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FACILITY RENTALS
Major building and exhibit facilities, plenty of parking and a full-time planning staff, make the historic Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines a complete year-round meeting and exposition center.
Choose from more than a dozen facilities including the colossal Varied Industries Building, the midsize Elwell Family Food Center (formerly the Iowa Tourism Building), the huge 4-H Exhibits Building and mammoth Cattle Barn. People have even rented the parking lots to stage circuses, barbeque contests, swap meets and car shows. Nearly 200 events are held on the grounds annually.
Additional features include parking for up to 10,000 cars, a 160-acre campgrounds, outdoor stages, picnic shelters, indoor/outdoor show rings, horseshoe courts and an outstanding half-mile dirt track.
Whether you're planning a simple event or an elaborate experience, the Fairgrounds staff will help you arrange for caterers and decorators, sound equipment and lights, tables and chairs, forage and hay, dozers and forklifts, plumbers and electricians, plus hauling and clean-up service. Internet access is available anywhere on the grounds (price depends on location; advance notice required). A professional printing and sign shop is on-site. The 24-hour Fair Patrol is available for special security requests.
The Iowa State Fairgrounds are located in Iowa's capital city, at the hub of Interstates 80 and 35 - just 10 minutes from downtown and 20 minutes from the Des Moines International Airport. Des Moines is easy to reach via major airlines (total passenger traffic nears 1.7 million annually) and boasts a per diem rate that is consistently about 20 percent less than the national average. The city also features upscale shopping areas, fine restaurants, excellent hotels and motels (approximately 9000 sleeping rooms in the Greater Des Moines area).
Fairgrounds facilities and services - as much or as little as you need - are available at surprisingly low cost. Requirements are simple: a signed contract and a certificate of insurance. Start planning your Fairgrounds event today. Call or email for further information or to schedule a tour of the facilities.
Steve Porter, Interim Events Coordinator
PO Box 57130
Des Moines, Iowa 50317-0003
515/262-3111 ext. 203
Click here to email a request.
When emailing, please include contact name, email,
phone number, specific buildings of interest and date(s) of event.
Major Buildings and Exhibit Facilities
All info sheets and floor plans are in Adobe® Acrobat® (.PDF) format. You will need the latest version of Adobe® Acrobat® Reader to view them -- click here to download a free version of the software.
| William C. Knapp Varied Industries Building |
Info sheet | Floor plan |
| Imagine your event in Iowa's largest and most exciting new venue, the completely renovated, state-of-the-art, 165,000 sq. ft. Varied Industries Building. |
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| 4-H Exhibits Building | Info sheet | Floor plan |
| The spacious 4-H Exhibits Building is a one-story, fully enclosed, heated brick building covering nearly 50,000 sq. ft. of floor space. |
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| Paul R. Knapp Animal Learning Center |
Info sheet |
Floor plan |
| Built in 2007, the Fair's newest facility boasts approximately 19,000 sq. ft. and is both heated and air-conditioned. |
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| Elwell Family Food Center |
Info sheet | Floor plan |
| Formerly known as the Iowa Tourism Building, the spacious Elwell Family Food Center is heated and air-conditioned for flexible, year-round use. |
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| Walnut Center | Info sheet | Floor plan |
| Built in 1987, the Walnut Center is a clear span steel building designed for a variety of uses including parties, meetings, picnics, fundraisers and small trade shows. |
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| Grandstand | Info sheet | Seating chart |
| Stretching 600 feet along the Fairgrounds' Grand Concourse, the recently renovated Grandstand is one of the largest facilities on the property and a focal point for large public gatherings ranging from top name concerts to action-packed sporting events. |
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| Agriculture Building | Info sheet | Floor plan |
| Built in 1904, the Agriculture Building is one of the best remaining examples of exposition-style architecture anywhere in the world. |
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| Shoppers' Mart | Info sheet | Floor plan |
| Shoppers' Mart is located on the lower level of the Grandstand. Two separate halls provide nearly 30,000 sq. ft. of enclosed area. |
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| Family Theaters |
Info sheet | Floor plan |
| Built in 1956, the Family Theaters complex is constructed of brick and stone and houses two completely separate theaters. |
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| Cattle Barn | Info sheet | Floor plan |
| Excellent facilities for grooming and exhibiting livestock (room for up to 1600 head), plus the versatile Penningroth Sale Center make the sprawling Cattle Barn a superior site for livestock shows of all types. |
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| Horse Barn | Info sheet | Floor plan |
| Often used in conjunction with the Livestock Pavilion as well as the covered, 29,000 sq. ft. West Arena exercise ring, the majestic two-acre, 12-aisle Horse Barn is completely enclosed. |
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| Livestock Pavilion | Info sheet | Floor plan |
| With its soaring dome and show ring atmosphere, the Livestock Pavilion is a familiar and popular landmark on the Fairgrounds. |
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| Sheep Barn/Youth Cattle Barn | Info sheet | Floor plan |
| Excellent features and distinctive architecture design make the Sheep Barn one of the finest show, sale and exhibition facilities in the Midwest. |
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| Swine Barn | Info sheet | Floor plan |
| Built in 1907, the well-designed and equipped Swine Barn is an ideal facility for all swine shows and sales. |
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