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Day 5 guide to the Iowa State Fair: What to see, do and eat on Monday, Aug. 14

Day 5 guide to the Iowa State Fair: What to see, do and eat on Monday, Aug. 14
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Day 5 guide to the Iowa State Fair: What to see, do and eat on Monday, Aug. 14
Here's what you need to know about Day 5 of the 2023 Iowa State Fair.Day 5: Monday, Aug. 14KCCI at the fair: You can see KCCI 8 News live at 5 p.m. every weekday during the fair from the MidAmerican Energy Stage. We also have a new booth this year between Fun Forest Stage and the Agriculture Building, where fairgoers have the chance to sit at the anchor desk and read the news.You can also stream KCCI 8’s coverage of the Iowa State Fair for free on the Very Local app. Click here to download Very Local to your phone.See all of our Iowa State Fair coverage here.Grandstand: The Black Keys with special guest the Velveteers, 8 p.m.; ticketsFree stage headliners: Hairball on Susan Knapp Amphitheater, 8 p.m.; Hypnotist Ron Diamond on Anne and Bill Riley Stage, 7 and 9 p.m.; Autograph on MidAmerican Energy Stage, 8 p.m.Weather: Slight chance of a morning shower, otherwise mostly cloudy and windy. High near 78 degrees. Check our daily forecast here.Daily attendance record: 105,522 on Monday in 2017.Eat something: Is today the day you satisfy that sweet tooth? If so, you've got plenty of options, from a big bag of cotton candy to bowls of cookie dough. Try the giant order of cotton candy from Schoendienst on the west side of Thrill Ville or cotton candy ice cream from Over The Top on the west side of the Riley Stage. Or choose from 10 flavors of cookie dough at Dough Crazy, located in the outer perimeter of the Livestock Pavillion.Don't miss: Veterans Day at the fair means active and former members of the U.S. military receive discounted $12 admission at the gate. Activities include a veterans parade along the Grand Concourse at 11 a.m., a performance by the Iowa Military Veterans Band at 3 p.m. at the Knapp Amphitheater, and a military tribute concert at 4:30 p.m. on the Riley Stage.From the archives: Warm up your arm for the annual cow chip throwing contestAdmission, hours and more for the fairLocation: The fairgrounds are located at East 30th Street and East University Avenue in Des Moines.Hours: Fairgrounds are open each day of the fair from 8 a.m.-midnight, and buildings are open 9 a.m.-8 p.m.Thrill park hours include:Thrill Ville: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. (Sunday-Thursday); open until midnight on Friday and Saturday nightsThrill Town: 10 a.m.-10 p.m.Thrill Zone: 10 a.m.-midnightAdmission: Adult admission costs $16 at the gate and $10 for children ages 6-11. Kids 5 and under are free.Attendance recordsLast year's fair was the fourth-biggest ever with more than 1.1 million people attending. That's about 50,000 short of the all-time record of 1,170,375 set in 2019.Top 10 biggest fairs2019: 1,170,3752018: 1,130,2602017: 1,130,0712022: 1,118,7632015: 1,117,3982008: 1,109,1502012: 1,097,1422021: 1,094,4802011: 1,080,9592004: 1,053,978Highest daily attendance all-timeFirst Thursday: 101,262 in 2008First Friday: 115,703 in 2001First Saturday: 127,277 in 1991First Sunday: 112,396 in 2017Monday: 105,522 in 2017Tuesday: 102,953 in 2019Wednesday: 109,323 in 2019Second Thursday: 107,449 in 2015Second Friday: 112,891 in 2019Second Saturday: 128,298 in 2022Second Sunday: 119,754 in 2012

Here's what you need to know about Day 5 of the 2023 Iowa State Fair.

Day 5: Monday, Aug. 14

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KCCI at the fair: You can see KCCI 8 News live at 5 p.m. every weekday during the fair from the MidAmerican Energy Stage. We also have a new booth this year between Fun Forest Stage and the Agriculture Building, where fairgoers have the chance to sit at the anchor desk and read the news.

You can also stream KCCI 8’s coverage of the Iowa State Fair for free on the Very Local app. Click here to download Very Local to your phone.

See all of our Iowa State Fair coverage here.

Grandstand: The Black Keys with special guest the Velveteers, 8 p.m.; tickets

Free stage headliners: Hairball on Susan Knapp Amphitheater, 8 p.m.; Hypnotist Ron Diamond on Anne and Bill Riley Stage, 7 and 9 p.m.; Autograph on MidAmerican Energy Stage, 8 p.m.

Weather: Slight chance of a morning shower, otherwise mostly cloudy and windy. High near 78 degrees. Check our daily forecast here.

Daily attendance record: 105,522 on Monday in 2017.

Eat something: Is today the day you satisfy that sweet tooth? If so, you've got plenty of options, from a big bag of cotton candy to bowls of cookie dough. Try the giant order of cotton candy from Schoendienst on the west side of Thrill Ville or cotton candy ice cream from Over The Top on the west side of the Riley Stage. Or choose from 10 flavors of cookie dough at Dough Crazy, located in the outer perimeter of the Livestock Pavillion.

Don't miss: Veterans Day at the fair means active and former members of the U.S. military receive discounted $12 admission at the gate. Activities include a veterans parade along the Grand Concourse at 11 a.m., a performance by the Iowa Military Veterans Band at 3 p.m. at the Knapp Amphitheater, and a military tribute concert at 4:30 p.m. on the Riley Stage.

From the archives: Warm up your arm for the annual cow chip throwing contest

Admission, hours and more for the fair

Location: The fairgrounds are located at East 30th Street and East University Avenue in Des Moines.

Hours: Fairgrounds are open each day of the fair from 8 a.m.-midnight, and buildings are open 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

Thrill park hours include:

  • Thrill Ville: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. (Sunday-Thursday); open until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights
  • Thrill Town: 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
  • Thrill Zone: 10 a.m.-midnight

Admission: Adult admission costs $16 at the gate and $10 for children ages 6-11. Kids 5 and under are free.

Attendance records

Last year's fair was the fourth-biggest ever with more than 1.1 million people attending. That's about 50,000 short of the all-time record of 1,170,375 set in 2019.

Top 10 biggest fairs

  • 2019: 1,170,375
  • 2018: 1,130,260
  • 2017: 1,130,071
  • 2022: 1,118,763
  • 2015: 1,117,398
  • 2008: 1,109,150
  • 2012: 1,097,142
  • 2021: 1,094,480
  • 2011: 1,080,959
  • 2004: 1,053,978

Highest daily attendance all-time

  • First Thursday: 101,262 in 2008
  • First Friday: 115,703 in 2001
  • First Saturday: 127,277 in 1991
  • First Sunday: 112,396 in 2017
  • Monday: 105,522 in 2017
  • Tuesday: 102,953 in 2019
  • Wednesday: 109,323 in 2019
  • Second Thursday: 107,449 in 2015
  • Second Friday: 112,891 in 2019
  • Second Saturday: 128,298 in 2022
  • Second Sunday: 119,754 in 2012

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