2025 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 with two live broadcasts: the 2025 Iowa State Fair Parade on August 6, and the 2025 Iowa State Fair Queen Contest on August 9. Coverage continues August 11-16 with Fair 2025 and wraps up on August 17 with the State Fair Talent Championship 2025.
The 2025 Iowa State Fair Parade will be broadcast statewide and livestreamed on iowapbs.org, Facebook and YouTube on Wednesday, August 6 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.
On Saturday, August 9 at 7 p.m., Iowa PBS will offer a live broadcast of the 2025 Iowa State Fair Queen Contest. The event will also be livestreamed on iowapbs.org, Facebook and YouTube. 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 2025 begin airing on Monday, August 11 and continue through Saturday, August 16 at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., and will include more than 60 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 17 beginning at 2 p.m.
Following the Sunday marathon, coverage of the finals of the State Fair Talent Championship 2025 will air Sunday, August 17 at 8 p.m. The annual competition showcases some of the amazing talents of Iowa’s youth.
In addition to our extensive broadcast coverage, fans of Iowa PBS won’t want to miss our booth in the Varied Industries Building! Try out the interactive trivia wall, snap photos at three-sided selfie stations featuring programs like Iowa PBS Sports, and pose with a larger-than-life tribute to everyone’s favorite big red dog, Clifford. Visitors can also show their Iowa PBS pride with a free foldable fan to take home.
Fairgoers can also get in on the fun with Iowa PBS online. Share photos with other Iowa PBS fans 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 2025.
Schedule
Don’t miss any of the Fair 2025 highlights! Below is a list of topics scheduled for each episode. Please note, topics are subject to change. Visit iowapbs.org/fair for the latest updates.
Monday, August 11 at 9 & 10 p.m.
(Also airs Sunday, August 17 at 2 p.m.)
- State Fair Parade
- Mullet Contest
- Big Animals
- Bondurant FFA Kid
- Family Chopped
- Concrete Statues
- New Fair Foods
- The Chipper Experience
- East Side Night
Tuesday, August 12 at 9 & 10 p.m.
(Also airs Sunday, August 17 at 3 p.m.)
- Spelling Bee
- Fair Prep — Ugly Cake Contest
- Dairy Cattle
- Best Bagger Contest
- Queen Contest
- Baby Animals
- Photography
- Lego Brick Wall Build
- Rooster and Chicken Calling
Wednesday, August 13 at 9 & 10 p.m.
(Also airs Sunday, August 17 at 4 p.m.)
- Scotcharoo Smackdown
- Butter Cow
- Fiddling Contest Turns 100
- FFA Sheep
- 4-H/FFA Kid
- Agriculture Building Crop Artistry
- 4-H Shee’ Skillathon
- Bandaloni
- FFA Parade of Champions
- Flying Royals
Thursday, August 14 at 9 & 10 p.m.
(Also airs Sunday, August 17 at 5 p.m.)
- Soda Fountain 50th
- Beard Growing Contest
- Fair Prep — USS Iowa Corndogs
- Cookout Contest
- Governor’s Charity Steer Show
- Little Hands on the Farm
- Quilting
- art WORKS
- Outlaw Truck and Tractor Pulls
- Pedal Tractor Pull
Friday, August 15 at 9 & 10 p.m.
(Also airs Sunday, August 17 at 6 p.m.)
- Goat Yoga
- Timber Sports
- 4-H Swine
- Rubber Chicken Throwing
- Remembering Bonnie Eilert
- DNR Cave
- Older Iowans Cookie Decorating
- Fair Fun for Everyone
- Lottery World Record Attempt
- Vet Camp
- Ice Carving
Saturday, August 16 at 9 & 10 p.m.
- Lineman’s Rodeo
- Weed Identification
- Remembering Marion Lucas
- ids Joke Telling
- Cornhole Tournament
- Clydesdales, Percherons & Draft Show Horses
- Fair Prep — Paper Cranes
- Cowchip Throwing
- Polka Club of Iowa
- Elevated Cheesecake
- 4-H and FFA Sale of Champions
Visit iowapbs.org/fair for Fair 2025 full episodes and features, highlights of more than 50 years of fair shows, an interactive map of the fairgrounds, and more.
Support for Fair 2025 on Iowa PBS is provided by Iowa Bankers Association, Iowa Corn, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Pella Rolscreen Foundation, Vermeer, and Wellabe.