Things to do and see on the first day of the 2023 Iowa State Fair

Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register
Updated ·5 min read
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Nothing compares to the 2023 Iowa State Fair, which starts on Thursday and runs for 11 days through Sunday, Aug. 20. Check out our daily guide compiled by Des Moines Register newsroom staffers to help you enjoy your time at the 2023 Iowa State Fair.

Here are our recommendations for Thursday, Aug. 10.

Don’t miss these State Fair attractions

The animals: Day 1 is all about visiting the biggest animals at the fair. If the butter cow is your jam, head to the Agriculture Building to see the bovine, sculpted by Sarah Pratt of West Des Moines and her twin daughters. This year, the cow is joined by likenesses of Jack Trice, Kurt Warner and Caitlin Clark. Trice played football at Iowa State, Warner played football at the University of Northern Iowa and Clark plays basketball at the University of Iowa.

For the super big animals, watch the Big Ram Contest, at noon at the Sheep Barn; Big Boar Contest at 1 p.m. at the Swine Barn; and the Super Bull Contest at 7 p.m. at Pioneer Livestock Pavilion. If you miss the contests naming the winners, just wander through the big animals' respective buildings, where they will be on display.

More: Iowa State Fair to feature Caitlin Clark, Kurt Warner, and Jack Trice as butter cow companions

Try a new State Fair food item

Three new foods vie for the People's Choice Best New Food. Sample each and vote for your favorite at IowaStateFair.org between Aug. 10-14; the winner will be announced on Aug. 16 during the State Fair.

The Grinder Ball from The Bacon Box can be found on the Grand Concourse across from the Grandstand. The dish features a blend of bacon balls stuffed with mozzarella cheese, wrapped in bacon, rotisserie smoked and dipped in warm marinara sauce. The gluten-free dish is a take on the traditional State Fair Grinder.

The Iowa Twinkie from new vendor Whatcha Smokin’ BBQ & Brew, based in Luther, features a smoked bacon-wrapped jalapeno stuffed with pulled pork, sweet corn, cream cheese and ranch seasoning. It is then glazed with Whatcha Smokin' BBQ & Brew house-made Sweet + Sticky BBQ sauce and drizzled with house-made ranch dressing. Find it next to the Iowa Craft Beer Tent.

The deep-fried bacon brisket mac-n-cheese grilled cheese from What’s Your Cheez uses the Rib Shack’s signature bacon brisket mac and cheese that’s then slathered between layers of American cheese and two slices of What’s Your Cheez bacon cheddar bread. It is then deep-fried and served with a raspberry chipotle barbecue sauce.

More: These top three dishes compete for Best New Food at the Iowa State Fair in 2023

Who’s performing on the first day of the State Fair?

See a free show: It's all about country music on the free stages on Day 1. Country singer Jason Brown performs at 8 p.m. on the MidAmerican Energy Stage; Priscilla Block plays at 8 p.m. at the Susan Knapp Amphitheater; and country band Rockland Road takes the Anne and Bill Riley Stage at 7 and 9 p.m.

Who's on the Grandstand?: Christian rockers For King + Country is made up of brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone, who won four Grammy Awards. Special guest We The Kingdom opens the 8 p.m. show. Tickets range from $25 to $55.

See presidential election candidates speak

Who’s at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox? 

  • 1:30 p.m.: Republican Doug Burgum

  • 4:30 p.m.: Republican Mike Pence

Watch some contests

You'll be seeing double and even triple when twins and triplets compete at 9 a.m. on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage.

Head to Pioneer Hall for turkey calling at 10:30 a.m.; duck calling, 11 a.m.; youth rooster crowing, 1 p.m.; and ladies’ chicken calling, 1:30 p.m.

Try something different

People walk around the Grand Concourse at the Iowa State Fair in 2021.
People walk around the Grand Concourse at the Iowa State Fair in 2021.

The State Historical Society of Iowa and the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative embark on the ninth annual Iowa State Fair Historical Walking Tour at 8:15 a.m. Join Gov. Kim Reynolds, Iowa Department of Administrative Services Director Adam Steen, Iowa Healthiest State Initiative Executive Director Jami Haberl, and Healthiest State Annual Walk co-chairs April Schmaltz of Delta Dental of Iowa and Heidi Parkhurst of Bank of America, as well as other fairgoers for the walking tour that starts near the Administration Building on the Grand Concourse. The 45-minute walk is about 1 kilometer, or about 1,500 steps for an average walker, and includes stories at several historic sites along the way.

More: Need fresh ideas of things to do at the Iowa State Fair? We have 61

How many people will attend?

Attendance: The fair first topped 1 million visitors in 2002, with 1,008,174 fairgoers, according to the fair's website. The all-time attendance record of 1,170,375 was set in 2019; that figure broke the previous record of 1,130,260, a mark set in 2018. Last year, 82,862 people visited the fair on Day 1 and the 11-day total was 1,118,763 people. attending this year. An all-time one-day record number of 128,298 people attended on Saturday, Aug. 20. The old record of 127,277 was made the first Saturday of the Fair in 1991.

What's the theme for Day 1 of the Iowa State Fair?

Heroes’ Day celebrates EMTs, fire and rescue, police officers and paramedics for opening day of the Iowa State Fair. Special displays will be on Grand Avenue. You can celebrate by wearing a shirt that represents your hometown department. The Iowa State Patrol will sing the national anthem.

What should I know if I go on the first day?

Regular gate admission: $16 for ages 12 and up, $10 for ages 6-11, free for children 5 and under.

Hours: Fairgrounds, 8 a.m. to midnight. Buildings, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thrill Ville and Thrill Zone, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thrill Town, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Weather forecast: Mostly sunny with a high of 86 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

A map of the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
A map of the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

More on the Iowa State Fair

Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. You can reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: The best things to do on Day 1 of the Iowa State Fair 2023