We skipped the Iowa State Fair parade last night, but we are looking forward to going early next week or maybe this weekend, if the heat breaks. I know it’s not everyone’s idea of a great time (turns out Grant Young is a hater), but I enjoy the things you can’t see or do anywhere else. Here’s what we never miss at the Iowa State Fair:
“Little Hands on the Farm,” where kids pretend to be farmers and sell their crops for a fake dollar that buys them a real treat in the shop.
The Animal Learning Center, where you can see newborn animals and watch chicks hatching.
The animal barns, especially where there are “avenues” of unusual breeds.
The DNR building, with lots of tanks featuring indigenous Iowa fish.
The Ag Building, home of famous butter cow but more important (to me) the place with the best lemonade at the fair. You can buy it at the honey producers’ table, usually on the second level, for about half the price of lemonade at any of the kiosks.
The Bauder’s ice cream truck, usually parked near the Ag Building. Many people swear by the peppermint ice cream sandwiches, but I would go with the turtle sundae or the cookie sundae.
We’re not big fans of the midway, but my kids will probably want to do some of the smaller rides. As of last summer, they were afraid to do the Sky Glider or the giant slide.
I’m definitely taking them to the heritage hill area so they can play marbles and watch people toss horseshoes.
Sometimes my kids want to see the model trains (in a building near the giant slide) or the massive structure made out of matchsticks (in a building near the grand concourse).
We check the schedule for unusual shows. Some years there are frisbee-catching dogs, but this year it looks like they’ve brought in a high dive performer instead.
We are not buying anything fried on a stick. We’ll probably buy one of those cashew or pecan nut rolls to take home and eat later.
I used to like the popcorn with real butter at the kiosk near the grandstand, but last year it tasted too much like movie popcorn–nothing special.
Taking a change of clothes isn’t a bad idea in case your kids get muddy or slip and fall in one of the animal barns. Don’t ever dress kids in something you don’t want to get wet, because they will not be able to resist running around in the sprinklers.
This thread is for anything you love or hate about the fair, or any advice about how to enjoy a day out there. I usually park in someone’s yard on Grand, because it’s a short walk from there to the Grand Avenue entrance near many of the things we like doing. More important, when it’s time to leave it’s a short walk back to the car for tired kids. If you don’t want to pay to park in someone’s yard and you don’t mind walking a mile or so, you may find free street parking way up on Grand. There are also shuttles running to the fair from downtown Des Moines and Southeast Polk middle school out on highway 163.
After the jump I’ve posted the schedule for the Des Moines Register’s candidate “soapbox” and the candidates or elected officials who will be at the Iowa Democratic Party’s booth in the Varied Industries Building.
SUNDAY UPDATE: We spent most of the day at the fair. Huge crowds, which isn’t surprising for a weekend day with highs in the mid-80s. Although we spent a good five hours at the fairgrounds, we never made it to any of the animal barns. Maybe tomorrow.
The DNR building with its giant fish tanks and live turtles on display was a huge hit. Don’t miss this attraction, especially if you have kids. We also loved the high dive show, but the bleachers were packed 15 minutes before showtime. We ended up sitting on the ground nearby, which meant we didn’t get splashed like many of the other spectators.
It’s worth checking the schedule for any unusual demonstrations and shows. The kids loved watching an ice carver create a dragon with a chainsaw outside the Ag Building.
Speaking of dragons, I had the unexpected pleasure of meeting the Cedar Rapids Gazette’s Todd Dorman while waiting in line at the kiddie dragon ride. What are the odds? There had to be more than 100,000 people at the fairgrounds today.
My kids braved the giant slide for the first time ever. It was faster than I remember, and I couldn’t believe some people were riding down with toddlers.
I highly recommend taking the Sky-Glider down from Heritage Hill (near the horseshoe pitch) to the midway area. Most people want to ride it up to avoid walking uphill, and that was our original plan, but the line for the glider was way too long. We walked up to the high dive demonstration area, and after that show hardly had to wait at all to board the glider. The view riding down is spectacular–you can see very far down Grand.
Anyone else enjoy the first few days of the fair? One of my friends was there on East Sider night (the first Friday of the fair) and said it was packed.
Soapbox:
Location: In front of The Des Moines Register Service Center, located on the Grand Concourse. Friday, August 13 1 p.m. Terry Branstad (R) 1:30 p.m. Dave Loebsack (D) 2 p.m. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R) Monday, August 16 11:30 a.m. Matt Campbell (D) Noon Chet Culver (D) 12:30 p.m. Ben Lange (R) 1 p.m. Bill Northey (R) Tuesday, August 17 2:30 p.m. Francis Thicke (D) Wednesday, August 18 11:30 a.m. Tom Latham (D) Thursday, August 19 Noon Brad Zaun (R) 12:30 p.m. Roxanne Conlin (D) 1 p.m. Leonard Boswell (D) 1:30 p.m. Bruce Braley (D) 2 p.m. Bill Maske (D)
WHAT: Democratic candidates and elected officials appearing at the Iowa Democratic Party’s State Fair booth.
WHERE: Varied Industries Building, Iowa State Fairgrounds
WHEN:
Thursday, August 12
Morning: Senator Tom Harkin, Former Senator John CulverFriday, August 13
Morning: IDP Chair Dvorsky
Afternoon: Lt. Governor JudgeSaturday, August 14
Morning: State Auditor Candidate Jon MurphyMonday, August 16
Afternoon: Secretary of State Michael MauroTuesday, August 17
Afternoon: Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine, Governor Chet Culver, Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Sue Dvorsky, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Candidate Francis ThickeWednesday, Aug 18
Morning: Lt. Governor Patty JudgeThursday, August 19
Morning: U.S. Senate Candidate Roxanne Conlin
Afternoon: Congressional Candidate Bill MaskeSunday, August 22
Afternoon: Lt. Governor Patty JudgeSpecific appearance times will be posted at IowaDemocrats.org/StateFair
5 Comments
Going this weekend
The Animal Learning Center is one of my new favorite things to do at the fair. Even though I’m an “adult”, I still get a kick out of petting the calves and piglets.
I didn’t know about the DNR building. I’m putting that one on the list this year. Also, I think I’ll try to get into the MidAmerican building to learn more about the wind turbine they have running.
For food, the pork chop on a stick from the pork producers is a pretty cheap lunch. There’s also a booth that sells corn on the cob that I try to hit. I think it’s behind the Riley Stage somewhere. The honey lemonade is definitely one of the best-kept secrets of the fair.
The midway doesn’t do much for me, either. One of these years, I need to go on the double ferris wheel again. I haven’t been on it since I was maybe 10, and it terrified me because I couldn’t understand how it worked. I kept thinking the whole thing would topple over somehow.
One last thought: I don’t really understand the soapbox schedule. Aren’t the weekends going to be the really big days? No offense to Jon Murphy, but why are the big guns coming on Tuesdays and Thursdays?
american007 Fri 13 Aug 12:27 PM
the DNR building
is open on two sides and says “Natural Resources” on it. It’s on the Grand Concourse, just a bit west of the Grandstand. Next to it there’s a courtyard where they usually build a fake bald eagle nest to give you an idea of how big they are.
Maybe the other candidates had weekend campaign events planned in other parts of the state. I agree with you, I would think that’s prime time to talk to a lot of people.
desmoinesdem Fri 13 Aug 5:04 PM
Too hot for me!
I would love to go watch the soapbox speeches. A friend offered a seat in her car (no AC) to drive the four hours to the fair. No thank you. then it would be hot as blazes. I should go when Steve King is roasting and make comments. haha. I’d like to see Thicke, Campbell and Culver. But I sure wouldn’t enjoy it in the heat.
wahela Fri 13 Aug 4:45 PM
heat's breaking over the weekend
High on Sunday is expected to be around 84. Haven’t seen the extended forecast.
One year I went to the fair on a rainy day. That’s great if you’re not a midway person and like to see the indoor exhibits. No lines for most of the food either.
desmoinesdem Fri 13 Aug 5:05 PM
Last year we went really early on a Sunday morning.
We got there right when the gates opened. We had some time to kill before the exhibits/buildings opened, but we parked close to our preferred gate, ate breakfast in a cafe (can’t remember the name, but it was attached to the cattle barn), and were able to see most of our favorites before the heavy crowds arrived. By 2PM we were tired, satisfied, and ready to head home. We’ll probably do the same thing this year.
urbandaleforobama Sat 14 Aug 8:43 AM