Day 4 guide to the Iowa State Fair: What to see, do and eat on Sunday, Aug. 13
Here's what you need to know about Day 4 of the 2023 Iowa State Fair.
Day 4: Sunday, Aug. 13
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: Eric Church with special guest Jackson Dean, 8 p.m.; tickets. And for a different kind of church, there's an Ecumenical Worship Service at 8:30 a.m. at Pioneer Hall. At First Church in Heritage Village, there's also Old-Fashioned Hymn Sings at 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
Free stage headliners: Nate Smith on Susan Knapp Amphitheater, 8 p.m.; Latino Celebration with Son Peruchos on Anne and Bill Riley Stage, 7 p.m.; Renata the Band on MidAmerican Energy Stage, 7 and 9 p.m.
Weather: Scattered showers this morning and lasting through the afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible with a 40% chance of rain and high of 80 degrees. Check our daily forecast here.
Daily attendance record: 112,396 on the first Sunday in 2017.
Eat something: They may sometimes go overlooked, but there are plenty of healthy menu items to choose from. The Salad Bowl at the Agriculture Building is one of your best best for healthy options, from caprese salad or fruit on a stick to sandwich wraps and sides of carrots or apples.
Don't miss: If you were lucky enough to score a ticket for mini-horse yoga, new this year and already sold out, you'll meet at 3 p.m. at the Livestock Pavilion, where you'll work through poses with the ponies.
From the archives: Legendary butter sculptor Norma "Duffy" Lyon recreates The Last Supper
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