How to survive a trip to the Iowa State Fair with kids

Remember these 3 simple rules:

1. You don’t have to see everything in one day

2. Bring a stroller for kids under 5 years old

3. Wipes are essential

The trip actually starts the night before in the prep. I don’t know about you, but my kids are the best behaved right after a nice breakfast and a good night’s sleep. So I always do a bit of prep work so we don’t dilly dally in the morning. Put the stroller in the van, pack the bag, make sandwiches, water bottles in the freezer and everyone getting a good nights sleep.

Parking: Free parking is close if you get there when the fair opens. I always park free on the west side of the fair along the side streets there and walk a couple of blocks and enter in the one of the west entrances. This is right by the petting zoo so you could use that as a cooersion tactic at any point.. Some people take shuttles in….that has never worked for me because I’ve always had a stroller and I have always done it alone…so I like having my car relatively close. You can pay $5-$10 to park on the street or in the lot. I have found that you seem to walk the same wherever you park…so might as well be free. Now We usually try to do the fair for less that $20 in my pocket, so we buy our tickets in advance, bring some snacks and drinks with us and fill our pockets with free stuff at the fair. Now you need a big stroller so you canyou’re your soft sided cooler in the bottom…with your bag on top of that. You’ll want some water for sure. Also, a change of clothes for small kids is a good idea because the fair is a dirty place…so don’t wear your Sunday best. Remember good comfy shoes for mommy because you may end up carrying a screaming child those 2 blocks back to the car.

Set them up for success...let them know your expectations (don’t wonder off, let mommy know when you have to go potty, etc.) Dangle a few rewards for them as well (free ice cream,little hands on the farm,looking at the biggest pigs, holding the baby pigs,funnel cake, tattoos, fried oreos, etc.)

Here is a “Typical” day of the Fair for me and my kids (because my hubby doesn’t like the fair as much as me). First I want to tell you I have never kept my kids at the fair for more than 6 hours, we’re always in the car by 2:30..because that is the magic time before my kids explode with naughty exhaustion behavior. We usually go during a weekday, because it’s not as busy. *****ALERT: Some schools are starting pretty early so….Aug 20^th and 21^st are good non crowded days to go******

7:00 Wake kids up and get ready with nice, big bfast.

7:45 Leave for fair

8ish arrive and enter through west entrance. Petting zoo

8:30ish Grab a free ice cream sandwich in Blue Bunny Building right by petting zoo and look at kids food contests

9ish head to little hands on the farm before it gets too busy…..its not fun to wait in line..so I might do this first. ***BEST RESTROOM*** in newer pappajohn pavilion nest to the farm

9:30is..head to bill riley stage for fun stuff to watch…we love the fiddle contest, dance classes, and of course the Bill Riley Talent show (eat a funnel cake while watching)

10:30ish head the the animal barns…we just hit whatever is right infront of us..no need to look at EVERY animal

11:30ish..find a place to eat the food we brought, plus may buy some more to share…has anyone ever tried the Hot roast beef sundae>> Roast beef and gravy on mashed potatoes, with shredded cheddar cheese and a cherry tomato on top…that’s a good one to share.

12ish…Headed to soo the Butter Cow and the Hy-Vee Forest. There are great crafts there and a little water spray area to cool off in. There’s also an AE sample area for yummy yogurt and choco milk. There is also a big wooden train jungle gym and other things to see.

1pm We head to the air conditioned varied industries building and get tattooed up with all the free tattoos and see if anyone is at the PBS booth reading stories or giving hugs. It’s nice and cool in there.

1:30..headed back to the car, but if there’s money left..buy an elephant ear (huge and can share with kids) On the way out, look to see if there’s anything we missed.

Enjoy the fair…one of the best in the nation and it’s here in our town J

See you at the fair!!!!