The 2026 Iowa State Fair opened on Thursday amid a downpour and fairgoers with rain gear, and without, walked through the gates.
"Iowans love the fair in all weather, whether it's super hot or super rainy they're here to enjoy the fair," Iowa State Fair CEO Jeremy Parsons says. "Stomping through those puddles will be a great fair memory that some Iowa families will make today."
Fair officials were suggesting that fairgoers park at the Iowa Capitol at Southridge Mall and take the free shuttle service to and from the fair. Parsons says most of the parking on the fairgrounds is on grass.
"We've got really soggy parking lots," Parsons says. "We just need things to settle a little bit. Never cancel, but we do ask Iowans to maybe delay a little bit."
Rain conditions should be cleared up and dried up for the remainder of the fair. Opening ceremonies for the State Fair were moved indoors. Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says state fair staff plan for days like this, and there's nothing they can't handle.
"I don't care what's going on outside those doors," Naig said and the crowd laughed. "It's a wonderful day! Where else would you want to be?"
Governor Kim Reynolds says it's bittersweet to be kicking off the last fair during her tenure as governor and she reminisced about what's happened on the fairgrounds since 2017.
"We've crushed attendance records by welcoming millions of visitors through our gates," Reynolds said. "We've added new facilities like the Elwell Family Park and the Variety Star Playground and we've witnessed spectacular renovations to fair landmarks like the Grandstand, the DNR building and now the hallmark of the fairgrounds, the livestock barns."
Reynolds says she and her husband and their grandchild walked through the newly renovated horse barn early Thursday morning.
"It is amazing," Reynolds said. "First of all it's so bright and clean and light, and the bathrooms are incredible. Just the technology, the way they can clean out the stalls. They can actually lift them up and get in there. The kids and the people showing the horses, this will make a huge difference for them."
The horse barn covers over two acres. Renovations cost $13 milion.
Radio Iowa