Iowa State Fair increases ticket prices for 2023. Here's how much tickets will cost
Add to the list of rising prices the cost of admission for the 2023 Iowa State Fair.
In a 7-6 vote, the fair board Thursday approved a $2 hike in prices. The prices will be $11 in advance and $16 at the gate, up from $9 and $14 for the 2022 fair.
Admission for children 6-11 will rise to $7 in advance, up from $5, and $10 at the gate, up from $8. Admission for children 5 and under remains free.
Previous vote would have raised Iowa State Fair ticket prices by $1
The board last month voted to raise the prices $1, and the fair beginning Nov. 28 had been selling advance tickets online at $10 for for people 12 and up and $6 for children 6-11. However, the increase hadn't been included on the agenda for the meeting, so the board had to vote again at Thursday's meeting, when members opted for the higher increase.
Though the vote reflected a division on the higher increase, there was no board discussion before the vote.
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Iowa State Fair Marketing Director Mindy Williamson said board members tried to limit the increase, but that a majority felt a $1 increase would barely cover increases in costs in the last year.
“A $2 increase at this point would cover rising supply costs, labor costs, material costs and programing that we need so that we don’t have to go back and raise prices in the near future,” Williamson said. “We haven’t raised prices since 2020 so you don’t want to go back and raise prices each year.”
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The board kept in mind the goal of maintaining the “family friendly” nature of the fair, Williamson said.
“I think they were carefully weighing the impact of our supplies and outside expenses versus what it would take to be reasonable with an increase,” Williamson said.
Iowa State Fair ticket prices increase for first time since 2020
Ticket prices last increased in 2020, when the fair was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and before that, in 2016.
The fair is scheduled for Aug. 10-20, 2023. There will be discounted admission for veterans on Aug. 14, Veterans Day at the fair, and for seniors Aug. 16, Older Iowans Day.
In 2023 Fairgoers catch country singer Eric Church at the Grandstand on Aug. 13. The singer-songwriter will be joined by Jackson Dean, the Maryland native rising country musician. Other acts for the Grandstand will be announced later.
Iowa State Fair prices are higher than for most neighboring state fairs
The new prices will be among the highest in the region. The only state fair among Iowa's neighbors listing a higher 2023 admission price is Wisconsin, at $18 for people ages 12 to 59. It offers $13 tickets for seniors and for children ages 6-11. The lowest prices are for the South Dakota State Fair, at $6 for people 16 and older and $4 for children ages 6 to 15.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State Fair increases ticket prices for 2023. What to know
