Friday’s Iowa State Fair attendance brings huge crowds to Day 9 of the event

Fair skies and lower August temperatures keep attendance at the Iowa State Fair on a course to surpass the all-time record set in 2019, when 1,170,375 people attended the 11-day spectacle. So far, 956,142 have passed through the gates for 2024 through Friday.

How many people attended the Iowa State Fair on Day 9?

A total of 111,591 people went to the ninth day of the Iowa State Fair on Friday.

How does attendance at the 2024 Iowa State Fair compare to 2023?

Attendance in 2024 was down from 2023 when 112,048 people attended the ninth day. That’s 457 fewer people walking the Fairgrounds this year.

• Day: 2024 (2023)
• Thursday: 90,822 (87,380)
• Friday: 109,854 (101,177)
• Saturday: 128,732 (118,286)
• Sunday:  115,048 (114,937)
• Monday: 92,920 (100,214)
• Tuesday: 105,384 (101,244)
• Wednesday: 99,281 (98,751)
• Thursday: 102,510 (101,475)
• Friday: 111,591 (112,048)
• Saturday: (112,732)
• Sunday: (85,714)
• Total: (1,133,938)

How many people attended The Avett Brothers concert at the Iowa State Fair Grandstand?

The Avett Brothers with special guests G. Love and Special Sauce brought out 5,068 people to the Iowa State Fair Grandstand Friday evening.

Here’s the attendance from the other Grandstand acts this year:

• Lauren Daigle: 9,726
• Foreigner: 11,141
• Jelly Roll: 16,001
• Greta Van Fleet: 9,075
• Brett Young: 4,887
• Thomas Rhett: 12,475
• Mötley Crüe: 11,681
• Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias: 9,312
• The Avett Brothers: 5,068

What were the big moments at the Iowa State Fair on Friday?

The annual Husband Calling Contest was the star of the Iowa State Fair on Friday with the winner working “Ice Ice Baby” into her call.

The fair also crowned its top new fair food — a bacon cheeseburger egg roll — on Friday.

Iowa State Fair attendance: 15 biggest fairs

• 2019: 1,170,375
• 2023: 1,133,938
• 2018: 1,130,260
• 2017: 1,130,071
• 2022: 1,118,763
• 2015: 1,117,398
• 2008: 1,109,150
• 2012: 1,097,142
• 2021: 1,094,480
• 2011: 1,080,959
• 2004: 1,053,978
• 2013: 1,047,246
• 2016: 1,031,278
• 2014: 1,015,902
• 2006: 1,013,557
• 2003: 1,012,309

Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at vreynarodriguez@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter @VictoriaReynaR.