All the Basic Stuff You Need to Know for the 2019 Iowa State Fair

IT'S FINALLY HERE! The 2019 Iowa State Fair will officially kick off this Thursday, with 11 days of live entertainment, rides, games, fun, and a WHOLE lot of food! To prepare you for the busy week ahead, we've put together a list of all the important stuff you need to know about this year's fair! For any additional details, including a full schedule of events and what you can/can't bring in, you can always visit the official state fair website HERE.

General Information
- Address
  - For GPS/online map services: 3000 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50317
- Hours
  - Fairgrounds are open daily from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m.
  - Buildings are open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Ticket Prices
  - Adults are $12, ages 6 to 11 are $6, and ages 5 and younger are free
- Ticket Deals
  - Veterans Day (Monday, August 12)
    - Tickets are $9 for active/former U.S. Military members and their spouses
    - Older Iowans’ Day (Wednesday, August 14)
      - Tickets are $9 for ages 60 and older
    - Extreme Sunday (Sunday, August 18)
      - Tickets are $9 for adults and $5 for ages 6 to 11
      - Price can be reduced to $6 for adults with a donation of three cans of non-perishable food
    - Monday through Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m.
      - Tickets are $9 for adults and $5 for ages 6 to 11
- Fairground Map
  - View one HERE
- Parking
  - Get details on lots, DART Park & Ride, the Tram, and Uber/Lyft pick up HERE
Entertainment
- Thursday, August 8th
  - Grandstand
    - for KING & COUNTRY with special guest Zach Williams at 8 p.m. - get tickets HERE
  - Susan Knapp Amphitheatre
    - Maddie Poppe at 8 p.m. - FREE
- Friday, August 9th
  - Grandstand
    - The Chainsmokers at 8 p.m. - get tickets HERE
  - Susan Knapp Amphitheatre
    - Ned LeDoux at 8 p.m. - FREE
- Saturday, August 10th
  - Grandstand
    - Slipknot with special guest Gojira at 8 p.m. - tickets are SOLD OUT
  - Susan Knapp Amphitheatre
    - Logan Mize at 8 p.m. - FREE
- Sunday, August 11th
  - Grandstand
    - Zac Brown Band with special guest Caroline Jones at 8 p.m. - get tickets HERE
  - Susan Knapp Amphitheatre
    - Broadway's Rock of Ages Band at 8 p.m. - FREE
- Monday, August 12th
  - Grandstand
    - Toby Keith with special guest Jimmie Allen at 8 p.m. - get tickets HERE
  - Susan Knapp Amphitheatre
    - Hairball at 8 p.m. - FREE
  - MidAmerican Energy Stage
    - Prince Tribute "The Purple Xperience" at 7 p.m. & 9 p.m. - FREE
- Tuesday, August 13th
  - Grandstand
    - Dan + Shay with special guest Carly Pearce at 8 p.m. - get tickets HERE
  - Susan Knapp Amphitheatre
    - Hairball at 8 p.m. - FREE
  - MidAmerican Energy Stage
    - Jamestown Revival at 8 p.m. - FREE
- Wednesday, August 14th
  - Grandstand
    - Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias with special guest Alfred Robles at 8 p.m. - get tickets HERE
  - Susan Knapp Amphitheatre
    - Chicks With Hits Featuring Terri Clark, Pam Tillis, and Suzy Bogguss at 8 p.m. - FREE
  - MidAmerican Energy Stage
    - Steven Adler of Guns N’ Roses at 8 p.m. - FREE
- Thursday, August 15th
  - Grandstand
    - Foreigner with special guest Night Ranger at 8 p.m. - get tickets HERE
  - Susan Knapp Amphitheatre
    - Brandon Lay at 8 p.m. - FREE
  - MidAmerican Energy Stage
    - Flatland Cavalry at 8 p.m. - FREE
- Friday, August 16th
  - Grandstand
    - Luke Bryan with special guest Jon Langston at 8 p.m. - get tickets HERE
  - Susan Knapp Amphitheatre
    - Country Gold at 5 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. - FREE
- Saturday, August 17th
  - Grandstand
    - Pentatonix at 7:30 p.m. - get tickets HERE
  - Susan Knapp Amphitheatre
    - Ross Ellis at 8 p.m. - FREE
- Sunday, August 18th
  - Grandstand
    - Hootie & the Blowfish with special guest Barenaked Ladies at 8 p.m. - get tickets HERE
  - Susan Knapp Amphitheatre
    - Tyler Rich at 8 p.m. - FREE
  - MidAmerican Energy Stage
    - Nelson at 8 p.m. - FREE
Food
- 2019 Best New Deal Winner (under $4)
  - Cookies & Cream Wonder Bar at J&L Soukup's Wonder Bar Stand
- 2019 Best New Food Finalists
  - Georgie's Roast with the Most Wrap ($10) at G Mig's Wrap Stand
  - The Chief ($8) at The Rib Shack
  - Chicken Street Tacos ($9) at the Chicken City Stand
- See photos of all the new foods HERE