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!

*2025 update currently in progress!*

If you live in Sioux City, our county fair, the Woodbury County will be July 30th through August 3rd, 2025 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 9th through 13th, 2025

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 Cory Waller & the Wicked Things and Sequoia Newland

For more information: Visit the Buena Vista County Fair website

Cherokee County

Dates: July 16th through 20th, 2025

Location: Cherokee, IA

Highlights: Daily foam zone and dog shows, 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 6th through 14th, 2025

Location: Spencer, Iowa

Highlights: Carnival rides, kids activities, 4H and Open Class competitions, plus tractor pulling and car racing action, and grandstand acts including Oliver Anthony, Jeff Dunham, Home Free, Roots & Boots, rodeo, monster trucks, and auto racing. 

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

Dickinson County

Dates: July 19th through 24th, 2025

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 23rd through 27th, 2025

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 15th through 20th, 2025

Location: Ida Grove, Iowa

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

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

Lyon County

Dates: July 19th through 24th, 2025

Location: Rock Rapids, Iowa

Highlights: Open Class & 4H competitions, Figure 8 races, mutton busting, live music, and much more!

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

Monona County

Dates: July 8th through 13th, 2025

Location: Onawa, Iowa 

Highlights: Giant yard games, foam party, several free community meals, face painting, balloon animals, fair parade, kids activities, figure 8 races, 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 19th through 24th, 2025

Location: Primghar, Iowa

Highlights: 2024 was 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 Brian Allan, tractor pulls, atv races, and auto racing.

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

Osceola County

Dates: July 14th through 19th, 2025

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 23rd through 27th, 2025

Location: LeMars, IA

Highlights: Tractor pull, Kids Day, motocross, demo derby, and a hypnotist, and live music from Eli Alger & the Faster Horses, Jason Brown, Andy Griggs, the Browns,  Rockland Road, Ashley Wineland, Holy Rocka Rollza, Divas through the Decades, and more
For more information: Visit the Plymouth County Fair website or find them on Facebook

Sac County

Dates: July 22nd through 26th, 2025

Location: Sac City, Iowa

Highlights: Rodeo, tractor pull, figure 8s, a grandstand musical performance Aaron Tippin plus Cory Waller and the Wicked Things, carnival rides, inflatables, a fair queen contest, and more!

For more information: Check out the Sac County Fair website

Shelby County

Dates: July 5th through 13th, 2025

Location: Harlan, IA

Highlights: 4H, FFA & open class competitions, auto racing, tractor pull, fair parade, carnival rides, kids contests, live music from Big Time Grain Co featuring Dylan Gerard, ag olympics, and fireworks!

For more information: check out the Shelby County Fair Website

Sioux County

Dates: July 11th through 18th, 2025

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 28th through August 3rd, 2025

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 12th though 16th, 2025

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 Aaron Watson with Bryce Leatherwood

For more information: Check out the Boone County Fair website

Burt County

Dates: July 18th through July 22nd, 2025

Location: Oakland, Nebraska

Highlights: Open class & 4H competition, fair parade, live musical performances from Aaron Tippin with Mike Ryan, Cowboy Mounted Shooting, Demo Derby, Aglympics, and much more

For more information: Check out the Burt County Fair website

Cedar County

Dates: July 16th through 20th, 2025

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 Ashley Cooke, Chase Rice, Dylan Marlowe, and more

For more information: Check out the Cedar County Fair website

Cuming County

Dates: August 7th through 10th, 2025

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: July 30th through August 3rd, 2025

Location: South Sioux City, Nebraska

Highlights: Fair parade on 7/31/25, 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 9th through July 13th, 2025

Location: Concord, Nebraska

Highlights: 4H & open class events, carnival games & rides, community bbq, demo derby, tractor pull, a party rock rodeo and a Faith and Family Concert with Rend Collective

For more information: Check out the Dixon County Fair website

Knox County

Dates: August 6th through 10th, 2025

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 8th through 13th, 2025

Location: Madison, Nebraska

Highlights: 4H and open class events, rodeo, petting zoo, carnival rides, heritage village, and grandstand performance from JoDee Messina and Hairball

For more information: Check out the Madison County fair website

Pierce County

Dates: July 23rd through July 27th, 2025

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 30th through August 3rd, 2025

Location: Stanton, Nebraska

Highlights: Kids day (Saturday 8/2), barrel racing, mud volleyball, a car show, 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 24th through 27th, 2025

Location: Wayne, Nebraska

Highlights: Outlaw truck and tractor pull, bull riding, 4H and open class competitions, demolition derby, carnival rides, and live musical grandstand acts.

For more information: Check out the Wayne County Fair website

South Dakota

Clay County

Dates: August 7th through 9th, 2025

Location: Vermillion, South Dakota

Highlights: Open class and 4H competitions, bull riding, kids' activities, demolition derby, 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 1st through 9th, 2025
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 Hairball, Tesla, and Kip Moore

For more information: Check out the Sioux Empire Fair website

Union County

Dates: July 31st through August 2nd, 2025

Location: Alcester, South Dakota (this is the official county fair for North Sioux City.)

Highlights: 4H Fair with ag olympics, bingo, pancake breakfast, car and tractor show, a street dance and much more! Other new fun coming soon but not yet announced.

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

Minnesota County Fairs

Rock County

Dates: July 23rd through 26th, 2025

Location: Luverne, MN

Highlights: Auto racing, tractor pulls, ag olympics, live music, and more!

For more information: Visit the Rock County Fair website

Nobles County

Dates: August 6th through 10th, 2025

Location: Worthington, MN

Highlights: Horse mounted shooting, tractor pulls, auto 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!