The Iowa State Fair is offering fairgoers unique behind-the-scenes opportunities this summer.
The 2025 Iowa State Fair will feature exclusive adventures, including family events like cuddling with baby animals and making new recipes with parents and children, and 21 and older events like training to become a paranormal investigator or an adult version of the classic Little Hands on the Farm exhibit.
Here’s what to know about the special experiences offered at the Iowa State Fair in 2025.
Barnyard Yoga at the Iowa State Fair
Guests get a closer look at the animals during Barnyard Yoga at the Iowa State Fair Friday, Aug. 19, 2022 in Des Moines.
Workout with adorable dairy goats, llamas and bunnies during Barnyard Yoga at the Iowa State Fair. Advance registration is required before the event, and each participant will receive an Iowa State Fair Barnyard Yoga mat.
When:
Dairy Goat Yoga: Wednesday, Aug. 13, at 7:30 p.m., Swine barn
Llama Yoga: Friday, Aug. 15, at 6 p.m., Outdoor arena
Bunny Yoga: Sunday, Aug. 17, at 9 a.m., South of the poultry/rabbit building
Price: Each class is $25 per person.
Cuddles and Snuggles Chore Time
Alice Geber, 9, feeds a calf at the Paul R. Knapp Animal Learning Center during Cuddles and Snuggles Chore Time on Aug. 17, 2021, at the Iowa State Fair.
This event allows families to experience helping with morning chores while grabbing some baby animal snuggles and checking out the behind-the-scenes action in a quieter setting. Space is limited to families of six members or fewer.
When:
Friday, Aug. 8, from 8-9 a.m.
Monday, Aug. 11, from 8-9 a.m.
Saturday, Aug. 16, from 8-9 a.m.
Price: $40 per family
Mommy and Me Cooking Class
Moms and their kids will create school lunch and snacks to eat. Classes will teach mothers and their children how to make pizza puffs, pasta salad, hummus and puppy chow. The class is intended for children ages four and over.
When: Friday, Aug. 8, from 7-8 p.m., The Kitchen
Price: $30 per family, max two people.
Sweet or Savory with Chef Andrea Love of Dinner Delights
This class teaches people more ways to make salsa, including fresh salsa using the veggies grown on the fairgrounds. Attendees will learn to make four types of salsa, including pico de gallo, green chile and roasted salsa verde.
When: Tuesday, Aug. 12, from 7-8:30 p.m., The Kitchen
Price: $30 per person
Farm-to-Table Dinners with Chef Grant Gillon
Spend the evening mingling with fellow fairgoers and meeting the local farmers and producers who grew the ingredients for your meal. Chef Grant Gillon, who rose to fame as a winner of Gordon Ramsay’s “MasterChef,” will prepare a four-course dinner featuring ingredients sourced within 30 miles of the Iowa State Fair. Only two special dinners will be offered, and seating is limited.
When:
Monday, Aug. 11, from 7-9 p.m., The Kitchen
Thursday, Aug. 14, from 7-9 p.m., The Kitchen
Price: $100 per person
Experieence the Little Hands on the Farm with Fair After Dark
The event offers adults a unique opportunity to experience the Little Hands on the Farm exhibit. Attendees must be 21 or older. There will be a chance to win prizes throughout the night through trivia games.
When: Friday, Aug. 8, from 8:30-10:30 p.m., The Garden
Price: $25 per person
Ghost Hunting 101: How to be a Paranormal Investigator
Go ghost hunting with the founder of The International Paranormal Society, Adrian Lee, during another Fair After Dark experience. Attendees must be 21 or older. Lee will share ghost stories and his Top 10 most unforgettable encounters. Throughout the evening, prizes will be awarded and each ticket includes three drink tickets to enjoy.
When: Saturday, Aug. 16, from 8:30-10:30 p.m., Pioneer Hall
Price: $30 per person
How to purchase tickets for Iowa State Fair experiences
Tickets are on sale for these exclusive events at www.iowastatefair.org.
Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Barnyard yoga to ghost hunts: Try these Iowa State Fair experiences