As the 2025 Iowa State Fair gets closer, it’s time to start planning which free concerts and entertainment you’re going to see. With 100 days to go until the State Fair, organizers unveiled the full concert lineups on April 29.
While admission for the State Fair is required to attend these free events, once on the fairgrounds, you’ll find dozens of free concerts over the fair’s 11 days. 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 2025 Iowa State Fair.
2025 Iowa State Fair free concerts at the Susan Knapp Amphitheater
The Iowa State Fair’s Susan Knapp Amphitheater will be the destination for free country music in 2025. See the lineup for each night of the fair:
- Aug. 7: Ty Myers (country), 8 p.m.
- Aug. 8: Creed Fisher (country), 8 p.m.
- Aug. 9: Waylon Wyatt (country), 8 p.m.
- Aug. 10: The Castellows (country), 8 p.m.
- Aug. 11: Kashus Culpepper (country), 8 p.m.
- Aug. 12: Drew Baldridge (country) 8 p.m.
- Aug. 13: Tanner Adell (country) 8 p.m.
- Aug. 14: William Clark Green (country), 8 p.m.
- Aug. 15: Brent Cobb (country), 8 p.m.
- Aug. 16: Drake White (country), 8 p.m.
- Aug. 17: Redferrin (country), 7 p.m.
Anne and Bill Riley Stage home to free concerts, entertainment at the 2025 Iowa State Fair
You’ll find more variety at the Anne and Bill Riley Stage. In addition to the annual Bill Riley Talent Search, it will host free concerts, a hypnotist, and the fair queen’s coronation during the evenings at the 2025 Iowa State Fair.
- Aug. 7: The Holy Rocka Rollaz (rock), 7 and 9 p.m.
- Aug. 8: The Holy Rocka Rollaz (rock), 7 and 9 p.m.
- Aug. 9: Iowa State Fair Queen Coronation, 7 p.m.
- Aug. 10: Parranderos Latin Combo (Salsa/Cumbia/Afrobeat), 7 p.m.
- Aug. 11: Six Appeal (pop), 7 and 9 p.m.
- Aug. 12: Herman’s Hermits (pop/folk), 7 and 9 p.m.
- Aug. 13: Herman’s Hermits (pop/folk), 7 and 9 p.m.
- Aug. 14: Ron Diamond (hypnotist), 7 and 9 p.m.
- Aug. 15: Ron Diamond (hypnotist), 7 and 9 p.m.
- Aug. 16: Ron Diamond (hypnotist), 7 and 9 p.m.
- Aug. 17: Rebecca St. James (Christian), 7 p.m.
MidAmerican Energy Stage hosts range of free concerts during 2025 Iowa State Fair
Whether you’re looking for a Beatles tribute band, a dance party or rock music, you’ll find plenty of free concerts at the MidAmerican Energy stage
- Aug 7: Taylor Inspired Dance Party (pop/electronic/dance), 8 p.m.
- Aug. 8: The Nadas (folk), 7 and 9 p.m.
- Aug. 9: The End (A Tribute to the Beatles), 8 p.m.
- Aug. 10: Pecos and the Rooftops (country), 8 p.m.
- Aug. 11: PetRock (smooth rock), 8 p.m.
- Aug. 12: Electric Avenue (MTV ’80s tribute), 8 p.m.
- Aug. 13: Allie Colleen (country), 8 p.m.
- Aug. 14: The Pork Tornadoes (pop): 8 p.m.
- Aug. 15: Not Quite Brothers (rock), 8 p.m.
- Aug 16: Jason Brown (country), 8 p.m.
- Aug. 17: Journey from the Heart (rock), 7 p.m.
Fun Forest Stage lineup at the 2025 Iowa State Fair
- The Chipper Experience! – Where comedy and magic collide
- Brad Weston (Comedy/Juggler)
Other free entertainment at the Iowa State Fair
You’ll also find other entertainment spread out across the Iowa State Fairgrounds. More details and times will be announced in July.
- Chainsaw artists Gary Keenan, T.J. Jenkins and Clint Henik at Expo Hill
- The Flying Royals Trapeze Show sponsored by Mountain Valley Spring Water at the Jacobson Exhibition Center Lawn
- Hot Glass Academy at the Heritage Village, next to First Church
- Cowboy Boot Camp, north of Little Hands on the Farm
- Kids Can Cook Cooking Show at the Variety Theater
- The Ice Cream Show with Greg Frisbee, strolling the fairgrounds
- Bandaloni, strolling the fairgrounds
- Hillbilly Bob, strolling the fairgrounds
Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @VictoriaReynaR.