Your Complete Guide to the 73rd Annual Dubuque County Fair

The 73rd Annual Dubuque County Fair gets underway on Tuesday, July 28th through Sunday, August 2nd. Since moving to Dubuque, I've thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Fair in back-to-back years. Last year, I had a blast seeing old and new faces, broadcasting live on Y105 with copious friends and colleagues, and hanging with Ken Peiffer at the 103.3 WJOD tent for multiple days in a row.

Between country singer Dylan Marlowe and rock band Sleep Theory performing, the frog jump, and the usual fair activities, there is a lot to get excited about this year. That's why, like every year, I compile what I call a "complete guide" to the fair with every major/minor event for every day listed. Simply scroll for the full schedule!

Myself alongside (from left): Owen, Katie, David, and Mike from AMC Classic Dubuque 14! Photo Credit: Tom Ehlers

General Notes About the Dubuque County Fair:

Grounds Open: 8:00 a.m.
Sensory-Safe Visiting Hour (with activities): 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Old MacDonald’s Farm: 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Tiny Town: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Exotic Animal Zoo Ground Act: Open Daily 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. sponsored by TH Media
Creative Arts Building & Kids Korner: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
4-H Building: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Country Store: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (medicine, misc items and canned beverages!)
Exhibit Hall: 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Mechanical Bull: Opens at 2:00 p.m.
Fairground Rides: Open at 4:00 p.m. (1 ticket = $3, 1 ticket per ride)

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Tuesday, July 28th (Free Day):

Opening night of the 2026 Dubuque County Fair is "Free Day," where admission is free all day, thanks to sponsor Tegeler Body & Frame Wrecker & Crane in Dyersville, IA.

8:00 a.m. – Entry of all 4-H & FFA Horse and Pony Exhibits
8:00 a.m. – Foam and Bubble Show til 9 a.m.
9:00 a.m. – Judging of 4-H & FFA Dairy Goat
9:00 a.m. – Judging of 4-H & FFA Sheep
9:00 a.m. – Judging of 4-H & FFA Horse and Pony Exhibits
9:30 a.m. – Judging of 4-H & FFA Dairy Cattle
10:00 a.m. – Hands-On STEM Exploration (until 4:00 p.m. in the 4-H Building)
10:30 a.m. – Scott’s Comedy and Magic Show
11:00 a.m. – Grace Good Performance
12:00 p.m. (Noon) – Honey Tasting (12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.) by Dubuque Swiss Valley Beekeeping Club
12:30 p.m. – Judging of 4-H & FFA Dairy Cows
12:30 p.m. – Judging of 4-H & FFA Meat Goats
1:00 p.m. – BINGO (until 5:00 p.m.)
1:00 p.m. – Lasting Impressions Performance
1:00 p.m. – Cupcake Decorating for All Ages (by Sprinkled Confections)
2:30 p.m. – Lasting Impressions Performance
3:00 p.m. – Release of all Milking Animals
3:00 p.m. – Grace Good Performance
3:30 p.m. – Scott’s Comedy and Magic Show
4:30 p.m. – 4-H and FFA Award Ceremony
5:00 p.m. – Bubble and Foam Show (until 6:00 p.m.)
6:00 p.m. – Fair Opening Ceremony
6:30 p.m. – Scott’s Magic Show
7:00 p.m. – Lasting Impressions Performance
7:00 p.m. – Mainstage Event: Country Duets and Neil Diamond Tribute by Doug Allen Nash sponsored by Biechler Electric
8:00 p.m. – Grace Good Performance
8:00 p.m. – Foam and Bubble Show (until 9:00 p.m.)
8:00 p.m. – Ken Peiffer, DJ - Blain's Stage in the Festival Garden

Wednesday, July 29th (Kids Day/Race Day):

Wednesday is "Kids Day"/"Race Day" at the Dubuque County Fair, sponsored by the Donovan Family.

6:00 a.m. – Entry of all 4-H & FFA Swine
8:00 a.m. – Deadline for entry of all 4-H & FFA Swine
8:00 a.m. – Foam and Bubble Show til 9 a.m.
8:30 a.m. – Swine Weigh-In and Carcass Scan
9:00 a.m. – Judging of 4-H & FFA Beef
9:00 a.m. – Release of all 4-H & FFA Dairy and Non-Sale Beef (1 hour after show)
10:00 a.m. – Kid’s Day Activities Kickoff
11:00 a.m. – Grace Good Performance
12:30 p.m. – Kids Pedal Tractor Pull Sign-up
1:00 p.m. – Lasting Impressions Performance
1:30 p.m. – Kids Pedal Tractor Pull Event
2:30 p.m. – Lasting Impressions Performance
3:00 p.m. – Clover Kids Poultry Show
3:00 p.m. – Grace Good Performance
3:00 p.m. – Kid’s Day Prize Give-Away (Must be present to win!)
3:30 p.m. – 4-H & FFA Poultry Show
4:00 p.m. – Frog Jump Contest – sponsored by Trackside Bar & Grill
5:30 p.m. – Track Event: Pro Late Model Series – Races
6:30 p.m. – Scott’s Magic Show
7:00 p.m. – Lasting Impressions Performance
8:00 p.m. – Grace Good Performance
8:00 p.m. – Foam and Bubble Show (until 9:00 p.m.)
8:00 p.m. – Ken Peiffer, DJ - Blain's Stage in the Festival Garden

Thursday, July 30th (Country Day):

Thursday is "Country Day" at the Dubuque County Fair, with Dylan Marlowe and special guest Atlus performing at 7pm.

8:00 a.m. – BYOC (Bring Your Own Chalk) Chalk Party! (In front of ballroom under canopy until 10:00 a.m.)
8:00 a.m. – Foam and Bubble Show till 9 a.m.
9:00 a.m. – Judging of 4-H & FFA Swine Exhibits
10:30 a.m. – Lego Mosaics Activity by DuBrick (until 12:00 p.m. Noon)
11:00 a.m. – Grace Good Performance
11:00 a.m. – Fair Eating Contest
1:00 p.m. – Lasting Impressions Performance
1:00 p.m. – Joey V Music (Top of Grandstands until 4:00 p.m.)
1:30 p.m. – Lego Contest (until 3:30 p.m.)
2:30 p.m. – Lasting Impressions Performance
2:30 p.m. – Bacon Buddies Show
3:00 p.m. – Tiny Prince & Princess Judging
3:00 p.m. – Grace Good Performance
3:30 p.m. – Plant Marigolds with Steve’s Ace (until 5:30 p.m.)
4:00 p.m. – Release of all 4-H & FFA non-auction livestock
4:30 p.m. – The High Hands Live Music (until 7:30 p.m. in the Festival Garden)
6:30 p.m. – Scott’s Magic Show
7:00 p.m. – Lasting Impressions Performance
7:00 p.m. – Mainstage Concert: Dylan Marlowe with Special Guest Atlus, sponsored by Theisen’s (Gates for this are 6:30pm)
8:00 p.m. – Grace Good Performance
8:00 p.m. – Foam and Bubble Show (until 9:00 p.m.)
Blain’s Stage in the Festival Garden: 8:00 p.m. – Midnight – Back Booth Alley sponsored by Big Time Event Rentals and BMW Music

Friday, July 31st (Rock Day):

Friday is "Rock Day" at the Dubuque County Fair, with Sleep Theory and special guest Silly Goose taking the stage at 7:30pm.

8:00 a.m. – Foam and Bubble Show til 9 a.m.
9:00 a.m. – 4-H & FFA Livestock Auction (Sheep, Meat Goat, Swine)
10:30 a.m. – Create your Creature with Legos by DuBrick (until 12:00 p.m. Noon)
11:00 a.m. – Grace Good Performance
11:00 a.m. – Fair Eating Contest
12:30 p.m. – 4-H & FFA Dairy Basket & Beef Auction
1:00 p.m. – BINGO (until 5:00 p.m.)
1:00 p.m. – Lasting Impressions Performance
1:30 p.m. – Kiddie Car Show Check-in (Bring cars to North Gate)
2:00 p.m. – Kiddie Car Show (2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
2:30 p.m. – Lasting Impressions Performance
2:30 p.m. – Kiddie Car Show Judging
3:00 p.m. – Grace Good Performance
3:00 p.m. – Kiddie Car Show Vehicle Release
4:00 p.m. – Removal deadline for all 4-H and FFA livestock sold at auction
4:00 p.m. – Chicken Chucking Contest
4:00 p.m. – Adam Keith Band Live Music (4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.)
6:30 p.m. – Scott’s Magic Show
7:00 p.m. – Lasting Impressions Performance
7:30 p.m. – Mainstage Concert: Sleep Theory with Special Guest, Silly Goose
7:30 p.m. – Foam and Bubble Show (until 10:00 p.m.)
8:00 p.m. – Grace Good Performance
Blain’s Stage in the Festival Garden: 8:00 p.m. – Midnight – Crazy Delicious sponsored by Big Time Event Rentals and BMW Music

Saturday, August 1st ("Tractor Pull" and "Family Day"):

Saturday at the Dubuque County Fair is "Tractor Pull/Family Day," sponsored by ECIPA and Premier Bank, respectively.

7:30 a.m. – Entry of Clover Kids Rabbits
8:00 a.m. – Fair Cook-Off Check-In
8:00 a.m. – Foam and Bubble Show til 9 a.m.
8:00 a.m. – Entry of 4-H & FFA Rabbits
8:00 a.m. – Clover Kids Rabbit Show
9:00 a.m. – 4-H & FFA Rabbit Show (Release of rabbits immediately follows show)
9:00 a.m. – Open Class Horse Show (Horse Arena)
9:00 a.m. – Open Class Dairy Show (Dairy Barn)
10:00 a.m. – Family Fun Day Activities (until 2:00 p.m. at the Grandstands)
10:00 a.m. – Lasting Impressions Performance
11:00 a.m. – Grace Good Performance
11:00 a.m. – Beer Olympics (until 2:00 p.m.)
1:00 p.m. – BINGO (until 5:00 p.m.)
1:00 p.m. – Kiddie Calf Show
1:30 p.m. – Lego Mini Figure Bingo (until 3:00 p.m.)
2:00 p.m. – Lasting Impressions Performance
2:00 p.m. – Cook-Off Turn-in
2:00 p.m. – Ozzy and Bon JoeB Live Music (until 6:00 p.m. in the Festival Garden)
3:00 p.m. – Grace Good Performance
4:00 p.m. – Chicken Chucking Contest
5:00 p.m. – Lasting Impressions Performance
6:30 p.m. – Scott’s Magic Show
6:30 p.m. – Track Event: ECIPA Truck & Tractor Pull
7:30 p.m. – Foam and Bubble Show (until 10:00 p.m.)
8:00 p.m. – Grace Good Performance
Blain’s Stage in the Festival Garden: 8:00 p.m. – Midnight – Ditch Lillies sponsored by Big Time Event Rentals and BMW Music

Sunday, August 2nd ("Demo/Race Day"):

The final day of the 2026 Dubuque County Fair is "Demo/race Day," sponsored by Dunkel Salvage in Worthington, IA.

8:00 a.m. – Foam and Bubble Show til 9 a.m.
10:00 a.m. – Lasting Impressions Performance
11:00 a.m. – Grace Good Performance
11:00 a.m. – Track Event: Demolition Derby
11:30 a.m. – Open Class Beef Show (Show Barn)
1:00 p.m. – BINGO (until 5:00 p.m.)
1:00 p.m. – Lego’s: A Day at the Races Activity by DuBrick
1:00 p.m. – Li Li and the Dirty B’s Live Music (until 5:00 p.m. in the Festival Garden)
1:30 p.m. – Open Class Beef Showmanship Begins (Show Barn)
2:00 p.m. – Lasting Impressions Performance
2:00 p.m. – Open Class Beef Show Continue (Show Barn)
3:00 p.m. – Grace Good Performance
4:00 p.m. – Race Car Driver Autographs (Race Patios)
4:00 p.m. – Chicken Chucking Contest Finals
5:00 p.m. – Lasting Impressions Performance
5:30 p.m. – Track Event: Hot Laps – Julien Dubuque Classic
6:00 p.m. – Grace Good Performance
6:30 p.m. – Scott’s Magic Show