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2024 Iowa State Fair officially the most popular in state history

This year's attendance surpasses the previous all-time marks set in 2019.

DES MOINES, Iowa — The 2024 Iowa State Fair is officially the most popular ever.

1,182,682 people total attended this year, surpassing the previous all-time mark set in 2019 (1,170,375).

The fair was capped off by an attendance of 100,398 on Sunday, Aug. 18.

126,142 people attended the Iowa State Fair on Saturday, Aug. 17, with Ne-Yo drawing a Grandstand crowd of 7,993. Friday Aug. 16 saw 111,591 people attend the fair while the Avett Brothers drew a Grandstand crowd of 5,068.

Thursday, Aug. 15 had 102,510 attend with comedian Gabriel Iglesias drawing a Grandstand crowd of 9,312.

Wednesday, Aug. 14 had a total attendance of 99,282 with Grandstand act Motley Crue bringing in 11,681 people.

Tuesday, Aug. 13 had an attendance total of 105,384, the largest Tuesday attendance in fair history. Thomas Rhett powered the Grandstand with a crowd of 12,475.

115,048 people attended the fair on Sunday, Aug. 11, a record for the first Sunday of the fair. The all-time single-day attendance record was set on Saturday, Aug. 10 at 128,732.

The previous all-time attendance record was held by the second Saturday of the 2022 fair with 128,289 attendees.

You can read attendance numbers below to see how 2024 compared to the last Iowa State Fair in 2023, 2022 and 2021

Next year's fair is scheduled for Aug. 7-17, 2025.

Here's how attendance for the fair has compared to past years:

  • 2024: 1,182,682 (all-time record)
  • 2023: 1,133,958
  • 2022: 1,118,763
  • 2021: 1,094,480
  • 2019: 1,170,375
  • 2018: 1,130,260
Most Attended Fair Ever

1,182,682 cured their Fair Fever❤️ Thanks for making this year the largest Iowa State Fair EVER! #IowaStateFair #FairFever

Posted by Iowa State Fair on Monday, August 19, 2024

Day 11

  • 2024 — 100,398
    • Kidz Bop: 5,824
  • 2023 — 85,714
  • 2022 — 101,846
  • 2021 — 99,991
  • 2019 — 105,585
  • 2018  — 114,492

Day 10

  • 2024 — 126,142
    • Ne-Yo: 7,993
  • 2023 — 112,732  
  • 2022 — 128,298 
  • 2021 — 117,764
  • 2019 —  119,276
  • 2018 — 117,062

Day 9

  • 2024 — 111,591
    • The Avett Brothers: 5,068
  • 2023 — 112,048 
  • 2022 — 93,348
  • 2021 — 101,952
  • 2019 —  112,891
  • 2018 — 102,447

Day 8

  • 2024 — 102,510
    • Gabriel Iglesias: 9,312
  • 2023 — 101,475
  • 2022 — 99,715
  • 2021 — 96,064
  • 2019 — 104,247
  • 2018 — 99,090

Day 7

  • 2024 — 99,281
    • Motley Crue: 11,681
  • 2023 — 98,751
  • 2022 — 97,901
  • 2021 — 91,510
  • 2019 — 109,323
  • 2018 — 102,843

Day 6

  • 2024 — 105,384
    • Thomas Rhett: 12,475
  • 2023 — 101,244 
  • 2022 — 99,965
  • 2021 — 90,688
  • 2019 — 102,953
  • 2018 — 92,440

Day 5

  • 2024 — 92,920
    • Brett Young: 4,887
  • 2023 — 100,214
  • 2022 — 87,599
  • 2021 — 95,621
  • 2019 — 97,682
  • 2018 — 95,666

Day 4

  • 2024 — 115,048 (all-time record for first Sunday)
    • Greta Van Fleet: 9,075
  • 2023 — 114,937
  • 2022 — 110,661
  • 2021 — 107,410
  • 2019 — 108,283
  • 2018 — 104,270

Day 3

  • 2024 — 128,732 (all-time record for single-day attendance)
    • Jelly Roll: 16,001
  • 2023 — 118,286
  • 2022 — 113,012
  • 2021 — 111, 603
  • 2019 — 122,111
  • 2018 — 116,583

Day 2

  • 2024 — 109,854
    • Foreigner: 11,141
  • 2023 — 101,177
  • 2022 —  103,556
  • 2021 — 104,177
  • 2019 — 103,096
  • 2018 — 103,419

Day 1 

  • 2024 — 90,822
    • Lauren Daigle: 9,726
  • 2023 —  87,380
  • 2022 —  82,362
  • 2021 — 77,700
  • 2019 — 84,928
  • 2018 — 81,948

2024 Grandstand Lineup

Attendance in parenthesis

  • Thursday, Aug. 8: Lauren Daigle (9,726)
  • Friday, Aug. 9: Foreigner (11,141)
  • Saturday, Aug. 10: Jelly Roll (16,001)
  • Sunday, Aug. 11: Greta Van Fleet (9,075)
  • Monday, Aug. 12: Brett Young (4,887)
  • Tuesday, Aug. 13: Thomas Rhett (12,475)
  • Wednesday, Aug. 14: Motley Crue (11,681)
  • Thursday, Aug. 15: Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias (9,312)
  • Friday, Aug. 16: The Avett Brothers (5,068)
  • Saturday, Aug. 17: Ne-Yo (7,993)
  • Sunday, Aug. 18: Kidz Bop

Annual Iowa State Fair attendance totals (11 days)

  • 2023: 1,133,958
  • 2022: 1,118,763
  • 2021: 1,094,480
  • 2019: 1,170,375 (all-time record)
  • 2018: 1,130,260


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