Cedar County Fair July 12-16
Rodeo, racing & Lonestar
The Cedar County Fair runs Wednesday, July 12 through Sunday, July 16.
On Wednesday, veterans and active-duty military receive free admission with ID. Fair Royalty crowning will take place at 5 p.m. on the Family Foods Stage in the Custom Builder’s Pavilion.
Wednesday’s grandstand entertainment will be IMCA-sanctioned racing on the quarter-mile track. Pits open at 3 p.m., with Hot Laps at 6:30 p.m., and racing starts at 7 p.m. Pit passes will be available for $30 ($10 gate admission and $20 pit admission).
On Thursday, grandstand entertainment will include Rodeo Slack Running at 2 p.m., and the Rogue Rodeo will start at 7:30 p.m.
Friday there will be free daycare from 9 a.m. – noon (enter at the south gate), and from noon – 3 p.m., seniors will have free gate admission. Grandstand entertainment includes the ECIPA Truck & Tractor Pull at 6:30 p.m. Pit passes are $20 ($10 gate admission and $10 pit admission).
On Saturday, the Bill Riley Talent Contest will be held on the Family Foods Stage in the Custom Builder’s Pavilion starting at 11 a.m.
In the grandstand, the band Lonestar will perform at 7 p.m., with special guests Eddie Montgomery and Drew Green. Advance track tickets may be purchased before July 1 for $25, after which they will be $30. VIP tickets are also available.
Sunday is Family Free Gate Day, sponsored by the Cedar County Farm Bureau. The fair will close with its newest grandstand event, the Tuff Trucks competition, starting at 2 p.m. Full rules and details are available at thecedarcountyfair.com/tuff-trucks.
The carnival will be open from 5 p.m. – midnight Wednesday and Thursday, 5-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. Saturday (separate wristbands are required for each session), and 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sunday. The beer garden will be open from 3 p.m. – midnight Wednesday and Thursday, 1 p.m. – midnight Friday and Saturday, and 1-4 p.m. Sunday.
General admission is $10 for adults and $5 for senior citizens and children, and daily entry may be purchased at the main gate. General admission season passes, which allow entry each day of the fair, are $30 for adults and $15 for senior citizens and children. Passes are available at the fair office, Family Foods, Spahn & Rose Lumber Co., Barron Motor Supply and the Tipton office of the Iowa State Extension Service and from fair board directors, as well as online. Concert tickets are available online, at the fair office, Spahn & Rose Lumber Co., and Barron Motor Supply.
The Cedar County Fairgrounds is located at 1195 210th St., Tipton. More information can be found at thecedarcountyfair.com.
Muscatine County Fair July 19-23
Tractor pull, donkey races & Josh Turner
The Muscatine County Fair is scheduled for July 19-23, and the 2023 theme is, “Would You Go With Me …. To The Fair.”
Wednesday and Thursday have both been designated as Kids’ Day, with all kids under 16 admitted free at the outside gate until 5 p.m.
On Wednesday, a kiddie tractor pull will be held at 10 a.m., with a kids’ cash dash at 1 p.m. A kids’ rabbit and chicken scramble will be held at 1:30 p.m.
The FFA and 4-H Dog, Dairy Goat, Small Pet and Meat Goat shows will be held throughout the day, starting at 8 a.m.
The queen contest will be held at 5 p.m. in the Grove.
Grandstand entertainment includes car racing at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children.
On Thursday, the 4-H and FFA Swine and Pet shows and Working Exhibit shows will be held throughout the day, starting at 8:30 a.m.
Thursday’s grandstand entertainment will be donkey races, starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children.
Friday is Senior Day, with patrons age 65 and older receiving free admission at the outside gate until 5 p.m.
Friday’s 4-H and FFA shows include Beef, Poultry, Bucket Calf and Rabbits throughout the day, starting at 9 a.m.
The grandstand entertainment will include the East Central Iowa Tractor Pull at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children.
Saturday’s 4-H and FFA shows include Sheep and Horse and Pony starting at 8 a.m., with the ribbon auction at 1:30 p.m.
A Josh Turner concert will start in the Grandstand at 7:30 p.m. He will be joined by special guests Dirt Road Rockers. Tickets are $30 for grandstand seating or $35 for a track pass.
On Sunday, the Bill Riley talent show will be held at 4 p.m. Grandstand entertainment will include a demolition derby at 11 a.m., followed by trailer races at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children.
Daily entertainment will include the Loghoggers chainsaw artists, the Chris Short Marionettes, Charlie Stron, a stiltwalker and balloon artist, and kids’ zones featuring corn and sand boxes and play equipment
Sam’s Amusements will provide carnival rides, and will be open from 1-6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, and Friday and Sunday from 5-10 p.m. Armbands are $25 daily.
Fun Passes are $55 for adults and $20 for children aged 5-11 and for 4-H and FFA members. Daily general admission is $6 for adults and $4 for children aged 5-11. Fun passes and concert tickets can be purchased at muscatinecountyfair.com.
The Muscatine County Fairgrounds is located at 101 N. Clay St., West Liberty. More information is available at muscatinecountyfair.com.
Mississippi Valley Fair Aug. 1-6
Muttin' bustin', Sam Hunt, Ludicris & Limp Bizkit
While the Great Mississippi Valley Fair officially runs from Aug. 1-6, there will be a pre-fair concert on Monday, July 31, in the Grandstand featuring country singers Austin Snell and Tyler Farr, starting at 6:30 p.m., with special guests The Chickadees.
Other bands will perform throughout the week in the Pavilion, Farmer’s Tent, Oldie’s Tent and Craft Beer Tent, including local acts Hap Hazzard, North of 40, Nuclear Plowboys, Funktastic 5, Angela Meyer, Dirt Road Rockers, and many more.
Tuesday the fair kicks off in earnest at 8 a.m. with the 4-H Dairy and Bucket Calf, Sheep and Meat Goat shows. The crowning of the Mississippi Valley Fair Queen will be at 5:30 p.m. in the Variety Tent. Tuesday is also Special Needs Day, with special needs patrons receiving free admission until 2 p.m.
Tuesday’s Grandstand act will be country singer Sam Hunt at 8 p.m., with opening act the Michael Milkrut Band at 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday’s shows will include the 4-H Dog Show at 9 a.m. and the Breeding Beef show at 1 p.m.
On Wednesday, the Grandstand entertainment will be country singer Jordan Davis.
On Thursday it will be Senior and Kids Day. The 4-H Horse Show will be at 9 a.m., and the Poultry Show will be at 11 a.m. A “Mutton Bustin’” kids rodeo will be held at 2 p.m. in the Claussen Building, and a kiddie tractor pull will be held at 3 p.m. in the Iowa Building.
Rappers Ludarcris and Lil’ Jon take the Grandstand stage Thursday night at 8 p.m.
The 4-H Market Beef and Beef Calf shows will be at 9 a.m. Friday., with the Fashion Show and Share the Fun acts at 5:30 p.m. A corn dog eating contest will be held at noon near the Shed Bar.
Rock band Three Days Grace play the Grandstand stage Friday at 8 p.m., with opening act High Five Sinners at 6:30 p.m.
The 4-H Rabbit and Swine shows will be at 9:15 and 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning., followed by the Dairy Goat show at 11 a.m.
Rock band Limp Bizkit will take over the grandstand stage at 8 p.m. Saturday.
The 4-H and FFA livestock ribbon sale will be at 10 a.m. in the Claussen Building. A woodcarving, handblown glass art and metal sign auction will start at 4 p.m. in the Wine and Craft Beer Tent, with all proceeds going to the fairgrounds capital improvement fund. Sunday is Military Appreciation Day, with free admission for all active and inactive military with ID. A veterans parade will be held at noon in the Oldies Tent.
Country singer Hardy will close out the fair on the Grandstand stage at 8 p.m. Sunday.
Daily entertainment includes rope maker Troy Thornburg, Dangerous Feats of Comedy, chainsaw artist Gary Keenan, one-man band Marc Dodson, Cycle Circus Live, Pirates of the Colombian Caribbean, Alford E. Gator, Hot Glass Academy, Electrify Magic, and live baby chick hatching in the Expo Building. The North Scott High School robotics team will provide exhibitions Wednesday through Sunday starting at 11 a.m. in the Iowa Building. There will also be fireworks after the Grandstand concerts.
Other fun includes kids’ activities in Sandyland, a Petting Zoo from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday in the Iowa Building, Feed the Butterflies and the Pretty Birds Paradise Wednesday through Sunday in the Iowa Building.
Evans United Shows will provide carnival rides daily on the Midway starting at 11 a.m. Wristbands are $30.
Daily admission will be $5 for adults and children from 7 a.m. – 2 p.m., and $12 for adults and $5 for children after 2 p.m. Kids under 3 are free every day.
No admission will be granted to the fairgrounds after 9 p.m. without a Fun Card, and Fun Cards are required for attending concerts in the Grandstand. Fun Cards are $110, and may be purchased at local Kwik Stars, Great Southern Bank, and Hy-Vee, including the Clinton and Muscatine stores. They may also be purchased online at mvfair.com or by phone at 563-326-5338.
The Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds is located at 2815 Locust St. in Davenport. More information is available at mvfair.com.