What you need to know at the Iowa State Fair: Food, admission, parking and more for 2023

You've got questions about the Iowa State Fair. We've got answers.What are the dates of this year's fair?This year's Iowa State Fair runs 11 days, from Thursday, Aug. 10 through Sunday, Aug. 20. Where are the State Fairgrounds located? The fairgrounds are located at East 30th Street and East University Avenue in Des Moines.What are the hours?Fairgrounds are open each day of the fair from 8 a.m.-midnight, and buildings are open 9 a.m.-8 p.m.What are the thrill park hours and locations?Thrill Ville, located between the Grandstand and Ye Old Mill: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. (Sunday-Thursday); open until midnight on Friday and Saturday nightsThrill Town, located northwest of the Jacobson Exhibition Center and east of Gate 10: 10 a.m.-10 p.m.Thrill Zone, located north of Gate 11: 10 a.m.-midnightHow much does it cost to get in?Adult admission costs $16 at the gate and $10 for children ages 6-11. Kids 5 and under are free. Click here for a full list of discounts and deals.What is the bag policy for the fairgrounds? Bags and purses are allowed but may be searched. The Iowa State Fair reserves the right to search all bags, backpacks, coolers, purses, and containers upon entry to the fairgrounds and upon request while on the fairgrounds, according to iowastatefair.org. All bags and backpacks are subject to search upon entry into the Grandstand. Refusal to comply will result in denied entry.Can I bring food and water into the fair?Outside food and sealed bottles of water are allowed on the fairgrounds, according to the fair, which continued: if perishables or medication need to stay cool, small soft-sided coolers are permissible.Where can I park?Parking lots are available for motorcycle and vehicle parking in the A, B and C Lots for $10. Click here for a map. Fairgoers can take the Blue Line Parking Shuttle inside the A, B and C parking lots for FREE from designated stops to the admission gates. Bicycle parking is also available inside Gate 11 for free.Many neighboring property owners also allow parking on their lawns.Is there a shuttle? DART buses, which are all wheelchair accessible, will run from 8:30 a.m. to midnight every day of the fair to and from three locations: Center Street Park and Ride, 7th and Center Street; enter on 7th StreetSoutheast Polk High School, NE 80th Street and Highway 163Iowa State Capitol, on East 12th Street, east side of the Capitol building near the State Capitol bellRound-trip fares are cash only. $2 adults (ages 11-64)$1 children ages 6-10, adults (65+), Medicare card holders and people with disabilities (half-fare)Children 5 and younger are free Call DART at 515-283-8100 or email dart@ridedart.com for more information.What about rideshare services like taxis, Uber and Lyft?Taxis, Uber and Lyft will be available at Gate 8 for pick up and drop off.What are the new foods at this year's fair?There are 64 new foods and drinks at the 2023 Iowa State Fair, from Bacon and Sweet Corn Lobster Rolls to Walleye on a Stick. Click here for the full list.Three of those new foods have been chosen for the People's Choice Best New Food Contest — The Bacon Box's grinder ball, Watcha Smokin's Iowa Twinkie, and What's Your Cheez's deep-fried bacon brisket mac and cheese grilled cheese.Fairgoers will be able to try all three and vote for their favorite at the fair between Thursday, Aug. 10 and midnight Monday, Aug. 14. The winner will be announced Wednesday, Aug. 16.What presidential candidates will be at the fair? Pretty much all of them. Between Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds' new series of "Fair-Side Chats," the Des Moines Register's annual Political Soapbox speeches and other visits, every member of the crowded field of GOP candidates, and two Democrats, plan to make at least one appearance at this year's Iowa State Fair. President Joe Biden has not announced plans to attend the fair.Watch: Republicans plan visits to Iowa State FairAre fairgoers allowed to carry firearms? Guns are prohibited on the Iowa State Fairgrounds; with or without a valid Iowa permit to carry unless authorized by the Fair Board as per Iowa Code. Failure to comply with this rule shall be cause for expulsion from the fairgrounds and/or being charged under Iowa Code.Is there a butter cow?Of course! The butter cow is a tradition at the State Fair that dates back more than 100 years. Fairgoers can find sculptor Sarah Pratt's work, which this year also includes butter sculptures of iconic Iowa athletes Caitlin Clark, Jack Trice and Kurt Warner, in the John Deere Agriculture Building.Where will KCCI be 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.What's the weather forecast during the fair?The 10-day forecast generally calls for highs in the mid- to high-80s with sporadic chances for showers and some thunderstorms. heck our daily forecast here.Is smoking allowed?Smoking is allowed in walkway areas of the fairgrounds. No-smoking signs are posted in the areas of the fairgrounds that are smoke-free; according to the fair, that includes:Outdoor entertainment venues: stage areas, building porches and grounds attraction areas.Restaurants and bars: both enclosed and open serving areas, eateries and concession stands.Grandstand area or inside buildings: this remains the same as past years.What's the Grandstand concert schedule? Thursday, Aug. 10: For King & Country with special guest We the Kingdom, 8 p.m.Friday, Aug. 11: Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line with Parmalee, 8 p.m.Saturday, Aug. 12: New Kids on the Block with special guest Jesse McCartney, 8 p.m.Sunday, Aug. 13: Eric Church with special guest Jackson Dean, 8 p.m.Monday, Aug. 14: The Black Keys with special guest The Velveteers, 8 p.m.Tuesday, Aug. 15: Jeff Dunham, 8 p.m.Wednesday, Aug. 16: Lindsey Stirling with special guest Walk Off the Earth, 8 p.m.Thursday, Aug. 17: Maren Morris with special guest Lindsay Ell, 8 p.m.Friday, Aug. 18: Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, with special guest Sean Kingston, 8 p.m.Saturday, Aug. 19: The Chicks with special guest Ben Harper, 8 p.m.Sunday, Aug. 20: Jason Aldean with special guest Corey Kent, 8 p.m.Are tickets still available for Grandstand shows? Yes. The top-sellers as of Aug. 7 are Eric Church and The Chicks, each of which had sold more than 16,000 tickets. Click here to buy Grandstand tickets. Are there free concerts? Yes, lots. Check out this link for a list of free stage headliners and other free entertainment.Is there a lost and found? Yes, at the Iowa State Fair Police Department, located at the west end of the Grand Concourse. Iowa State Fair Police can be reached by phone at 515-262-3111, extension 327.What is the fair's scooter policy? Three- or four-wheeled, manual or electrically driven (at a walking pace) mobility devices are permitted to be used in all areas open to pedestrian use so long as these devices are 1) designed by the manufacturer for single rider use only; 2) occupied by only one rider while in operation; and 3) not pulling or towing any trailer-like object. Scooters are available for rental, during the fair, at Gates 8, 10, 11, 13, and 15.Are pets allowed on the fairgrounds?During the fair, the only animals allowed on grounds and in buildings are those that align with the ADA's service animal classification for animals specifically trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities, according to the fair's website. Animals whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA and are therefore not allowed on grounds or in buildings. What are the dates for future fairs? 2024: Aug. 8-182025: Aug. 7-17Information from iowastatefair.org was used in this article.