If you plan to attend the 2019 Iowa State Fair on Aug. 8-18, plan ahead and save on discounted admission tickets, family fun packs, ride wristbands and food coupons.

The Iowa State Fair ticket office in the administration building on the fairgrounds is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Walk-up orders will be available through Aug. 8. Cash, check, money order, Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express are accepted. You can also buy tickets online.

Advanced admission available

“You can enjoy all that the state fair has to offer at a discount,” says Mindy Williamson, ISF marketing director. “The advance admission offer is the lowest admission price available and must be purchased before opening day, Aug. 8.” The prices follow:

Adult and children’s advance admission tickets are available at Iowa State Fair ticket office and at iowastatefair.org. Tickets may also be purchased at participating Iowa Hy-Vee, Hy-Vee Drug, Fareway, Price Chopper and Cash Saver Stores while supplies last. Tickets are good for any one day at the fair. Other deals include:

Family Fun Pack. This value-packed deal includes specials on select rides and food. It’s a $35.50 value for just $20. Family Fun Packs are available for purchase now at Iowa State Fair ticket office or online (online processing fees apply). Fair admission must be bought separately, available through Aug. 8 while supplies last.

Thrill Park savings. Save money on rides by buying an unlimited ($36) or advanced ($25) ride wristbands at a discount. Wristbands can be used in Thrill Ville and Thrill Town at the Iowa State Fair, and advanced wristbands can be purchased at the ISF ticket office through Aug. 7 or online.

Food tickets. Food tickets can be bought in packs of five for $5; each food ticket is good for $1 toward food or beverage purchases on the fairgrounds. You can only get food tickets at the ISF ticket office through Aug. 7 while supplies last. Food tickets are not available online.

One of the top events in the Midwest, the Iowa State Fair is the single-largest annual event in Iowa, and one of the oldest and largest ag and industrial expositions in the country. Annually attracting more than a million people from all over the world, the Iowa State Fair at East 30th and East University, is just 10 minutes from downtown Des Moines.

Sesame Street joins Butter Cow

The 400-plu- acre fairgrounds features many exhibitors displaying products, services and merchandise. This year for kids especially, Sesame Street characters are joining the State Fair Butter Cow exhibit.

Celebrating 50 years of Sesame Street, you can see your favorite characters sculpted in butter. Standing alongside the iconic Iowa State Fair Butter Cow, Sesame Street will come alive in the John Deere Agriculture Building throughout the 2019 Fair.

The fair has a rich tradition with Iowa Public Television, also celebrating the 50th anniversary. With shows like Sesame Street and the Iowa State Fair shows, IPTV has provided quality and innovative programming to educate, inform, enrich and inspire Iowans. The butter cow has been sculpted at the fair since 1911. Various companion sculptures have joined the butter cow since 1996, including American Gothic, Elvis Presley, Peanuts Gang, Harry Potter, and many popular events, people and characters.

Visit agriculture exhibits 

Visit the John Deere Ag Building during the fair to see the butter cow, Sesame Street characters and other agriculture exhibits and demonstrations including giant pumpkins, jumbo fruits and vegetables, the Discovery Garden, and daily stage presentations. All exhibits will be on display in the ag building from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily during the fair.

“We want everyone to be aware that Nothing Compares to the Iowa State Fair, Aug. 8 to 18, 2019,” Williamson says.

Source: Iowa State Fair, which is responsible for information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and subsidiaries aren’t responsible for any content in this information asset.