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7 State Fairs Worth the Road Trip

Where you can find unique fair food creations, quirky competitions and more

people in line to order food at the Iowa State Fair
Iowa’s state fair is the largest event in the state. This year, the annual butter cow will be sculpted into famous Iowans.
M. Scott Brauer/Redux
By

Jennifer Ortiz,

 
AARP
Published August 02, 2024

The end of summer and early fall ring in the season for a favorite American tradition: state fairs and festivals. Last year’s spike in domestic road trips among people 50-plus continues this year, with 49 percent expected to travel by personal vehicle, according to AARP research. Many who are road-tripping throughout the U.S. during this time of year will not want to miss out on the quintessentially American state fairs.  

Besides typical carnival rides, petting zoos, cotton candy and funnel cakes, some fairs boast unique traditions, foods and competitions. We gathered some popular state fairs, known for their quirky offerings and interesting history. See where you can find the most experimental food, entertainment and family fun.

pigs along with their handlers at Iowa State Fair
Agricultural experiences featuring livestock and unique foods such as lobster corn dogs are some of the attractions at this year’s fair in Des Moines, Iowa.
M. Scott Brauer/Redux

Iowa State Fair

Des Moines, Iowa

Aug. 8 to 18

Tickets: $16 for visitors 12 and older; $10 for children 6 to 11. Aug. 14 is Older Iowans’ Day, and those 60 and older can get in for $12 with a valid ID.

It’s the largest event in the state, attracting more than a million people each year. The first Iowa State Fair took place in 1854, and its quirky tradition of having a butter sculpture of a cow dates back to 1911. This year’s butter cow will be joined by butter likenesses of two famous Iowans: former late-night talk show legend Johnny Carson and current Tonight Show announcer Steve Higgins. A bonus butter sculpture of the late-night show’s current host, Jimmy Fallon, will round out the group. While the butter cow is for show and not for eating, there are a plethora of food options (200 food stands and 12 of them are new this year), including lobster corn dogs, Hot Cheeto floats and pink lemonade whoopie pies. The fairgrounds cover 450 acres, plus 160 acres of campgrounds; the campground has a new showering facility for those who camp on-site.

pink and blue motor cars at the Tennessee State Fair
The Tennessee State fair has expanded its grounds and will include motorsports, amusement rides and livestock shows.
STACY KRANITZ/The New York Times/Redux

Tennessee State Fair

Lebanon, Tennessee

Aug. 15 to 24

Tickets: $15 at the gate for visitors over 12; $6 for children 6 to 12. On Aug. 20, admission is $10 for people 60 and older when the gates open at 4 p.m. 

The Tennessee State Fair started in 1855 but didn’t really take off until 1906, according to the Tennessee State Library and Archives. The fair has expanded its grounds and added new attractions to the annual celebration this year. It will have around 100 concession stands, entertainment throughout 15 stages, 150 livestock shows, around 60 amusement rides and motor sports every night. During the fair, Wilson County residents can compete in various pageants, with events for everyone from infants to women over 60. In the new Back Seat Driver competition, teams will drive a golf cart through an obstacle course, with the passenger guiding the blindfolded driver. There will be more than 60 attractions at Fiddler’s Grove village, where visitors can see demonstrations for basket weaving, blacksmithing, wood carving, soap making and more. Plus, the fair wouldn’t be complete without live bluegrass music.

people in line to purchase lemonade at the New York State Fair
The New York State Fair will feature live entertainment from Joan Jett and the Blackhearts along with your typical fair rides, food and fun.
David Williams/Redux

New York State Fair

Syracuse, New York

Aug. 21 to Sept. 2

Tickets: $8; free for people 65-plus and children under 12.

The very first state fair in the country was held in Syracuse, New York, in 1841. For more than four decades, the fair traveled among 11 cities throughout the state. Fun fact: In 1972, Sonny and Cher performed and broke the fair’s concert attendance record. Last year country star Lainey Wilson broke the New York State Fair’s record for having the largest crowd at a state fair concert. This year’s visitors can expect performances by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Joey Fatone (of ’90s boy band NSync) and A.J. McLean (of the Backstreet Boys).

three people drinking milk at the Minnesota State Fair
This year in St. Paul, Minnesota, visitors can have their pick of more than 300 food vendors and more than 1,600 menu items throughout the fairgrounds.
David Williams/Redux

Minnesota State Fair

Aug. 22 to Sept. 2

St. Paul, Minnesota

Tickets: $18 for visitors 13 to 64; $16 for adults 65-plus and children 5 to 12; free for children 4 and under. On Aug. 26 and 29, admission is $13 for adults 65 and older.

What started in 1855 as a way to highlight the agriculture and farming industries in the region became the Minnesota State Fair in 1859, a year after Minnesota was granted statehood. Now it’s known as the Great Minnesota Get-Together, with almost 2 million people gathering on the 322-acre fairgrounds in St. Paul every year. It boasts more than 300 food vendors and more than 1,600 menu items. New to the food lineup this year are some unusual options, including savory eclairs (with banh mi or lobster filling), cotton candy iced tea and kettle chip-flavored ice cream sandwiched between focaccia bread (called the “patata frita focacciawhich”). And some big names in entertainment will be performing at the Grandstand Stage: the Happy Together tour featuring the Turtles and other chart-topping artists of the 1960s and ’70s, country star Blake Shelton and Mötley Crüe.

a woman buying food from a vendor at The Big E
The Big E is the only multistate fair in the U.S., representing Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.
JACOB SILBERBERG/REDUX

The Big E

West Springfield, Massachusetts

Sept. 13 to 29

Tickets: $20 at the gate for visitors over 12; $12 for children 6 to 12; free for children 5 and under. On senior days (Sunday through Thursday), admission is $16 for people 60 and older.

It’s a state fair representing not one state but six — Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont — and it’s the only multistate fair in the U.S. At the Avenue of States, fairgoers can step into a replica of each state’s original statehouse. In fact, since each state owns its building and the land it’s built on, visitors can technically go to all six states in one day. In each building, you can learn about the state’s history, agriculture, natural resources and tourist attractions, plus enjoy local food and drinks and other vendors. The fair also pays homage to Nashville with Dolly’s Honky Tonk, which brings line dancing, mechanical bulls and regional country music. Or you can see a Mardi Gras parade featuring floats crafted in New Orleans.

aerial view of Arizona State Fair
Arizona’s state fair is celebrating its 140th anniversary this year, and some of the attractions include a monster truck battle, a bull-riding show and lots of fair food.
Alamy Stock Photo

Arizona State Fair

Phoenix

Sept. 20 to Oct. 27 (Thursday through Sunday)

Tickets: $15 for those 8 and older.

Arizona is commemorating 140 years of its annual fair celebrations. The fair is even older than the state itself, starting 28 years before Arizona’s statehood. Elvis, Pope John Paul II, former President Barack Obama and Cher have visited the Veterans Memorial Coliseum on the fairgrounds. The festival has hosted big and beloved acts, such as the Rolling Stones, Sheryl Crow and Bob Dylan. This year’s lineup lists performances from the “I Love the 90’s” tour, which includes Vanilla Ice, Rob Base and Montell Jordan. Also featured this year: a bull-riding show and multiple All Star Monster Truck battles. The fair is the state’s largest food festival, and last year more than 1.4 million visitors stopped by.

World's Tallest Cowboy statue at the State Fair of Texas.
The “world’s tallest cowboy” will greet attendees at the State Fair of Texas.
David Williams/Redux

State Fair of Texas

Dallas

Sept. 27 to Oct. 20

Tickets: $60 for a season pass

The 24-consecutive-day fair dates back to 1886. Visitors are greeted by the “world’s tallest cowboy,” standing at 55 feet tall. Pig races and an all-star stunt dog show are among some of the entertainment available. New to the fair this year, Guinness World Record holder Bryan Berg will be stacking cards to create replicas of Texas icons. But it wouldn’t be Texas without a rodeo, and the various related events include youth rodeo, wild cow milking, barrel racing and Mexican-style rodeo. More than 100 national and local musicians will perform throughout this year’s festival.​​

Jennifer Ortiz is an associate editor at aarp.org. She previously covered personal finance, careers and other consumer topics as an editor at U.S. News & World Report and was a news writer and editor at WTOP News in Washington, D.C.

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