What’s Happening at the 2024 FRYfest This Friday?

It's going to be WILD in Iowa City this weekend!

Each year before the start of football season, around 15,000 University of Iowa Hawkeye fans get together for a massive party called FRYfest. According to the event's official website, "FRYfest was first held to celebrate the success of Hayden Fry’s legendary coaching career at the University of Iowa."

The 2024 FRYfest will be held this Friday, August 30th, with events beginning at 9:45 a.m. Here are some of the activities to look forward to:

• World’s Largest Hawkeye Tradeshow
  • 9:45 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Exhibition Hall of the Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel & Conference Center
  • 60+ booths
  • Herky on Parade Viewing - all 101 statues will be visible one final time before they go to their "forever homes"
  • Indoor Kids Zone opens at 10 a.m. - featuring bouncy houses, a birthday card making station for Herky, and more
  • Ultimate Hawkeye Trivia Challenge at 4:30 p.m. - register HERE
  • Pep Rally at 7 p.m. - featuring the Iowa Spirit Squad, Herky, performances by Hawkeye Marching Band, and speeches by head coaches
• High Porch Block Party
  • Opens at 1 p.m.
  • Outside the Hyatt Exhibit Hall
  • Concerts
    • Van Hayden Band from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
    • James Tutson and the Rollback at 7 p.m.
    • Headliner Maddie Poppe at 8:45 p.m.
    • Concert tickets are free at the Scheels booth in the Tradeshow (limit of 4 per person), or are available for purchase in-person at the Think Iowa City Office or at the High Porch Block Party gates
  • Outdoor Kids Zone from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. - includes inflatables, face painting, the Iowa City Public Library Book Mobile, chalk, the Iowa Children's Museum, and more
  • Also featuring food trucks, the FRYfest Games, and free play bags
• EA Sports College Football Free Play
  • 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Oakdale Ballroom
  • A free play of EA Sports College Football 25 - "get the chance to play as the Iowa Hawkeyes and take down the Illinois State Redbirds!"
• Autograph Sessions
  • Iowa Women's Basketball
    • 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Iowa Women's Wrestling
    • 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Iowa Women's Gymnastics
    • 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
  • 2024 Hall of Fame Class
    • 10:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
    • Attendees include Mike Boddicker, Sue Bury, Rico Chiapparelli, Adrian Clayborn, Laura Dvorak, Shonn Greene, Kevin Kunnert, and Lindsey Meder
  • Dan Gable Autograph Session
    • 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

For a full schedule of this year's FRYfest events, check out the official website HERE. GO HAWKS!