snuggles at Iowa State Fair
Admission, hours and more for the fair
Location: The fairgrounds are located at East 30th Street and East University Avenue in Des Moines.
Hours: Fairgrounds are open each day of the fair from 8 a.m.-midnight, and buildings are open 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Thrill park hours include:
- Thrill Ville: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. (Sunday-Thursday); open until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights
- Thrill Town: 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
- Thrill Zone: 10 a.m.-midnight
Admission: Adult admission costs $16 at the gate and $10 for children ages 6-11. Kids 5 and under are free.
Iowa State Fair: Watch our 5 p.m. newscast on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023
Attendance records
Last year's fair was the fourth-biggest ever with more than 1.1 million people attending. That's about 50,000 short of the all-time record of 1,170,375 set in 2019.
Top 10 biggest fairs
- 2019: 1,170,375
- 2018: 1,130,260
- 2017: 1,130,071
- 2022: 1,118,763
- 2015: 1,117,398
- 2008: 1,109,150
- 2012: 1,097,142
- 2021: 1,094,480
- 2011: 1,080,959
- 2004: 1,053,978
Highest daily attendance all-time
- First Thursday: 101,262 in 2008
- First Friday: 115,703 in 2001
- First Saturday: 127,277 in 1991
- First Sunday: 112,396 in 2017
- Monday: 105,522 in 2017
- Tuesday: 102,953 in 2019
- Wednesday: 109,323 in 2019
- Second Thursday: 107,449 in 2015
- Second Friday: 112,891 in 2019
- Second Saturday: 128,298 in 2022
- Second Sunday: 119,754 in 2012
Watch: Fun-filled first day at the Iowa State Fair
