Who's playing the free concerts at the Iowa State Fair? Hairball, The Nadas, and more.

Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register
·3 min read

The Iowa State Fair gets underway in less than 100 days and now festival organizers are promising a boatload of free entertainment.

The roster for 2024 includes everything from daytime family-friendly shows and up-and-coming artists. Look for favorites such as rockers Hairball, hypnotist Ron Diamond, cover band The Pork Tornados and folk rockers The Nadas making their return to the fair as well as music that includes plenty of country, classic rock, contemporary Christian, and tribute bands covering Billy Joel, Elton John, Tom Petty and Chicago.

While admission for the fair is required to see these shows, once on the Fairgrounds, all of the following performances are free to attend. Adult admission tickets are $11 in advance of the State Fair or $16 at the gate.

Here's a look at the free entertainment at the Iowa State Fair in 2024.

Susan Knapp Amphitheater

A member of Hairball performs as Gene Simmons with KISS.
A member of Hairball performs as Gene Simmons with KISS.

  • Aug. 8: The Steel Woods (country), 8 p.m.

  • Aug. 9: Restless Road (country), 8 p.m.

  • Aug. 10: The War and Treaty (country), 8 p.m.

  • Aug. 11: Kelsey Hart (country), 8 p.m.

  • Aug. 12: 49 Winchester (country), 8 p.m.

  • Aug. 13-14: Hairball (’80s rock tribute), 8 p.m.

  • Aug. 15: Shaylen (country), 8 p.m.

  • Aug. 16: Blake Guyre (Elton John and Billy Joel tribute), 8 p.m.

  • Aug. 17: Ella Langley (country), 8 p.m.

  • Aug. 18: Matt Stell (country), 7 p.m.

More: Iowa State Fair announces the final two concerts on the Grandstand. How to get tickets.

Anne and Bill Riley Stage

Iowa State Fair Queen Kalayna Durr tries some of the new foods at the Iowa State Fair in 2023.
Iowa State Fair Queen Kalayna Durr tries some of the new foods at the Iowa State Fair in 2023.

  • Aug. 8-9: The Little Mermen (Disney movie hits), 5 & 7 p.m.

  • Aug. 10: Iowa State Fair Queen Coronation presented by Nature Hill, 7 p.m.

  • Aug. 11: Salsa del Soul Productions (Latino), 7 & 9 p.m.

  • Aug. 12: Country Gold — LeRoy Van Dyke and the Malpass Brothers (Country), 5 & 7:30 p.m.

  • Aug. 13-17: Ron Diamond (hypnotist), 7 & 9 p.m.

  • Aug. 18: Cochren & Co. (Christian), 7 p.m.

MidAmerican Energy Stage

The Nadas play alt-rock-country on the MidAmerican Energy Stage with Jason Walsmith and Mike Butterworth during East Side Night at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines in 2023.
The Nadas play alt-rock-country on the MidAmerican Energy Stage with Jason Walsmith and Mike Butterworth during East Side Night at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines in 2023.

  • Aug. 8: The Family Stone (funk), 8 p.m.

  • Aug. 9: The Nadas (folk), 7 & 9 p.m.

  • Aug. 10: Good To Be King (Tom Petty tribute), 8 p.m.

  • Aug. 11: Austin Snell (country), 8 p.m.

  • Aug. 12: Transit Authority (Chicago tribute), 8 p.m.

  • Aug. 13: Fuel (rock), 8 p.m.

  • Aug. 14: Tayler Holder (country), 8 p.m.

  • Aug. 15: The Pork Tornadoes (pop), 8 p.m.

  • Aug. 16: Not Quite Brothers (rock), 8 p.m.

  • Aug. 17: Jason Brown (country), 8 p.m.

  • Aug. 18: RVSHVD (country), 7 p.m.

More: Here's how to get tickets to the Iowa State Fair tractor pulls, Outlaw trucks

Fun Forest Stage

  • Aug. 8-18: The Chipper Experience (Children’s magic show)

  • Aug. 8-18: The Dollipops (Children’s music)

Other entertainment

Chainsaw artist Clint Henik, of Mount Vernon, paints a lighthouse he carved at Heritage Village during day eight of the Iowa State Fair in 2023.
Chainsaw artist Clint Henik, of Mount Vernon, paints a lighthouse he carved at Heritage Village during day eight of the Iowa State Fair in 2023.

  • Chainsaw artists Gary Keenan, T.J. Jenkins, and Clint Henik — Expo Hill

  • Brian Sobaski’s Straw Sculptures — Ruan Plaza and near the Giant Slide

  • Flying Fools High Dive Show, sponsored by Mountain Valley Spring Water — Jacobson Exhibition Center West Lawn

  • iFlip, sponsored by Mountain Valley Spring Water — Jacobson Exhibition Center West Lawn

  • Hot Glass Academy — Heritage Village, next to First Church

  • Cowboy Boot Camp — North of Little Hands on the Farm

  • Kids in the Kitchen — Variety Theater

  • Bandaloni — Strolling

  • The Illuminator — Strolling

  • The Ice Cream Show — Strolling

Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State Fair 2024 free concerts schedule, lineup and performances