Dubuque County Fair

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Cultural & TraditionalDubuque
DatesDates TBA · Usually JulyCheck locally before booking
Duration6 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLiving tradition, ritual symbolsThe fair's roots reach back further than
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryCultural & TraditionalFestival type
The story

Dubuque County Fair in Dubuque

Dubuque County Fair is a traditional summer county fair run by the nonprofit Dubuque County Fair Association at its 96-acre fairgrounds outside Dubuque. Held in late July into early August, its 2026 edition marks the 73rd annual fair, featuring carnival rides, livestock and 4-H exhibits, live entertainment, and a 3/8-mile dirt race track.

Dubuque County Fair traces its lineage back to 1864, when a County Agricultural Fair Grounds with a trotting track was established near Eagle Point outside Dubuque, part of the broader wave of county agricultural fairs that spread across Iowa in the decades after statehood.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The fair's roots reach back further than most county fairs still operating today, tracing to an 1864 agricultural fair ground near Eagle Point before the current Dubuque County Fair Association formally organized in 1953

02

The mystery stays covered

Its fairgrounds combine more than 32,000 square feet of indoor exhibition space with an active 3/8-mile dirt race track, giving it both traditional livestock-and-crafts programming and motorsport entertainment on the same grounds

03

The city starts moving

Named attractions such as Tiny Town, Old MacDonald's Farm, and an Exotic Animal Zoo round out programming aimed squarely at families, alongside the 4-H and Creative Arts exhibits that anchor any Iowa county fair

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

4-H and open-class livestock judging remain the fair's traditional core

Water and renewal

Living ritual

connecting the event to its nineteenth-century origins as an agricultural exhibition even as carnival rides and race-track events have expanded around it

The sacred route

Living ritual

The Creative Arts Building competitive exhibits carry forward that same judged-competition format into crafts

The local code

Living ritual

and other home-arts categories

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually July

Getting around

For Dubuque County Fair, choose the arrival point in Dubuque first, then work backward to transport and return timing.

What to wear

Casual summer clothing, sun hats, and comfortable closed-toe walking shoes suit the hot, humid late-July fairgrounds, where a full day covers midway rides, livestock barns, and grandstand...

Safety

Dubuque County Fair is easier when valuables are secure and the group knows where to meet if separated.

Where to stay

For peak dates, book flexible lodging near reliable routes into and out of Dubuque.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map42.50 N, 90.66 WOpen in Google Maps

Dubuque, IA

Nearest airportDBQ — Dubuque Regional
TransportFor Dubuque County Fair, choose the arrival point in Dubuque first, then work backward to transport and return timing.
Stay areaFor peak dates, book flexible lodging near reliable routes into and out of Dubuque.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Dubuque via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Dubuque, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for July.Compare faresFestival gearCasual summer clothing, sun hats, and comfortable closed-toe walking shoes suit the hot, humid late-July fairgrounds, where a full day covers midway rides, livestock barns, and grandstand seating across 96 acres.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Dubuque County Fair?

Dubuque County Fair is listed for Past edition: 22–27 July 2025. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Dubuque County Fair take place?

The festival is listed in Dubuque, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

6 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Dubuque, IA

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLdbqfair.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually July
Source statusOfficial source linked
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