Siouxland County Fairs

From the funnel cake and pork tenderloins to adorable live animals, sack races, monster truck races, talent shows, and professional live music, to the glory and defeat from entering competitions, county fairs are one of the best parts of late summer around Siouxland!

*Now updated for 2024, but please note that flood recovery and other unforeseen events could lead to further changes to this schedule. Please keep an eye on social media for the latest info*

 If you live in Sioux City, our county fair, the Woodbury County will be July 31st through 4th, 2024 in Moville, Iowa. You can find more info in my Woodbury County Fair post. But there are tons of great fairs in the area, and while some restrict competition entries to residents of their own county, all of them are fun to attend no matter where you live!

Here's the scoop on as many other nearby county fairs as I could find details for, divided by state and then put in alphabetical order. This post will be updated frequently throughout the summer as more details become available. If you are affiliated with a county fair and have info to share, please e-mail me so I can include it!

Iowa

Buena Vista County

Dates: July 10th through 14th, 2024

Location: Alta, Iowa

Highlights: Carnival rides, horse show, kids activities, 4H and open class competitions, and grandstand acts including demolition derby, bull racing, barrel racing, a tractor pull, motocross racing, and concerts starring Scott Kirkhart and Eagle Heights

For more information: Visit the Buena Vista County Fair website

Cherokee County

Dates: July 17th through 21st, 2024

Location: Cherokee, IA

Highlights: Daily otter adventures, hypnotist and strong man performances, Gotcha Games on the midway, pony rides and carnival rides. Plus, a diaper derby and kids' costume contest and parade, 4H and open class competitions, Fair Queen competition, and grandstand acts including a car show, tractor pull, demolition derby, arm wrestling, and more!
For more information: Visit the Cherokee County Fair website or Facebook page

Clay County

Dates: September 7th through 15th, 2024

Location: Spencer, Iowa

Highlights: Carnival rides, kids activities, 4H and Open Class competitions, plus tractor pulling and car racing action, and grandstand acts including Kansas, Trace Adkins, Blues Traveler, Third Eye Blind, Justin Moore and the Mavericks live in concert

For more information: Check out the Clay County Fair website or find them on Facebook, twitter, or instagram 

Dickinson County

Dates: July 20th through 25th, 2024

Location: Spirit Lake, Iowa

Highlights:  Primarily a 4H and FFA Fair, with open class events and fair queen and little miss fair queen competitions.

For more information: Visit the Dickinson County Fair website 

Harrison County

Dates: July 24th through 28th, 2024

Location: Missouri Valley, Iowa

Highlights: Carnival rides, rodeo, 4H & Open Class competition displays, monster truck racing, and live musical performances

For more information: Check out the Harrison County Fair website

Ida County

Dates: July 16th through 21st, 2024

Location: Ida Grove, Iowa

Highlights: 4H Fair plus carnival rides and arcade games, tractor pull, rodeo, Little Miss and Mister contests, aglympics and mud drags.

For more information: Check out the Ida County Fair on Facebook. 

Lyon County

Dates: July 21st through 2fifthth, 2024

Location: Rock Rapids, Iowa

Highlights: Due to extensive flooding in Rock Rapids in summer 2024 including at the actual fairgrounds, this year's flood will mostly be for 4H exhibitors; please keep an eye on their social media for full updates as they share them.

For more information: Check out the Lyon County Fair Facebook page.

Monona County

Dates: July 9th through 14th, 2024

Location: Onawa, Iowa 

Highlights: Giant yard games, foam party, several free community meals, face painting, balloon animals, fair parade, kids activities, Tractor Pull, Demolition Derby, and live music

For more information: Check out the Monona County Fair website or find them on Facebook

O'Brien County

Dates: July 20th through 2fifth, 2024

Location: Primghar, Iowa

Highlights: 2024 is the 100th anniversary of the O'Brien County Fair, so congrats to them on that! Enjoy open class and 4H competitions, carnival rides, horse show, petting zoo, live music from the Browns and She's With Us, tractor pulls, atv races, and auto racing.

For more information: Check out the O'Brien County Fair website

Osceola County

Dates: July fifteenth through 20th, 2024

Location: Sibley, Iowa

Highlights: BBQ contest, king & queen competitions, pinewood derby car show, demolition derby, tractor pulls, dog shows, carnival rides

For more information: Check out the Osceola County Fair Facebook page

Plymouth

Dates: July 24th through 28th, 2024

Location: LeMars, IA

Highlights: Tractor pull, Kids Day, motocross, demo derby, and a hypnotist, and live music from CJ Solar, Freddie Justic, and The Browns.
For more information: Visit the Plymouth County Fair website or find them on Facebook

Sac County

Dates: July 23rd through 27th, 2024

Location: Sac City, Iowa

Highlights: Rodeo, tractor pull, figure 8s, a grandstand musical performance from Terri Clark with Cory Waller and the Wicked Things, rides, inflatables, fair queen contest, and more!

For more information: Check out the Sac County Fair website

Shelby County

Dates: July 7th through fifteenth, 2024

Location: Harlan, IA

Highlights: 4H, FFA & open class competitions, auto racing, tractor pull, fair parade, carnival rides, kids contests, live music from Casey Muessigmann, ag olympics, and fireworks!

For more information: check out the Shelby County Fair Website

Sioux County

Dates: July 12th through 19th, 2024

Location: Sioux Center, Iowa

Highlights: Hands-on ag exploration center, a demo derby, kids pedal tractor pull, 4H & open class events, live music, balloon animals, petting zoo, inflatables, outdoor family movie, mini-train rides, and more!

For more information: Check out the Sioux County Fair website

Nebraska

Antelope County

Dates: July 29th through August 4th, 2024

Location: Neligh, NE

Highlights: 4H & open class competitions, bull riding, truck and tractor pull, antique tractor parade, demolition derby, ice cream social, inflatables, live music, & more!

For more information: Check out the Antelope County Fair

Boone County

Dates: July 6th though 10th, 2024

Location: Albion, Nebraska

Highlights: 4H & open class events, petting zoo, fair parade, kids' tractor pull, horse show, kids' day, carnival games & rides, and live music from the Eli Young Band with Walker Montgomery

For more information: Check out the Boone County Fair website

Burt County

Dates: July 19th through July 123rd, 2024

Location: Oakland, Nebraska

Highlights: Live musical performances from Casey Donahew and other talented performers, Cowboy Mounted Shooting, Demo Derby, Aglympics, and much more

For more information: Check out the Burt County Fair website

Cedar County

Dates: July 17th through 21st, 2024

Location: Hartington, Nebraska

Highlights: Rodeo, barrel racing, free kids' carnival, free bbq/burger social, pedal pull, pie contest, rodeo queen contest, and live musical performances from Dillon Carmichael, Justin Moore, Chase Matthew, and more.

For more information: Check out the Cedar County Fair website

Cuming County

Dates: August 8th through 11th, 2024

Location: West Point, Nebraska

Highlights: Bull riding, tractor pull, demo derby, carnival rides and games, 4H and open class events, live music, wildlife encounters, bicycle action show, and live music from Chris Cagle!
For more information: Check out the Cuming County Fair website

Dakota & Thurston Counties

Dates: August 4th through 6th, 2022

Location: South Sioux City, Nebraska

Highlights: Fair parade, kids' activities, open class and 4H competition, tractor pull, figure 8 racing, bbq, mutton bustin, and extreme bull riding

For more information: Check out the Dakota and Thurston Counties Fair website

Dixon County

Dates: July fifth through July 10th, 2024

Location: Concord, Nebraska

Highlights: 4H & open class events, carnival games & rides, community bbq, demo derby, tractor pull, live music from Eli Alger and the Faster Horses Band and a Faith and Family Concert with Rhett Walker, Ryan Stevenson, and moree.

For more information: Check out the Dixon County Fair website

Knox County

Dates: August 7th through 11th, 2024

Location: Bloomfield, Nebraska

Highlights: 4H & FFA Fair with tractor pull, demo derby cornhole competition, carnival rides, live musical performances, and more!

For more information: Check out the Knox County Fair website

Madison County

Dates: July 9th through 14th, 2024

Location: Madison, Nebraska

Highlights: 4H and open class events, rodeo, petting zoo, carnival rides, heritage village, and grandstand performance from Ernest and Ludacris

For more information: Check out the Madison County fair website

Pierce County

Dates: July 24th through July 28th, 2024

Location: Pierce, Nebraska

Highlights: Donkey polo, extreme bull fighting, demo derby, tractor pull, hog wrestling, mud volleyball, 4H and open class events, kids pedal pull, and live music.

For more information: Check out the Pierce County Fair website

Stanton County

Dates: July 31st through August 4th, 2024

Location: Stanton, Nebrakska

Highlights: Kids day, demo derby, truck and tractor pulls, live music and much more!

For more information: Check out the Stanton County fair website

Wayne County

Dates: July 25th through 28th, 2024

Location: Wayne, Nebraska

Highlights: Truck and tractor pull, bull riding, 4H and open class events, free family day on Wednesday, wildlife encounters, a ventriloquist, carnival rides, and live musical grandstand acts

For more information: Check out the Wayne County Fair website

South Dakota

Clay County

Dates: August 11th through 13th, 2022

Location: Vermillion, South Dakota

Highlights: Open class and 4H competitions, bull riding, kids' activities, ATV mud drags, barnyard olympics, a salsa dancing competition live musical performances, and more!

For more information: Check out the Clay County fair website

Sioux Empire Fair

Dates: August 2nd through 10th, 2024
Location: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Highlights: Carnival rides, fair food, competitions, kids activities, bull racing, the Sioux Empire Championship Rodeo, and grandstand acts (grandstand acts free with fair admission!) including JoDee Messina, Corey Kent, Travis Denning, FloRida, the Fray, and Fiesta Latina

For more information: Check out the Sioux Empire Fair website

Union County

Dates: August 1st through 3rd, 2024

Location: Alcester, South Dakota

Highlights: 4H Fair with ag olympics, bingo, pancake breakfast, car and tractor show, a street dance and much more!

For more information: Check out the Union County extension office website

Minnesota County Fairs

Rock County

Dates: July 24th through 27th, 2024

Location: Luverne, MN

Highlights: Donkey Races, Enduro auto racing, tractor pulls, ag olympics, live music, and more!

For more information: Visit the Rock County Fair website

Nobles County

Dates: August 7th through 11th, 2024

Location: Worthington, MN

Highlights: Horse mounted shooting, tractor pulls, autor racing, live music, carnival, and 4-H and open class events

For more information: Visit the Nobles County Fair Facebook page.

Whether you're showing animals or artwork; whether you're looking for great live music or great fair food; Siouxland's county fairs in Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota have it all! Have a great time this fair season!