The 2022 Iowa State Fair is less than a month away, and when it hits, festival organizers are promising a boatloadof free entertainment.
While admission for the fairis required to see these shows, once on the Fairgrounds, all of the following performances are free to attend.Adult admission tickets are $9 in advance of the State Fair or$14 at the gate.
Here's a look at nine of the biggest free shows coming to the Iowa State Fair in 2022, along with the full roster of all of the free entertainment below.
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The Nadas
Iowa in the house. The Des Moines-based folk rock quintet The Nadas originally formed in 1993 in Ames and became the house band for People’s Bar & Grill in Ames. Over their 23-year career, the band opened for The Beach Boys, America, Bon Jovi and Huey Lewis and produced 11 studio albums.
Watch The Nadas on Aug.12 at 7 and 9 p.m. on the MidAmerican Energy Stage.
Iowa State Fair Queen coronation
County queens from all over the state of Iowa vie for the title of Iowa State Fair Queen and the crown and sash she wears. Since 1964, the State Fair has crowned a queen, using criteria such as personality, attitude, leadership, citizenship, contribution to community, overall appearance, charm and poise. Miss Plymouth County McKenna Henrich of Akron hands over the reins after earning the title in 2021.
See the Iowa State Fair Queen coronation at 7 p.m. Aug. 13 on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage.
Sammy Kershaw
With 16 studio albums to his name, Sammy Kershaw is a bona fide country music star. His biggest hit, “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful,” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. His honky-tonkstyle brings songs such as “Cadillac Style,” “Anywhere But Here,” “Queen of My Double Wide Trailer,” and “Love of My Life.” Interesting fact: Kershaw ran for governor of his home state of Louisiana twice, but didn't win either election.
Sammy Kershaw performs on Aug.14 at 8p.m. at the Susan Knapp Amphitheater.
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Stephen Pearcy
Comedy legend Milton Berle gave “Round and Round” from Ratt a big boost when he appeared in the music video for the song. Founder of the heavy metal band Ratt Stephen Pearcy digs deep into his catalog of songs he sang with bands such as Firedome, Crystal Pystal and Ratt Arcade, Vicious Delite, and Vertex.
Watch Stephen Pearcy perform at 8 p.m. on Aug. 15 on the MidAmerican Energy Stage.
Hairball
No, not the lovely ball your cat coughs up. Hairball is the wildly popular cover band out of Minneapolis. For the past 22 years, the boys have put on a show playing songs from the likes of Van Halen, KISS, Motley Crüe, Queen, Journey and Aerosmith. Bang your head for two nights with these wild guys.
Hairball performs on Aug.16-17 at 8p.m. at the Susan Knapp Amphitheater.
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Wang Chung
Did you know that Wang Chung is Chinese for yellow bell? And, no, the band is not Chinese. Neither of the main performers are. The British new wave group got its start in 1980 in London, going on to play hits such as “Dance Hall Days,” “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” and “Let’s Go.” Original members Jack Hues (vocalist/guitarist) and Nick Feldman (guitar) even recorded a version of The Beatle’s “Rain” on the ukulele.
Wang Chung performs on Aug.18 at 8p.m. at the Susan Knapp Amphitheater.
Slaughter
Get ready to bang your head. Las Vegas-based glam metal rockers Slaughter got huge in 1990 with their first album “Stick It to Ya.” Vocalist/rhythm guitarist Mark Slaughter and bassist Dana Strum drove fans into a frenzy with hits such as “Up All Night,” “Spend My Life,” “Mad About You” and “Fly to the Angels.”
See Slaughter perform on Aug.20 at 8p.m. at the Susan Knapp Amphitheater.
Anne Wilson
At just 20, Anne Wilson is already making waves in the American Christian music realm. The singer and songwriter made her debut in 2021 with “My Jesus,” which reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart and Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. Don’t confuse her with Ann Wilson, the lead singer and songwriter of the rock band Heart, who opens for ZZ Top on Aug. 16.
See Anne Wilson perform on Aug. 21 at 8 p.m. at the Anne and Bill Riley Stage.
Quiet Riot
Los Angeles-based Quiet Riot still puts on a head-banging show with its hits such as “Cum On Feel the Noize,” and “Mama Weer All Crazee Now,” which both happen to be covers of the British glam band Slade, and “Metal Health (Bang Your Head).” Believe it or not, Quiet Riot originally came together in 1973, but none of the original members of the band are part of the group.
See Quiet Riot perform at 8 p.m. Aug. 21 on the MidAmerican Energy Stage.
Free entertainment at the Iowa State Fair
Here's a look at all of the free entertainment at theIowa State Fair for 2022.
Susan Knapp Amphitheater
- Aug.11 at 8p.m., country artist Ian Munsick
- Aug.12 at 8 p.m., country artist Adam Doleac
- Aug.13 at 8 p.m., country artist Frank Ray
- Aug.14 at 8 p.m., country artist Sammy Kershaw
- Aug.15 at 5 and 7:30 p.m., Country Gold featuring country artists LeRoy VanDyke, T.G. Sheppard and Kelly Lang
- Aug.15 at 8 p.m., rock band Hairball
- Aug.16 at 8 p.m., Hairball
- Aug.18 at 8p.m.,new wave groupWang Chung
- Aug.19 at 8 p.m., country artist Levi Hummon
- Aug.20 at 8 p.m., rock band Slaughter
- Aug.21 at 8p.m., country artist Casey Donahew
More:What to know about the 2022 Iowa State Fair: concerts, tickets, dates and more
Anne and Bill Riley Stage
- Aug.11-12 at 8 p.m., rock band Liliac
- Aug.13 at 7p.m., Iowa State Fair Queen coronation
- Aug.14 at 7 p.m.,Latin musical artistsParranderos Latin Combo
- Aug.15-20, at 7 and 9 p.m., hypnotistRon Diamond
- Aug.21 at 8 p.m.,singer/songwriterAnne Wilson
MidAmerican Energy Stage
- Aug. 11 at 7 and 9 p.m.,country singer Jason Brown
- Aug.12 at 7 and 9 p.m., alternative band The Nadas
- Aug. 13 at 8 p.m., country singer Colt Ford
- Aug. 14 at 8 p.m., heavy metal band BulletBoys
- Aug.15 at 8 p.m., Stephen Pearcy the Voice of Ratt
- Aug.16 at 8p.m., country singer Spencer Crandall
- Aug. 17 at 8 p.m., country singer Alana Springsteen
- Aug.18 at 8 p.m., Resurrection — A Journey Tribute
- Aug. 19 at 8 p.m., country singer Chase Matthew
- Aug. 20 at 7 and 9 p.m., Bob Dorr’s Iowa Music Revue
- Aug. 21 at 8 p.m., heavy metal band Quiet Riot
Fun Forest Stage
- Aug. 11-21 at 12:30, 2:30 and 4:30 p.m., Fantastick Patrick
- Aug.11-21 at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., The Rubber Chicken Show with Greg Frisbee
Other Fairgrounds entertainment
- Chainsaw Artists Gary Keenan and TJ Jenkins — Country School area
- Aug. 11 at 10 a.m., noon, 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.; Aug. 12 at10 a.m., noon, 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.; Aug. 13-20 at 10 a.m., noon, 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.; Aug. 21 at 10 a.m. and noon.
- Red Trouser Show — Expo Hill
- Aug. 11-21 at noon, 3 and 6 p.m.
- Brian Sobaski’s Straw Art — Near Giant Slide
- Aug. 11-21 at 9 a.m.
- Sandscapes — Thrill Ville Entrance on Grand
- Aug. 11-21 at 9 a.m.
- Disc-Connected K-9s, sponsored by Mountain Valley Spring Water — Jacobson Building West Lawn
- Aug. 11-19 and Aug. 21 at noon, 3 and 9 p.m.; Aug. 20 at noon, 3 and 6 p.m.
- Wheels of Agriculture — Near Gate 13 and Little Hands on the Farm
- Aug. 11-21 at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Bandaloni, Strolling Piano, Robocars — Strolling
- Aug. 11-21 at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m.
More information about these events, as well as the rest of the State Fair, can be found throughiowastatefair.org. Tickets for the event go on sale July 5 both online and through the Iowa State Fair ticket office.
More:8 ways to save money on value packs, food and thrill rides at the Iowa State Fair 2022
Isaac Hamletcovers arts, entertainment and culture at the Des Moines Register. Reach him at ihamlet@gannett.comor 319-600-2124, or follow him on Twitter @IsaacHamlet.
Omar Waheed is a staff writer at the Des Moines Register. He can be reached atowaheed@registermedia.com.
