2024 Iowa State Fair Coverage on Iowa PBS
August is nearly here, and that means it’s time for the Iowa State Fair, and for fair coverage on Iowa PBS. This year’s programming begins August 7 with a live broadcast of the 2024 Iowa State Fair Parade, continues August 12-17 with Fair 2024 and wraps up on August 18 with State Fair Talent Championship 2024. The network will also offer online coverage of the State Fair Queen Coronation 2024 on August 10.
The 2024 Iowa State Fair Parade will be broadcast statewide and livestreamed on Facebook, YouTube and iowapbs.org on Wednesday, August 7 at 6:15 p.m. With high school marching bands, floats, cool cars, special causes and more, Iowa’s largest parade is full of memorable moments.
Iowa PBS will offer a livestream of the 2024 Iowa State Fair Queen Coronation on Facebook, YouTube and iowapbs.org. Coverage of the event will be available online only on Saturday, August 10 beginning at 7 p.m. This annual fair tradition brings together county fair queens from across the state who showcase the very best in personality, leadership, citizenship and involvement in their local communities.
Nightly highlights of Fair 2024 begin airing on Monday, August 12 and continue through Saturday, August 17 at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., and will include more than 65 segments from around the fairgrounds. Featuring contests, unique stories, food, animals, music and more, these hour-long programs are among the network’s most-watched of the year. All six episodes will be rebroadcast back-to-back on Sunday, August 18 beginning at 2 p.m.
Following the Sunday marathon, coverage of the finals of the State Fair Talent Championship 2024 will air Sunday, August 18 at 8 p.m. The annual competition showcases some of the amazing talents of Iowa’s youth.
Below is a list of topics scheduled for each Fair 2024 episode. Please note, topics are subject to change. Visit iowapbs.org/fair for the latest updates.
Monday, August 12 at 9 & 10 p.m. (Also airs Sunday, August 18 at 2 p.m.)
State Fair Parade
Cowgirl Queen
New Fair Foods
Fair After Dark — Fair Games
Twins, Triplets and More
Antique Tractor Pull
Classic Car Display
Big Animals
Fair Prep — Cowboy Shooting Family
Sky Glider Turns 50
Painting With a Twist
Tuesday, August 13 at 9 & 10 p.m. (Also airs Sunday, August 18 at 3 p.m.)
Great Cinnamon Roll Challenge
1920s Newspaper Printing
FFA Swine
Charros Performance
Fair Prep — Giant Pumpkin
Queen History — 60th Anniversary
Queen Contest
FFA Ushers
Fair View Farmers Market
Art Experiences in the Cultural Center
Chainsaw Carving
Wednesday, August 14 at 9 & 10 p.m. (Also airs Sunday, August 18 at 4 p.m.)
Butter Cow
Historical Walking Tour
Kids Can Cook
Cowboy Mounted Shooting
FFA Parade of Champions
Creature Comforts
Fiddlers’ Championship
Model Barn Display
Fabric and Threads
Fair Prep — Pottery
Budweiser Clydesdales
Fair Mascots
Thursday, August 15 at 9 & 10 p.m. (Also airs Sunday, August 18 at 5 p.m.)
Children’s Citizenship Ceremony
Governor's Charity Steer Show
Fine Art
Fair Prep — The Garden (FFA)
4-H Sheep
Hot Glass Academy
Anything Hot Contest
Giant Pumpkin Contest
ISU Dairy Science Demos
Campgrounds
Horseshoe Pitching
Funforest Playground
Friday, August 16 at 9 & 10 p.m. (Also airs Sunday, August 18 at 6 p.m.)
Flying Fools Dive Show
Cowboy Bootcamp
Blue Ribbon Foundation Bingo
Fair Prep — Sheep Barn Restoration
4-H and FFA Goat Shows
Bubble Gum Blowing Contest
4-H Exhibits Building
Farmer “Bull” Pen Trading Cards
Society Horse Show
Pioneer Hall Blacksmith
The Illuminator
Tractor Club Display and Parade
Old Fashioned Hymn Sing
Saturday, August 17 at 9 & 10 p.m. (Also airs Sunday, August 18 at 7 p.m.)
Homemade Ice Cream Freeze Off
Husband Calling Contest
Hat Parade
Chess Tournament
Little Hands on the Farm
Cookout Contest
Flower Identification Contest
Whistling Contests
The Ice Cream Show
Stock Dog Trials
DNR Archery
4-H and FFA Sale of Champions
In addition to on-air coverage, fairgoers can also get in on the fun with Iowa PBS online. Share photos with Iowa PBS by uploading them via our Fair site. Follow Iowa PBS on Facebook, X, Instagram and Snapchat for daily questions, quizzes and behind-the-scenes action of filming Fair 2024. Fans can even add Iowa PBS's "Fair Food" lens on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat to discover which fair food they are!
Visit iowapbs.org/fair for Fair 2024 full episodes and features, highlights of more than 50 years of fair shows, an interactive map of the fairgrounds and more.
Support for Fair 2024 on Iowa PBS is provided by Iowa Bankers Association, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, and Kwik Star.
In addition to its statewide broadcast, Iowa PBS .1 is available to livestream on iowapbs.org/watch, pbs.org/livestream, the PBS App, Local Now, YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV. Iowa PBS programs, behind-the-scenes extras and more can be enjoyed on iowapbs.org, Facebook and YouTube. Viewers can also stream their favorite shows on demand using the PBS App, available on iOS, Android and many streaming devices.