2020 Iowa State Fair Announcement

Today the Iowa State Fair Board made the difficult decision to postpone the 2020 Iowa State Fair until August 12-22, 2021 due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The decision was complex and involved a wide array of factors. The Iowa State Fair’s top priority is protecting the health and safety of Fairgoers, staff, volunteers, exhibitors and entertainers. Amid the pandemic, we couldn’t in good conscience put on the Fair knowing access to emergency safety services at the Fair could be limited, public transportation to and from the Fair would not be available, the constant sanitation of seemingly infinite high touch surfaces lacked feasibility, and social distancing in lines to get your favorite Fair food or walking the Grand Concourse would be difficult.

While we can’t predict what the COVID-19 pandemic will look in August, we had to make educated decisions based on the currently know information and guidance from health experts. Waiting any longer to make a decision would be more potentially damaging to our great Fair partners and our planning.

Not getting together this August at the Iowa State Fair will be disappointing. Our staff, volunteers, entertainers, vendors and sponsors love to come together to put on 11 fantastic days each summer. We know that the Fair isn’t just an event, it’s a way of life for many, including our friends in agriculture and our young exhibitors.

Thank you for your patience in allowing the Iowa State Fair Board, staff and partners the time we needed to thoroughly review our options for the 2020 Iowa State Fair. And thank you for your unwavering support. We can’t wait to get together again in 2021. Please visit www.IowaStateFair.org for more information on tickets, events, and other questions.

Show Your Support: If you would like to support the Iowa State Fair, you can donate to the Blue Ribbon Foundation. The Foundation has been supporting renovations and improvements for more than 20 years. Your donation is always important, but without the revenue generated during the 2020 Iowa State Fair, your donation now is even more critical. No matter what size, it will be put to good use improving our historic Fairgrounds. We invite you to join a community of generosity and become more involved with the Iowa State Fair you know and love. Donate Now

Corndog Kickoff: The Corndog Kickoff is canceled for 2020. Please save Saturday, July 10, 2021 for the fundraising event that kicks off our Fair season! The Blue Ribbon Foundation will contact supporters that already donated to the 2020 event. In lieu of the Kickoff, the Foundation is exploring other options to bring our Fair friends together, either in person or in spirit, in support of Fairgrounds renovations. Stay tuned for more information via social media and our website.