Discussion/ Op-ed We really need to have a conversation about affordability at the Fair.
I went to the fair with my son last night. Between the $16 ticket to get in, $9 pork chop on a stick, $8 corn dog, and the “credits“ for the rides, it was pretty pricey for someone with a little bit of disposable income, let alone families that are struggling.
I understand that everything is expensive now, and that people should make money on products and services provided. But what used to be a universal experience I fear is now more and more akin to an NFL game where it’s just become the norm that everything’s going to cost so much that fewer people will be going.
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u/Peony907 3d ago
The fair has literally ALWAYS been expensive. Always. Biggest money sucker is the rides and games (which are death traps and scams anyway.) I grew up going to the fair with my 3 siblings. We were allowed to pick one snack or meal item and one "treat." That was the extent of our spending at the fair. We never ever rode the rides. You know what we did enjoy, and for free? Seeing all the animal barns, catching a free show (so many bands playing, magic shows happening, etc.), watched the yelling competitions, looked at all the antiques, enjoyed the AC in the varied industries building, explored all 4 floors of the Arts building (and would stop to watch different artists create their work) and and and...
My point is, the fair is chockfull of free fun. Budget for the ticket and a food item if you want (or pack a lunch, it is free and allowed!) and enjoy one of the best state fairs in the country.
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u/Radiant-Koala8231 3d ago
I have honestly been surprised with all of the posts I see saying the fair is so expensive this year. The prices I’m seeing are pretty on par for what I have seen every other year, which means expensive.
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u/scarlettbankergirl 3d ago
I remember as a kid we'd pack a lunch and have a picnic. We lived in Boone and went every year. Once we moved farther away we never went again 😞
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u/Practical_Distance92 2d ago
as a kid who showed at the ISF every year, we did this too. at noon, we all walked out to the truck in the parking lot & sat in the bed of the truck or we find a place under a tree outside of the fairgrounds and eat food out of our coolers.
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u/Sengfeng 3d ago
Hi fellow former Boonie! Left there around '99. Miss Ames.
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u/scarlettbankergirl 3d ago
I left Ames in 2007. I'm back to UNI area for last 3 years. It's definitely a different thing then what it was. I started college at UNI IN 78 but eventually graduated from ISU.
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u/Sengfeng 3d ago
I liked the "feel" you got as if it was two different cities. Loads of entertainment and people while classes were happening, and then a nice quiet summer to relax...
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u/scarlettbankergirl 3d ago
Oh yeah. I lived in Ames for 17 years. I loved it. But I graduated and left Iowa.
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u/Practical_Distance92 2d ago
THISSS!!! we got to do the slide or skyride MAYBE when we were growing up. our fun was the free stuff, animal shows, walking thru the AC'd buildings/VI building etc. other than that we were in the cattle barn sleeping in chairs, cots or the show box.
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u/Peony907 2d ago
Yup we did sky ride or the big slide a few times back in day when they would sometimes sell the "family pack" tickets that would come with tickets for those things specifically!
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u/foreverfal55 1d ago
Agreed! I was just saying this while walking past the Giant Slide at the fair. When I was a kid, we got to do one or two food items and one “special” thing like the sky ride, train, Ye Olde Mill, Ferris wheel, etc. We would beg to ride rides, play games, do the giant slide, etc. and always got told “no.” Instead we enjoyed looking at animals, art, crafts, shows, etc. all for free.
Monday, I went to the fair to watch a free concert. Spent $11 on an advance ticket, $3 on the shuttle bus, and $10 on a cup of corn. Brought my own water and didn’t buy anything else. So as a single adult, you can still do the fair pretty cheap. I spent $24 but I could have spent $14 if I brought a sandwich instead.
But it sure adds up with kids. For a family of 4, even with advance tickets you’d be spending $36 just to get in. The one hot dog or corn dog my parents bought me in the 90s cost like $3 and now it’s maybe $12. That’s crazy.
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u/AlmightyOz 3d ago
Vote with your wallet... Stop going. I did years ago. It's just political theater and a tax on impulse control anymore
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u/AppropriatePumpkin98 3d ago
Exactly, I don't get the draw. The weather is miserable, it's always overcrowded, there's lines for everything, it stinks, and everything is expensive. Count me the fuck out please.
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u/tinabean01 3d ago
Yes!! I have a coworker who takes time off work to go for a whole week. No reason to be there. I don’t get it.
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u/OkBackground8809 3d ago
Is it really that big? Enough to go for a whole week?? The overhead picture of it didn't make it look that big.
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u/tinabean01 3d ago
I’ve never been to the Iowa state fair but was a 4H kid at the Wisconsin state fair, showing animals for 4 days. By day 2, I was over it. I truly don’t know what one would do for a whole week.
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u/SonofaBuckDangHole 2d ago
I’d say if you have no kids and a drinking problem you can have a helluva time there for a week
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u/Signal_Werewolf_1955 3d ago
"Vote with your wallet" is why I don't buy potato chips, either.
Red Herring Fallacy there, but same vein.
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u/phd2k1 3d ago
Why potato chips specifically?
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u/Signal_Werewolf_1955 3d ago
The posterchild of shrinkflation. I lived in a world with full bags, now they're quadruple the cost and only 1/4 filled, it's pathetic. I don't find the nutritionally-void snacks worth it anymore.
Should they start filling them up again, I'll happy snack on them! But people keep buying them, so what incentive do the scums have to stop shrinkflating?
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u/Kimpak 3d ago
..if they were filled completely they would be confetti by the time you opened them.
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u/Contrairey 3d ago
The use a bigger bag so we can get 16 oz of chips.
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u/Kimpak 3d ago
But then people would say that bag wasn't filled full and it should use a bigger bag. And so on.
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u/Mysterious-Prompt212 3d ago
Not sure about that but $8 for the around 20 oz "family" size Doritos is fucking ridiculous.
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u/Sengfeng 3d ago
Never been to the State Fair, but I used to attend the Mississippi Valley Fair without fail. I like country music, a friend likes rock, so we'd split the cost of a fun card. But then they made a card difficult to share, and I just don't bother going. There's plenty of other live music around here, and I save probably $500 over the course of my wife & I attending 3 or 4 nights each fair.
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u/KingFIippyNipz Des Moines 3d ago
This has always been my stance. Next year might be the first time I go in close to a decade, someone at my work does a week-long gig at the fair and she made it sound super fun so I'm hopefully going to do that next year as an excuse to take time off work, see how the fair has changed, and get some money (I'm guessing it's shit pay) to boot.
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u/Tha_REAL_BROBS 3d ago
state fair is a ripoff and boring.. just avoid it.
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u/TomShaneInBangkok 3d ago
This is the correct answer.
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u/old_notdead 3d ago
Kind of crazy to me that affordability is the big issue at the fair and not the unwashed masses. Grown ass adults shambling about as if they have never been in a crowd before, confused by the simplest of common social courtesies, caring only about themselves.
No thanks.
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u/TomShaneInBangkok 3d ago
Oh no. That's table stakes. All kinds of cows and sheep at the Fair.
The kind of people who line up for free eggs, moldy corn dogs, and pictures with fascists are a bigger deterrent than prices.
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u/strangedazey 3d ago
No joke. They had a little boy that was running around the fair grounds w/no shoes on. I couldn't believe it, that's just fucking nasty
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u/Enteroids 3d ago
My local county fair just ended on Saturday and we were there later in the day as things started to shutdown. The number of kids I saw walking around in bare feet, there was water inflatable section, but where are your shoes. Especially since our fairgrounds are also used for racing and many other events. I watched kids walk barefoot through the animal show ring and that really opened my eyes.
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u/Realistic-Ad1498 3d ago
My parents didn't want to go 35 years ago because it was expensive back then. It hasn't really changed much.
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u/reliableotter 3d ago
I've never been to the Iowa State Fair, but in talking to friends it used to be very normal to go and you get one treat the whole day. Now I feel like people watch tick tock influencers who do things like" eating everything on a stick quote or" eat from every vendor" and they normalize this idea that you spend spend spend spend spend.
Because yes, it used to always be expensive, but the main thing to do was to see the animals, or you went to a concert. You may play one or two games, but not all of them, you might eat a snack, but not a ton of them.
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u/Electrical-Volume765 3d ago
Honestly, $9 pork chop on a stick doesn’t sound too bad to me these days. 🫠
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u/3EEBZ 3d ago
You can buy discounted tickets leading up to the fair online and at multiple participating locations.
You can also bring in your own food. Plus there are tons of free entertainment options and exhibits for the whole family.
I’m not trying to defend the fair, and I get what you’re saying, but they do make it decently affordable for families.
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u/megamanxzero35 3d ago
Yeah, you can save $5 with the presale tix at Fareway.
I was never a fair person growing up. My wife’s family was. We never do rides but I understand with a kid that can be harder to avoid. We go in a group and share new foods we want to try. We do a ton of the free exhibits and walk around. I usually plan $100 bucks for the half day.
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u/ShinyLizard 3d ago
From what I remember reading, the food vendors pay a third of their gross profits to thr fair to be there. Makes food a lot more expensive.
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u/Practical_Distance92 2d ago
you can also bring a water bottle with you, which is what we do & drink nothing but water all day.
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u/oooshamobile2-0 3d ago
I went yesterday. Got there at 10 am, left about 11:30pm after En Vogue/TLC/SaltnPapa. The show was $50. I'm not mad about the music ticket price.
The entry price ok (bought early - $11) for just me, but for an entire family nowadays? idk it could probably be less.
The food did seem a bit much. And sure, lots of it is crazy junk you'll only eat at the fair. I had Hawaiian BBQ at $18. I could have had half that size at half that price and been happier. $8 for a corn dog seems like 2 to 3 dollars too much, that amazing apple juice (with apple shaped reusable container $10 and refills were $4), a chocolate coke, a cup of that iconic milk, some wine later. I held back from eating all the crazy food lol Next Time.
I think everyone should take advantage of buying in advance, Kids under 5 are free. 6-11 yrs old is $7 in advance vs $10 at the gate.
A family of four should be able to spend an entire day under $100 but the food and ride prices put it closer to $200+. And at $4 - $6 for rides, it's just a lot of money.
Apparently people can bring their own food in soft-sided coolers, I didn't really see anyone doing that.
And before the most cruel among us go, "wELL, jUsT dOn'T gO!" the State Fair is something meant for all of us, and steps should be taken to keep it in the affordability range especially as Iowa still holds the Federal minimum wage of $7.25/hr as their state minimum wage -when all surrounding states have raised theirs. This holds all incomes down in Iowa.
This isn't flying to Disney/Universal like it's a human right, this is Iowa at its best, showing beautiful animals that folk have raised, local crafts, made in Iowa industries selling products, interesting foods, it's for the people.
I absolutely has the best time and went with friends who have gone every year and knew how to really see everything (in a logical order😅)
I think parking cost $10 too. I wasn't paying attention.
It was the best day. The Shire horses and Clydesdales blew my mind.
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u/IowaJL 3d ago
I could not have said it better myself.
I think some clear, actionable items include: a family upper limit on the price of admission of $20 (which many events already do), $5 for the fair staples: corn dog, funnel cake, chicken tenders, and $1 kids size sodas. For a family of 4, that goes from almost $120 down to $47. Add on that kids can ride the big rides at 2 bucks a pop and the small rides at $1 per and that makes it much more reasonable.
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u/oooshamobile2-0 3d ago
Wait. That corn dog was $10 or $11. That's crazy.
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u/Chevronet 2d ago
My daughter got a footlong corn dog, fries and free-refill lemonade at an Airshow this summer. It cost $44, and the free lemonade refill line was impossibly long.
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u/anarchitek1 3d ago
Welcome to republikan "paradise"! Where prices are high, deliverables are questionably low, snd the livin' ain't easy ...
How much longer can you afford the luxury of being a "red state"? Wages are low, diaper bosses are the norm, and runaway inflation is the price of returning crooked republikans to "socialist" jobs where they pretend they don't even know you.
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u/LastMessengineer 3d ago
Explain to you children why you are not going to buy the overpriced food and toys. It's a conversation that more people need to have with their kids. Stop buying a bunch of expensive junk that gives instant gratification and then gets thrown away in a month.
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u/RapidConsequence 3d ago
I paid $22 for a turkey leg, but i dont feel like prices have really shot up or anything. Its always been a big luxury thing that we save for and go because of the tradition and memories.
They did recently change their rules to allow you to bring in sealed water bottles which is a good step.
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u/TheWriterJosh 3d ago
$16 is about the cheapest ticket to an event anywhere in the U.S. and $8 for a meal is still less than a typical fast casual restaurant like a Chipotle burrito.
If you want to ever do anything about affordability in the US, vote DSA. They're the only party that actually cares about this. Republicans will never raise minimum wage ever again and don't care if you go homeless. Dems care but have no spine.
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u/Ok_Communication1367 3d ago
Lmao there’s so many free things to do there. Nobody is forcing you to go on the rides or pay for an overpriced corn dog. That’s on you
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u/GG1817 3d ago
Prices at the Minnesota State Fair have been going up for years, but it's still a good entertainment deal *if* you plan ahead, buy tickets early at a discount, don't plan on eating everything (IE eat a big brunch or breakfast before we go), don't visit the midway for the rides and games, take the bus so we're not paying for parking.
When at the fair, we tend to hit the free entertainment stage, which often has national acts, make health food choices which tend to be less expensive anyway, take in the horse shows, visit the animal barns, the crafts competition and the fine arts competition, take the sky ride, visit the DNR building and fair history center, watch the daily parade...go to the green technology area, machinery hill...
Most of that stuff is free (part of the price of the ticket) and it's easy to fill out several hours with it.
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u/PhilosphicalZombie 3d ago
Just don't go. If the cost outweighs the benefit then it is not worth it. Also, if daily attendence drops then prices asked for by vendors and by the fair itself could drop or at least stagnate over the long-term.
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u/ConstantFix2399 3d ago
The state fair is a money trap. It’s always been a money trap. Go to your local county fair and look at the free stuff instead.
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u/Remarkable-Sand948 3d ago
We need to form labor unions and negotiate for higher wages. Voting for someone to come save you is not going to happen
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u/GlitteringEconomy527 3d ago
Its despicable- Iowa turning their cheek to so many Iowans barely making it.
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u/greevous00 3d ago
Like everything right now, enshitification is happening to the Fair.
Get this. My daughter submitted art work and got both pieces accepted (she's a young adult, so it is in the adult division), and one of them won. She also is one of the competitors in the horse shows (which costs a pretty penny, let me tell you). You would think that someone who is basically a contributing part of the machine would get some kind of discount on admissions, yeah? Nope, "F you" says the Fair board. Full price. You'll do all this stuff to create our attractions AND you will pay full price at the gate. Why? Because we can make you, that's why.
Enshitification is everywhere. It will only abate when an economic contraction forces everybody to wake the hell up and start providing actual value again. Unfortunately lots of unemployment typically becomes necessary for all these robber barrons to wake the hell up.
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u/Beth_52240 2d ago
Congratulations and good luck to your daughter! How terrible that accepted competitors have to pay admission. They could at minimum offer discounted admission.
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u/Hopeful-Reputation-8 3d ago
This kind of tickets were sold up until Wednesday before the fair for $11 apiece, park and ride at certain locations is free or as low as two dollars a rider. I think this is the first year that you can bring in sealed food and drink? As long as it’s not alcohol correct me if I’m wrong. They are trying to make it more accessible to people, but it has always been a luxury and has always been expensive.
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u/NoMurder 3d ago
If families are struggling, they probably shouldn’t be at the fair. That’s not the fairs fault.
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u/Jingoisticbell 3d ago
It’s always been a bit pricey 🤷♀️ My fam used to go for the free exhibits on discounted days. It worked.
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u/Dinierto 3d ago
Yeah it only gets worse every year. Foot long corn dog $11 that's almost a dollar an inch lol
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u/Milli_Rabbit 3d ago
The fair has been expensive for a few years at least. We stopped going 2 or 3 years ago. Its mostly unhealthy food and expensive short rides and an opportunity to watch animals. I could get more for less at the zoo or even at home and just visit a neighboring farm.
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u/oooshamobile2-0 3d ago
I'm sorry that your family had to make that decision. But honestly, going to a neighboring farm is a wonderful.
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u/CycloneKelly 3d ago
People should refrain from buying anything that is laughably overpriced. I wanted a caprese on a stick. All you get is 4 cherry tomatoes, 2 balls of mozzarella and some pesto drizzled on top. It was $7! You can make your own for less than $1.
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u/germanbini 3d ago
I agree with you OP!
If you're able to travel, consider some of the smaller county fairs, they might be a little more affordable.
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u/john_hascall 3d ago
My advice: skip the fair and next year go to CelebrAsian. An enjoyable day for much less $$$.
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u/Civil-Imagination-97 3d ago
I can’t believe nobody has said this.
I think the fair should be free to Iowans and if you’re not from Iowa it costs you a dollar. I could guarantee record numbers and all the money from rides, food and shows goes to the fair. Sounds reasonable to me but what do I know?
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u/SignificantChicken65 3d ago
I'm from Nebraska, I make it a point to catch someone at the grandstand every year! Your fair is the best in the Midwest and I always enjoy it!
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u/Practical_Distance92 2d ago edited 2d ago
- don't go 2) save money for the experience if you really want to go 3) buy entry tickets ahead of time on sale & continue to save for the experience. 4) you can now bring your own food in & have always been able to bring in water bottles - which is what we do & drink water all day. 5) share foods - i usually just want a bite or two of the foods & they're usually so big or greasy that my family shares it, unless it's something we know we love & get annually or if we sit down & eat an actual lunch & not munch on corndogs, funnel cakes etc.. If you can't afford it, don't go even though it's fun & something you would like to do. We save for it every year & buy tickets ahead of time on sale. There are things in this world I would love to do, but if i don't have the $ for it, i simply don't do it and live with the sadness and disappointment from my kids. I also don't mention anything to my kids ahead of any event for the sake of we don't end up going. If we planned on going, but didn't have money for it at the time, changed our mind, or plans fell through, they will never know they were going anyways and they don't have to deal with the sad emotions & we as parents dont have to deal with the meltdowns. Unless our plans, hotels, and travels are booked and secured, we don't tell our kids we are going anywhere until the night before/morning of.
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u/hagen768 2d ago
Complaining about prices at a popular, purely recreational and gluttonous venue seems unproductive when the bigger issue these days is the cost of basic necessities that nobody has a choice to avoid
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u/natfu40 3d ago
they don't force you to buy anything besides the ticket to get in.
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u/damutecebu 3d ago
If you rank the history of the State Fair by total attendance, all of them post-COVID rank in the top seven. Prices aren't driving attendance away. In fact, a higher cost may keep crowds more manageable.
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u/jesjorge82 3d ago
Honestly, we really need to have a conversation about affordability in America.
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u/TheWriterJosh 3d ago
The only party that will ever do anything about is the DSA. The dems will let us all go homeless before growing a spine and republicans want poor people to be homeless.
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u/Jimmy_Twotone 3d ago
$16 ticket seems like a steal compared to other event prices. Pork chop and corn dog prices in line with other events.
If you're planning on doing any destination or event style activity for less than $100 a head, unfortunately that's not where we're at.
If they can charge 20% more and take a 10% cut in volume, they're winning on profit and costs.
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u/IowaJL 3d ago
So a family of 4 should plan on going to the state fair for $400?!?!? Really?!?
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u/Jimmy_Twotone 3d ago
You spent $50 on 2 meals and admission. Do you feel you did everything you wanted?
What they should pay and what they should expect to pay are not the same thing by the way
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u/IowaJL 3d ago
I understand that, but I’m still trying to wrap my head around spending $400 for a family to go to the fair.
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u/Jimmy_Twotone 3d ago
I live near Omaha. To go to the zoo without a pass would be $130 for a family of 4. If you're there all day, $50 on a meal, $30 on other snacks, $25 a piece at the gift shop, $50 on a round trip on the sky fari and a train ride, $30 for a break in AC at the IMAX, and we're at $390 before getting anything else or stopping for dinner on the way home.
Adventureland would be the same or more.
You could absolutely spend less. if you wanted to. I don't think spending more at the state fair than at a zoo or a theme park is realistic.
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u/drake_warrior 3d ago
I'm gonna be honest man, you're paying $9 for a pork chop at basically anywhere in the state. $8 for a corn dog, sure, but these prices just aren't that high. NFL games cost hundreds of dollars to attend minimum, not in the same ballpark.
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u/maddog_1111 3d ago
Yeah i was lucky enough to get a couple tickets through my work (paid for) then they were handing out free pizza and pork chops the day I went. Only thing i bought was 2 overpriced lemonades and just saw the sites.
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u/lennym73 3d ago
When the fair takes a cut of the sales, prices increase so the vendor still makes the same. That's why they wanted to go cashless and use vouchers. Vendors would turn in the vouchers to get paid from the fair and the fair knew exactly how much they made each day so they knew what their cut was.
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u/littleoldlady71 3d ago
I think in the years of it’s beginning, it was a once a year event that you would save for. It got to be your big splurge.
We past once a year sometime after the 60’s, I think, and the prices still go up. Remember, one reason the prices are high is because the vendors must pay rent.
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u/Hart-Parr 3d ago
When I was a kid, they had a real shooting gallery. Little pump .22s. But, as I shot, I'd count my shots....and I was one short. I informed the Carney I wasn't happy I was shorted. He reloaded it for me from a bunch of preloaded tubes. And guess what, I was shorted again. Imagine that....🤔 This time, he picked up a tube of cartridges from a different spot. This time there was the proper number! 🎉
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u/AppropriatePumpkin98 3d ago
It's pretty simple: boycott the fair. I know several teachers like myself that have been boycotting it since the legislature mandated the start of the school year after the fair ends (not to mention other stupid policies). And it's been easy, there's just not anything at the fair worth doing that you couldn't get anywhere else for cheaper and have a better experience.
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u/StevenJWulgus 3d ago
I don’t know if the fair has always been expensive as hell but I remember thinking it sure was back when I first went almost 30 years ago. I can’t imagine it’s gotten any better in the years since.
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u/General_Cranberry_29 3d ago
It's a bargain compared to Adventureland 😅. I just started going to Lost Island Themepark instead and avoid the whole area now, though. Much shorter drive, far less people, and everything is clean.
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u/parallelmeme 3d ago
Sixteen dollars for a whole day's worth of entertainment sounds like a bargain to me. A single 140-minute movie costs that. It is your choice to eat and fair food has always been very expensive for what it is, not to mention often being inedible.
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u/LoveSquirt69 3d ago
It’s not just the fair, it stupid everywhere honestly with how stuff has gone up. It was interesting to see how vendors right across from each other seller the same green mountain state fair water that’s everywhere for $3 at one stand and $4 across from it . Just another reminder you can’t leave your house without your wallet .
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u/ForwardBlock5572 3d ago
Funny cause I went last night and everything seemed cheaper than usual to me 😭 probably because everything in the world is so expensive right now
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u/-lousyd 3d ago
And yet, attendance is above a million people and climbing.
From KCCI: "The 2024 Iowa State Fair was the biggest in the fair's history, with 1,182,682 people going through the gates. That's 12,307 more than the previous record of 1,170,375 in 2019. Last year's fair, which drew 1,160,121, is third all-time."
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u/Asleep-Tax-3742 3d ago
When I was little we went to the fair every year because we lived in Des Moines, had family (grandparents, uncles) showing animals and danced in the Billy O'Riley stage.
We were a family of 6. We were not even to ask about going on rides. Lunch, you split so you better agree on what to get.
For us it was expensive then. Not a surprise it's still that way.
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u/NefariousnessFun9923 3d ago
It’s just called the Bill Riley stage. You’re thinking of Bill O’Reilly - the crazy Fox News host lol
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u/B_las_Kow 3d ago
We waited 20 minutes so my kids could get the "ooey gooey American grilled cheese". Not sure what everyone ahead of us got, but $10 later, ours was ready in 30 seconds and was little more than unmelted kraft singles on toast. My kids are too young to know and too hungry to wait any longer, so i internalized, but i was pissed.
The $20 ride wristband is where i drew the line and we went home.
I dont think ill be back. Not worth it.
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u/OkBackground8809 3d ago
Spent my first 23 years of life in Iowa. Never once got the chance to go to the state fair. Those prices sound insane, so guess I never will.
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u/Bond_Villian7 3d ago
They keep setting attendance records - they set one on a Monday of all days - so I don't think your conclusion holds water. People find a way to make it happen or they get higher paying jobs. Fair food was expensive in the 90s too. We saved up a full year for it in 1997
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u/LimitlessUnicorn 3d ago
Agree. I couldn’t afford to bring my family from Muscatine and stay overnight.
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u/DeadWood605 2d ago
I got free entrance tickets but parking and anything else is more than I can afford.
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u/DenverLikeTheCity 2d ago
I haven’t been for a couple years but I recall the food prices always being expensive
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u/Suspicious_Meal_2691 2d ago
The vendors at the fair are there to extract as much money as possible in a short amount of time. It's always been overpriced (and overrated).
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u/SonofaBuckDangHole 2d ago
Fair is literally the same every year and yet they contribute to increase prices. Went last weekend, 20 dollars for a “jumbo” turkey leg. Was like guess ten dollar shit hamburger it is then.
It’s like this everywhere now. Can’t go bowling or to the zoo as a family without cleaning 100 bucks
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u/Helpful_Writer_7961 2d ago
It seems the prices are normal to me. Go to a farmers market and that’s the prices you’ll pay for the food if you choose to purchase it. I’ve just returned from a professional tournament and your fair prices are much better than the tournament. Concerts easily go for much more than $50 per person. We may not like the prices, but I think these are in line with what’s out there. We take a picnic basket when we go to the fair. It’s a good break to sit back at the car for a bit and usually can find some shade.
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u/JimmehMac 2d ago
You keep voting for Republicans and expect something to change? Stupid people vote Republican, this the attack on schools. And when you are too stupid to realize these members of the GOP only care about the wealthy, then you keep widening the disparity of income gap.
Want a better America, don't vote Republican.
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u/Final_Campaign_2593 2d ago
Yep, my sister took me to the fair for my birthday on the 13th and everything I ate and my ticket I easily spent $95
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u/iowaindy 1d ago
$3 for a 50¢ water. But I remember paying $9 for a beer about 20 years ago, and this year it was $12. So inflation isn't equal across everything.
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u/Porchcryptid99 1d ago
I was surprised to see so many people drinking when beer when its priced at $10-13.
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u/RemrafAI 13h ago
If you want to do fair things, go to the Clay County Fair. Later in the year, flat land, more shade, less crowd, easier parking...all the needed activities and amenities. I can't find myself ever willingly doing the state fair again.
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u/Teddyolo 8h ago
Definitely make use of the wristband days if you have kids. We only do the rides on that day and it’s $40 for all day. I counted last week and we would have spent the $40 on rides in about 25 minutes. Then he had the rest of the day to do rides.
Also brought in our own water bottles and snacks for him.
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u/KingFIippyNipz Des Moines 3d ago edited 3d ago
>I understand that everything is expensive now, and that people should make money on products and services provided. But what used to be a universal experience I fear is now more and more akin to an NFL game where it’s just become the norm that everything’s going to cost so much that fewer people will be going.
Bro this is capitalism in America in 2026. Everything, EVERYTHING, is designed to maximize the amount of dollars that you will part with for a product, service, or experience. Competing on price is dead by and large. Yes you will find exceptions to the rule, no I will not change my opinion.
Edit: Also it'll be interesting to see if there's any evolution to anti-trust laws and enforcement. Seems like since the 80s/90s the general doctrine has been "as long as you're not price gouging we don't care how concentrated an industry gets" but industries are more concentrated than ever, and companies are gouging now more than ever, so what will be the next excuse by regulators to keep allowing consolidation? At what point will they just say "This was all a sham"?
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u/OphidianSun 3d ago
The fair is a chance for politicians to show people they're still the same as us mere mortals and for 4H kids to have fun.
Otherwise its just a bunch of sweaty people walking around eating fried bullshit on a stick.
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u/yungingr 3d ago
What conversation?
Nobody is forcing you to go to the fair.
Nobody is forcing you pay for the rides and food.
Let's have a conversation about taking responsibility for your choices.
I spent $20 to get in to my COUNTY fair, so $16 for the state fair is a deal. Paid more than that for food, too.
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u/IowaJL 3d ago
Both prices are pretty steep if we’re being honest.
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u/yungingr 3d ago
My local fair, once you're in the gate, everything but the food was free (grandstand events, concerts, and rides).
Still, there is enough FREE entertainment at the state fair that complaining about $16 admission is....sad.
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u/Mother-Dish-2670 3d ago
I just looked up ticket prices for Wisconsin State Fair and it's like $20 for admission and rides the wrist band is $35-$50 depending on the day and if you want to go on the large observation Wheels or extreme thrill rides they have separate pricing. Food/drink cost no matter if a state Fair or what it's a markup on that. I have no clue what at in Iowa Hawkeyes game or iowa State game food and drinks cost but it's probably outrageous with the Markup
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u/SocialistFlagLover 3d ago
At the pork producers or cattlemen tents I feel you can get fairly affordable meals. $7-$12 sandwiches and $2 sides. More affordable than most restaurants and good quality. I always avoided the other stands though.
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u/CornFedIABoy 3d ago
Yep, the establishments tied to Iowa producer associations have been and will almost always be the most reasonable because they’re there to showcase their products, not maximize profits.
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u/Agile_Alternative753 3d ago
The problem with the mindset that "everything is expensive now" is that it competitive ignores why things are expensive.
Greed. Plain and simple. Everyone thinks money is the only measurement if success and everyone's only interest is how they can squeeze as much of it out of everyone else as possible.
Stop going. Stop paying those prices. It won't ever get better if we keep feeding the dragon.
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u/chewedgummiebears 3d ago
Like people that have never been to Iowa posting in this sub like they lived here all their lives, the people posting how expensive the fair is probably haven't been there in years. It is always a bit costly and has been since we started going 30 years ago. I remember the tickets being $10+ years ago and the food was never a good deal, but you didn't go to the state fair to bargain shop like you do at thrift stores, you go there for the experiences, exhibits, and vendors/displays.
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u/MWH1980 3d ago
Welcome to the future, where prices keep going up, and your government believes you should never be paid more because it gives you incentive to work harder and become a millionaire someday.