The Iowa State Fair will start in 38 days and Iowa State Fair CEO and Manager Jeremy Parsons says they’ve planned a fair within a fair.
Thursday, August 13th, the opening day of the 2026 Iowa State Fair, will be “Red, White and Blue Day.” Some food competitions will focus on those colors.
A “Spirit of ’76” exhibit is being set up by staff from the fair, the State Historical Society and Living History Farms to explain what Iowa was like when the Declaration of Independence was signed — and explore some Iowa connections to the American Revolution.
It will be located at the east end of the State Fair Grandstand and Parsons says there will be a quiz in the exhibit.
Parsons made his comments during a weekend appearance on “Iowa Press” on Iowa PBS. The US Army is bringing displays to the State Fair that explain how the 13 colonies declared independence and defeated the British. One display includes an interactive wall that lets kids sign their names to the Declaration of Independence.
