Iowa State Fair

Visitors to the DNR building at the 2025 Iowa State Fair will notice a new hands-on attraction at the Iowa State Fair: the Conservation Discovery Area, located at the historic DNR Building.

This new playscape offers fairgoers of all ages a chance to experience elements from two well-known Iowa state parksβ€”Maquoketa Caves and Pilot Knobβ€”without leaving the fairgrounds. Visitors can walk through a cave-like structure modeled after formations at Maquoketa Caves State Park, and explore a replica of the stone tower found at Pilot Knob State Park. The exhibit also includes a stream feature with cut-outs highlighting aquatic life and a full-size poster of Bridal Veil Falls at Pikes Peak State Park.

The Iowa State Fair runs from August 7 - 17. As always, fairgoers will enjoy visiting the historic building featuring fish aquariums, a magazine booth with free t-shirt offer, duck pond, animal displays, shooting range, rainscape garden and a display about environmentally sustainable practices in the home. 

The DNR fair building is located near the west entrance of the fairgrounds and just to the west of the grandstand along the grand concourse.

August 7-17, 2025

Iowa State Fair

The Iowa State Fair in Des Moines is Iowa’s great celebration, a salute to the state’s best in agriculture, industry, entertainment and achievement.

Visit the Iowa State Fair website
An aerial view of the crowd at the Iowa State Fair

2025 Courtyard Schedule

Thursday, August 7

  • 11:00 – Monarchs and Milkweed (Courtyard Stage)
  • 1:00 – Adaptations Are Super Powers (Courtyard Stage)
  • 3:00 - Naturally Artistic Kids (Courtyard Stage)
  • 5:00 – Trees and Insects Tree-via: DNR Daily Trivia (Courtyard Stage)

Pop-Up Programs:

  • 9:00 - Reptile Meet and Greet (Courtyard)
  • 9:00-11:00  - How Tos: Fishing Knots and Turkey Calling (Courtyard)
  • Noon-1:00 - Fish Printing (Courtyard)
  • Noon-1:00 & 2:00-3:00 - Tree Friendly Bird Feeders (DNR Building)

Friday, August 8

  • 11:00 – Wildlife Where You Live: 5 things YOU can do for wildlife at home (Courtyard Stage)
  • 1:00 – Understanding and Diagnosing Common Tree Health Issues in Iowa (Courtyard Stage)
  • 3:00 – Pond Management  (Courtyard Stage)
  • 5:00 – Tree Issues Tree-via: DNR Daily Trivia (Courtyard Stage)

Pop-Up Programs:

  • 9:00-11:00 - How Tos: Fishing Knots and Turkey Calling (Courtyard)
  • 10:00-Noon & 2:00-4:00 - Smokey Bear Meet & Greet  (Courtyard)
  • Noon-1:00  - Fish Printing (Courtyard)

Saturday, August 9

  • 11:00 – Iowa's Trout Stocking Program: History and How to Clean and Prepare Trout (Courtyard Stage)
  • 1:00 – Fish Local! Community Fishing Opportunities (Courtyard Stage)
  • 3:00 –  Intro to Birding and Bird Identification (Courtyard Stage)
  • 5:00 – Smokey Bear Tree-via: DNR Daily Trivia (Courtyard Stage)

Pop-Up Programs:

  • 9:00-11:00 - How Tos: Fishing Knots and Turkey Calling (Courtyard)
  • 11:00 to 2:00 - Ongoing demo of basic fish cleaning and cooking tactics for your catch.  Free samples of fresh cooked Iowa fish available.  (Courtyard)
  • Noon-1:00 - Fish Printing (Courtyard)

Sunday, August 10

Reusapalooza Celebration

  • 11:00 – Trees: Nature's Original Recyclers (Courtyard Stage)
  • 1:00 – The Oaks Aren't Alright  (Courtyard Stage)
  • 3:00 - Low Head Dams and the Transformation To Whitewater! (Courtyard Stage)
  • 5:00 – Oak Trees Tree-via: DNR Daily Trivia (Courtyard Stage)

Pop-Up Programs: 

  • 9:00-1:00 - Hands-On Upcycling Activities: Guest Appearance by "Rocky the Recycler" (Courtyard)
  • 9:00-4:30 - Hillside Erosion Table (DNR Building)

Monday, August 11

  • 11:00 – Who Pooped in the Park? (Courtyard Stage)
  • 1:00 – Tasting Nature: Foraging, Preparing and Sampling Wild Edible Plants (Courtyard Stage)
  • 3:00 - An Afternoon of Historic Iowa Trees (Courtyard Stage)
  • 5:00 – Edible Tree Products Tree-via:mDNR Daily Trivia (Courtyard Stage)

Pop-Up Programs:

  • 9:00-10:00 - Native Pollinator Seed Ball Make and Take (Courtyard)
  • 9:00-4:30 - Windbreak Table (DNR Building)

Tuesday, August 12

  • 11:00 – Secrets of State Parks (Courtyard Stage)
  • 1:00 – Trip Planning and Safety For Iowa Paddlers (Courtyard Stage)
  • 3:00 - 100th Anniversary of Pheasant Hunting in Iowa (Courtyard Stage)
  • 5:00 – Pheasants Tree-via: DNR Daily Trivia (Courtyard Stage)

Pop-Up Programs:

  • 10-Noon & 2:00-4:00 - Smokey Bear Meet & Greet (Courtyard)

Wednesday, August 14

Sensory Day (9am to Noon)

  • 11:00 – Paddling 101 :Adventures to remember (Courtyard Stage)
  • 1:00 – Paddling 101: Adventures to remember  (Courtyard Stage)
  • 3:00 – Rainscaping for Soil and Water Health (Courtyard Stage)
  • 5:00 – Urban Trees Tree-via: DNR Daily Trivia (Courtyard Stage)

Pop-Up Programs: 

  • 9:00 to 12:00 - Wild Touches, Textures, and Smells (DNR Building)
  • 9:00 to 4:30 - Is This Sticky? Tree-Themed Sensory Box (DNR Building by the playhouse)
  • 9:00 to 5:00 -  Conservation Station Trailer (Courtyard)

Iowa Learning Farms partners with Water Rocks! to bring audiences the Conservation Stationβ€”a mobile learning center that educates audiences of all ages on different conservation aspects. The trailer houses a unique combination of highly visual and interactive Iowa-centric demonstrations that delve into the impacts of land management choices, both urban and agricultural, on water quality and the connections between our state’s water, soil, and wildlife. Visiting fairs, festivals, farmers markets, and other public events, the Conservation Station trailer provides a range of demonstrations, games, learning opportunities and hands-on activities for all ages.

Thursday, August 14

  • 11:00 – Iowa Raptors: Live Animals (Courtyard Stage)
  • 1:00 – Living with Wildlife: Urban Wildlife Interactions (Courtyard Stage)
  • 3:00 - Fly Fishing with the Hawkeye Fly Fishers  (Courtyard Stage)
  • 5:00 – Trees and Wildlife Tree-via: DNR Daily Trivia (Courtyard Stage)

Pop-Up Programs:

  • 9:00-4:30 - Hillside Erosion Table (Inside DNR building by the playhouse)
  • 9:00-6:00 - Izaak Walton League  Hands-On Activities (Courtyard)
  • Morning/Afternoon - Snake Meet & Greet (Courtyard)

Friday, August 15

  • 11:00 – Growing Healthy Trees  (Courtyard Stage)
  • 1:00 – Blandings Turtle Research (Courtyard Stage)
  • 3:00 - Deer Disease Update (Courtyard Stage)
  • 5:00 – Trees & Water Tree-via: DNR Daily Trivia (Courtyard Stage)

Pop-Up Programs:

  • 9:00-6:00 - Izaak Walton League Hands-On Activities (Courtyard)
  • 10:00-4:00 - Hunter Safety Trail (Courtyard)
  • 10:00-4:00 - Northern Polk PF Booth (Courtyard)
  • 10:00-Noon & 2:00-4:00 - Smokey Bear Meet & Greet (Courtyard)

Saturday, August 16

  • 10:00 - Gray fox in Iowa, How can you help (Courtyard Stage)
  • 11:00 – Outdoor Cooking Basics (Courtyard Stage)
  • 1:00 – Iowa’s Wild Animals: Bears, Bobcat, Fishers, Gray fox and Mt Lions (Courtyard Stage)
  • 3:00 - Snakes Alive! Live Animals (Courtyard Stage)
  • 4:00 - DIY- Wild Game Processing and Smoking (Courtyard Stage)
  • 5:00 – Tree Products Tree-via: DNR Daily Trivia (Courtyard Stage)

Pop-Up Programs:

  • 9:00-4:30 - Windbreak Table (DNR Building)
  • 9:00-6:00 - Izaak Walton League  Hands-On Activities (Courtyard)
  • Morning/Afternoon - Snake Meet & Greet (Courtyard)

Sunday, August 17

  • 11:00 – Nature for Health, Wellness and Quality of Life (Courtyard Stage)
  • 1:00 – Snakes Alive! Live Animals (Courtyard Stage)
  • 2:00 - Habitat, Wetlands & Water quality- Trumpeter swan program: Live Animal (Courtyard Stage)
  • 3:00 - Mammals of Iowa (Courtyard Stage)
  • 5:00 – General Tree Topics Tree-via: DNR Daily Trivia (Courtyard Stage)

Pop-Up Programs:

  • Morning/Afternoon - Snake Meet & Greet (Courtyard)
  • 11:00-Noon & 2:00-3:00 - Tree Friendly Bird Feeders (Courtyard)