What is the biggest event in Iowa?

The Iowa State Fair, held each August in Des Moines, is the state's largest and most celebrated event. It is one of the oldest and biggest state fairs in the country, famous for its butter cow, food on a stick, agricultural competitions, and major grandstand concerts.

What festivals is Iowa known for?

Beyond the Iowa State Fair, the state is known for Pella's Tulip Time in May, Nordic Fest in Decorah in July, the Hinterland Music Festival in Saint Charles, the Des Moines Arts Festival, and RAGBRAI, the week-long cross-state bicycle ride. These range from heritage celebrations to major music and arts events.

When is the Iowa State Fair?

The Iowa State Fair takes place each August in Des Moines and runs for about eleven days, typically wrapping up before Labor Day. Exact dates shift slightly from year to year, so it is best to check the official fair schedule before planning a visit.

The Best Iowa Festivals and Events You Cannot Miss

Iowa's event calendar runs from small-town celebrations to a few nationally known festivals. Several are worth building a road trip around. Here is what to put on the calendar.

The Iowa State Fair

Held each August in Des Moines, the Iowa State Fair is one of the oldest and largest state fairs in the country, drawing more than a million visitors over 11 days. The fair is known for its life-size butter cow sculpture, the long list of food on a stick, agricultural competitions, and a grandstand that books major touring acts.

Cultural Heritage Festivals

Iowa's immigrant history shows up in some of its best-known festivals.

Pella's Tulip Time, held in early May, fills the Dutch-settled town with hundreds of thousands of tulips, traditional costumes, street-scrubbing ceremonies, parades, and Dutch pastries.

Nordic Fest in Decorah, held in late July, marks the town's Scandinavian heritage with food like lefse and varme pølse, folk dancing, crafts, and demonstrations.

Music and Arts Celebrations

Hinterland in Saint Charles, held in early August, draws national indie, rock, and Americana acts to a rural valley about 30 minutes south of Des Moines, with the stage set against rolling countryside.

The Des Moines Arts Festival is a free open-air event each June, filling downtown with juried artists, live music, and food. It is regularly ranked among the top art festivals in the country.

RAGBRAI

Each July, thousands of cyclists dip their wheels in the Missouri River, ride across the state over a week, and finish in the Mississippi. That is RAGBRAI, the oldest, largest, and longest bicycle touring event in the world, first held in 1973. The route changes every year and the overnight towns turn into block parties.

Quirky and Small-Town Favorites

Some of Iowa's most distinctive events are the smaller ones.

The National Balloon Classic in Indianola fills the late-summer sky with dozens of hot air balloons over nine days, with evening balloon glows. In northwest Iowa, the Orange City Tulip Festival in mid-May is a second Dutch tulip celebration, with parades, costumes, and Dutch dancing. In Des Moines, the free World Food and Music Festival turns downtown into a global tasting event each fall.

The small town of Britt has hosted the National Hobo Convention each August since 1900, a celebration of rail-riding history with mulligan stew and the crowning of a hobo king and queen.

Plan Around the Dates

From the State Fair to a rural music valley to a statewide bike ride, Iowa's calendar gives you plenty of reasons to plan a trip. Want Iowa events and festival dates in your inbox? Subscribe to the free Get Iowa newsletter.