Honestly, if you haven’t stood in the middle of the Des Moines fairgrounds with a pork chop on a stick in one hand and a local craft beer in the other, have you even lived? People talk about the Iowa State Fair like it’s just another carnival. It isn't. Not even close. It’s a massive, sweltering, deep-fried 11-day marathon that basically defines the Midwest summer.
The Iowa State Fair 2025, themed "Fair Sweet Fair," wrapped up this past August, and the numbers are kind of staggering. We're talking 1,160,121 people. That makes it the third-highest attendance in the fair's 170-year history. Even with the rain and the heat—and man, was it hot, averaging about 8 degrees higher than the previous year—Iowans and tourists still showed up in droves.
💡 You might also like: Flushing Meadows Corona Park: Why Queens’ Massive Backyard is Better Than Central Park
The Butter Cow and the Smithsonian Twist
You probably know about the Butter Cow. It's the icon. 600 pounds of low-moisture pure cream Iowa butter sculpted into a life-sized bovine. But 2025 had a weirdly cool twist that most people missed unless they were reading the fine print.
Sarah Pratt, the lead sculptor, didn't just do the cow. She and her daughters, Hannah and Grace, built a whole Toy Story scene in butter to celebrate the movie's 30th anniversary. Think Andy’s room, but made of stuff you'd usually put on toast. Woody, Buzz, the whole gang.
But here’s the kicker. The Iowa Butter Cow is going to the Smithsonian.
Actually, it’s a replica, but still. The Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery is hosting an exhibit called "State Fairs: Growing American Craft." It runs from late August 2025 all the way through September 2026. If you missed the cow in Des Moines, you can literally go see its buttery glory in Washington, D.C. now.
👉 See also: Weather in Hungry Horse MT: What Most People Get Wrong
What We Actually Ate (The Good, The Bad, and The Bacon)
Let’s be real. Nobody goes for the salad.
The 2025 "People’s Choice Best New Food" was the Bacon Chicken Ranch Eggroll from Winn & Sara’s Kitchen. It was everywhere. It took 44.7% of the total vote, which is basically a landslide in fair terms. Imagine a crispy wrapper stuffed with chicken, bacon, and white cheddar, then drizzled with ranch.
Other standouts:
- The Scotcheroo Shake: This came in second. It's a Midwest staple (the scotcheroo) turned into a liquid sugar bomb. It also won "Sweetest Fair Food."
- Choc-O-Taters: This one was... brave. It’s a chocolate-dipped center of mashed potatoes, coconut, and powdered sugar. People either loved it or were deeply confused.
- The Pink Pony Cooler: This won Best New Drink (the boozy version) over at JR’s SouthPork Ranch.
I kind of love that you can still get a "Hard Boiled Egg on a Stick" for free in the Ag Building. It balances out the $15 you’re going to spend on that Korean Corn Dog.
Records Were Shattered at the Grandstand
While overall attendance was just shy of the all-time record, the Grandstand was a different story. It was a record-breaking year for music. 131,755 people bought tickets for the night shows.
You’d think the big names like Def Leppard or Rascal Flatts would be the top sellers. Nope. Those guys actually came in at fifth and sixth. The absolute biggest draw of the Iowa State Fair 2025 was Megan Moroney.
Following her, the rappers T-Pain and Pitbull took the second and third spots. It’s a sign of the times. The "classic" fair crowd is changing. When T-Pain is considered a nostalgia act, you know the demographics are shifting toward Millennials and Gen Z in a big way.
Things Nobody Tells You About Getting There
If you try to park on the fairgrounds, you’re gonna have a bad time. It’s expensive, and the traffic on University Avenue is a nightmare.
📖 Related: The Sand Castle House La Jolla: What Most People Get Wrong About the Famous "Mushroom"
Most regulars use the DART Park & Ride. You park at the State Capitol or Southeast Polk High School for free, then pay three bucks to get bused right to the gate. It’s a life-saver. Also, 2025 was the year they officially leaned into the "Sensory-Friendly Morning." On Wednesday, August 13, they turned down the lights and the noise on the midway for a few hours. It’s a small detail, but it makes the fair accessible for a lot of kids who otherwise couldn't handle the chaos.
Why the 2025 Fair Actually Matters
Economically, this thing is a beast. The Common Sense Institute estimated that fairgoers spent about $85 million this year. That’s a 1.1% increase over 2024, despite having fewer people. Basically, people are spending more per person on those $19 turkey legs and $8 lemonades.
It’s easy to get cynical about the prices—$16 for an adult gate admission is no joke—but the fair still feels like the "Great State Get Together."
Practical Next Steps for the 2026 Fair
If you're already planning for next year (August 13-23, 2026), here is what you need to do to avoid the 2025 mistakes:
- Buy Early: Advance tickets for 2026 are already being teased at $11. Once the fair starts, they jump to $16.
- Download the App: The Iowa State Fair App has a "Food Finder" that is essential. You can filter by "under $6" or "on a stick."
- The Cookie Bucket Strategy: Barksdale’s Chocolate Chip Cookies are non-negotiable. Buy the bucket ($20) early in the day and use it as a snack base. The lines get insane after 6:00 PM.
- Water is Free: Bring a soft-sided cooler with your own water. They allowed it in 2025, and it didn't seem to hurt vendor sales, but it saved families a fortune on hydration.
- Check the Smithsonian: If you're on the East Coast, go visit the replica Butter Cow at the Renwick Gallery. It's on display until September 7, 2026.