What to do and see on the second day of the Iowa State Fair 2022
The 2022 Iowa State Fair runs 11 days, from Thursday, Aug. 11, through Sunday, Aug. 21. Des Moines Register newsroom staffers put together this daily guide to help you enjoy your time at the 2022 Iowa State Fair.
Here are our recommendations for Friday, Aug. 12.
Don't miss East Side Night
The fair's biggest party, and unofficial Lee Township and East High School reunion, returns. Even if you're not from the east side, showing up at the Bud Tent on the first Friday night of the fair automatically makes you an honorary East Sider.
Try an iconic State Fair food item
Get yourself a corn dog, the most iconic fair food according to Register readers. About 24 different vendors, with multiple locations spread across the fairgrounds, sell corn dogs, according to the fair. There's plenty of variety with standard, footlong and vegan options, plus alligator, elk, rattlesnake corn dogs for those more adventurous eaters.
More:Meet the 53 new foods at the 2022 Iowa State Fair. Here's where to find them
Who's performing on the second day of the State Fair?
See a free show: Des Moines-based folk-rock group The Nadas, 7 and 9 p.m. on the MidAmerican Energy Stage.
Who's on the Grandstand?: Brooks & Dunn with special guest Alex Miller, 8 p.m.
Which candidates are speaking at the Register's Political Soapbox?
No soapbox speeches Friday. Check out who’s at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox throughout the fair.
What should I know if I go?
Regular gate admission: $14 for ages 12 and up, $8 for ages 6-11, free for children 5 and under. Discounted admission from 5 to 10 p.m. on Monday through Thursday evenings: $10 adult admission; $6 child admission.
Hours: Fairgrounds, 8 a.m. to midnight. Buildings, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thrill Ville and Thrill Zone, 10 a.m. to midnight. Thrill Town, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Weather forecast: Mostly cloudy early before becoming sunny, with a high of 93 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
From the archives:East Side Night is here, so we ask: 'What makes an east-sider?'
More news on the Iowa State Fair
- 5 new things at Iowa State Fair 2022, including a world record attempt and fresh events
- The Iowa State Fair butter cow will be joined by 'Music Man' and Ye Old Mill sculptures in 2022
- The Iowa State Fair reveals 53 new foods for 2022. Three compete for people's choice for best new food
- Wanted: 445 Iowans to break a Guinness World Record at the Iowa State Fair
- Who is performing at Iowa State Fair free stages in 2022? Hairball, Wang Chung and more
- What are the top-selling musical performances at the Iowa State Fair Grandstand so far?
- These 2022 kid-friendly Iowa State Fair activities provide fun for the whole family
Check out the latest Iowa State Fair content at The Des Moines Register. Follow us on Twitter @DMRegister and Facebook @DesMoinesRegister.