Day 3 guide to the Iowa State Fair: What to see, do and eat on Saturday, Aug. 12
Here's what you need to know about Day 3 of the 2023 Iowa State Fair.
Day 3: Saturday, Aug. 12
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 also have a new booth this year between Fun Forest Stage and the Agriculture Building, where fairgoers 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: New Kids on the Block with special Guest Jesse McCartney, 8 p.m.; tickets
Free stage headliners: Shane Profitt on Susan Knapp Amphitheater, 8 p.m.; Iowa State Fair Queen Coronation on Anne and Bill Riley Stage, 7 p.m.; Good to be King (tribute to Tom Petty) on MidAmerican Energy Stage, 8 p.m.
Weather: Clear and sunny skies with a high of 86 degrees. Check our daily forecast here.
Daily attendance record: 127,277 on the first Saturday in 1991.
Eat something: Bigger isn't just better at the fair; it's expected. So consider the jumbo brisket at Great Caterers of Iowa, located south of the Riley Stage.
Don't miss: The Iowa State Fair queen contest draws contestants from every county in the state — and a crowd of thousands. Candidates are judged on a variety of things, including personality, attitude, leadership, citizenship contribution to the community, overall appearance, charm, and poise. Mary Ann Fox of Mitchell County won last year's crown. The Iowa State Fair queen coronation is at 7 p.m. on the MidAmerican Energy Stage.
From the archives: Country legend Garth Brooks headlines 1994 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.
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