The Iowa State Fair is so full of sights, sounds and wonders that it can be a bit overwhelming to decide what attractions to see and which you should snap a picture of.
To try to make things a bit easier, we’ve compiled a (noncomprehensive) list of some of the most iconic, attention-grabbing locales to visit and snap a photo of while you’re at the State Fair.
Crowd shot from the Sky Glider
With fair attendance reaching into the tens of thousands per day, it can be hard to capture the magnitude of such a crowd in just one shot.
For $10 for a round trip ticket, you can have a bird’s eye view of the fairgrounds from the Sky Glider. In addition to a great vantage point, the lift also doubles as a way to travel across the fair while giving your feet a rest.
America 250 flag display
This photo op is only available in 2026 to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.
Located across from Pioneer Hall, one of the most photogenic areas to capture the Iowa State Fair’s many America 250 displays is the 250 Years of American Flags display, with each of the 250 flags corresponding to a specific year’s design.
The display is just one way to visually capture this patriotic celebration. There are also a variety of other exhibits across the fair that commemorate the milestone.
The iconic butter cow
Of course, no trip to the Iowa State Fair is complete without visiting the butter cow sculpture in the Agriculture Building.
To really get up close and personal to the staple, you’ll have to wait in a bit of a line. While you wait, you can read about the history of the iconic butter cow and butter sculptures, see ice sculptures, and admire various produce grown by exhibitors.
Not only is the buttery bovine at home at the Iowa State Fair, but a replica is also part of a state fair exhibit at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C. Both are sculpted by West Des Moines resident Sarah Pratt, who’s sculpted the cow for the last two decades. So, save yourself the trip to the nation’s capital and snap a photo of the symbol of the Iowa State Fair right here in Des Moines.
Zoomer, this year’s Big Boar winner
Sticking with an animal theme, be sure to stop by the Swine Barn to meet Zoomer, this year’s winner of the Big Boar contest. At nearly 1,250 pounds, the grumpy boar is hard to miss when you enter.
Zoomer barely managed to eke out a win in this year’s competition, weighing in at just six pounds heavier than the runner-up.
With all the stress of such a close competition, it seems Zoomer is all tuckered out and catching up on his beauty rest while fairgoers gather around his pen to gawk at the sleeping giant.
JR’s Southpork Ranch
Take a second to grab a photo as well as a fair-favorite lobster roll or the new caviar chicken nuggets at JR’s Southpork Ranch, across from the Livestock Pavillion on Rock Island Avenue.
The giant sign outside the restaurant’s entrance is also the perfect opportunity to showcase your adoration of crustaceans, if that’s your vibe.
Meet you at the Pepsi Clock
The Pepsi Clock has long served as a landmark on the Iowa State Fair’s expansive grounds, helping families and friends find a place to meet up since its construction in the 1950s.
This year, the clock is honored with its own installation in the butter sculpture exhibit. Now you have a chance to grab a picture of the original and the dairy-based replica.
Catch a ride (and a photo) at Thrill Ville
For those seeking more high-energy thrills and photos at the Iowa State Fair, Thrill Ville fits the bill.
Fairgoers can test their stomach’s ability to hold on to its corndogs and fried Twinkies by taking a spin on some of the more intense rides. Or those looking for a more low-key experience can try their luck at winning some carnival prizes.
But if you’re like this Des Moines Register reporter with an intense fear of carnival rides, just walking in to snap a few photos works just as well as actually going on the rides.
Isabelle Foland is a communities reporter for the Register. Reach her at ifoland@registermedia.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Here are the Iowa State Fair photo ops you can’t miss
Reporting by Isabelle Foland, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Isabelle Foland, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
