Free Entertainment

What are the the things you can’t miss, the things you always need to eat or see or do? With over 1 million attendees and 11 days, there is so much to see and do at the Iowa State Fair.

Free entertainment with gate admission is always a highlight of the Fair.

2025 Free Stage Entertainment Application

Print out the form and mail to:

Tonya Cook, Special Events & Interim Events Director
Iowa State Fair
P.O. Box 57130
Des Moines, Iowa 50317

Free Entertainment Facts

The Blue Band has been one of the longest free stage acts, celebrating over 30 years and completing their run at the Fair in 2017.

Popular bands, the Nadas first came to the Fair in 2000 and Hairball started performing in 2003.

These entertainers first appeared on a free stage at the Fair before performing in the Grandstand:

John Michael Montgomery (free stage in 1993, Grandstand in 1995 and 1997)
Bryan White (free stage in 1995, Grandstand in 1997 and 1998)
Trick Pony (free stage 2001, Grandstand in 2002 and 2003)
Gary Allen (free stage 1999, Grandstand in 2004, 2007 and 2009)
Cross Canadian Ragweed (free stage 2004, Grandstand 2005)
Dierks Bentley (free stage 2004, Grandstand 2007 and 2016)
Shooter Jennings (free stage 2006, Grandstand 2008)
Chuck Wicks (free stage 2008, Grandstand 2009)
Candy Coburn (free stage 2008, Grandstand 2009, 2010)
The Band Perry (free stage 2011, Grandstand 2012)
Tenth Avenue North (free stage 2011, Grandstand 2012)
Lady Antebellum (free stage 2008, Grandstand 2014 and 2016)
Color Me Badd (free stage 2016, Grandstand 2017)
Dan and Shay (free stage 2015, Grandstand 2019 and 2021)
Carly Pearce (free stage 2017, Grandstand 2019)
Zach Williams (free stage 2017, Grandstand 2019)

For more information, please email specialevents@iowastatefair.org.