Your Complete Guide to the 70th Annual Dubuque County Fair

The 70th Annual Dubuque County Fair gets underway on Tuesday, July 25th and runs through the 30th. Last year was my first time at the fair, and it was my first time ever attending. I had a blast seeing old and new faces, and hanging with Ken Peiffer at the 103.3 WJOD tent for multiple days in a row.

Every year, the tireless Dubuque County Fairgrounds staff helps put together a jam-packed week of fun events, great food, and of course, musical acts. I've decided to break down the major happenings for each day of the fair. Scroll for the full schedule!

Tuesday, July 25th (Free Day):

The first day of the Dubuque County Fair is "Free Day," thanks to sponsor TH Media. Here is a break down of the day's events:

8am: Grounds open
9am: 4-H/FFA Horse and Pony Show - Horse Arena
9am: 4-H/FFA Horse Sheep Show - Swine Barn
9am: 4-H/FFA Horse Dairy Goat - Show Barn
9am: 4-H/FFA Horse Dairy Show - Show Barn
10am - 8pm: Creative Arts Building/Kids Corner Open
10am - 8pm: Country Store Open
10am - 8pm: 4-H Building Exhibits Open to the Public
11am: Bohm's Family Show - Exhibit Grounds
11am - 7pm: Chain Saw Carvings
11am - 8pm: Exhibit Hall Open
11am - 8pm: Creative Adventure Lab - Exhibit Building
12pm: Nature Nick's Animal Adventures
12:30pm: 4-H/FFA Horse Meat Goat Show - Swine Barn
12:30pm 4-H/FFA Horse Dairy Cows - Livestock Arena
1 - 5pm: Bingo - Across from the Grandstands
2pm: Bohm's Family Show - Exhibit Grounds
3pm: Nature Nick's Animal Adventures
4pm: North American Midway Rides Open (Any and all rides are only one ticket each with no age limit, $2/ticket)
4pm: Dubuque Dance - Blain's Stage in the Festival Garden
6pm: Opening Ceremony - Mainstage
6:30pm: Bohm's Family Show - Exhibit Grounds
7pm: Nature Nick's Animal Adventures
7pm: Penny Gilly - Mainstage
7:30pm: Johnny Cash Tribute - Mainstage
8pm: Ken Peiffer, DJ - Blain's Stage in the Festival Garden
8:30pm: Neil Diamond Tribute - Mainstage

A breakdown of the events at the 70th Annual Dubuque County Fair. Photo Credit: Steve Pulaski

Wednesday, July 26th (Kids Day/Race Day):

Wednesday is Kids Day at the Dubuque County Fairgrounds, thanks to sponsor ABC Learning, as well as Race Day:

8am: Grounds open
8:30am: 4-H/FFA Horse Swine Weigh-in and Carcass scan
9am: 4-H/FFA Horse Beef Show - Show Barn + Poultry show - Poultry Barn
10am - 8pm: Creative Arts Building/Kids Corner open
10am - 8pm: Country Store open
10am - 8pm: 4-H Building Exhibits open
10am: Kid's Day Activities - Top of Grandstands
10am - 4pm: Scavenger Hunt - Jr. Fairboard Activity
11am - 7pm: Chain Saw Carvings
11am - 8pm: Exhibit Hall open
11am - 8pm: Creative Adventure Lab - Exhibit Building
12pm: Nature Nick's Animal Adventure - Exhibit Grounds
1pm - 11pm: North American Midway Rides open
1pm: DCFA Birthday Party - Top of Grandstands
1:30pm: Kids Pedal Tractor Pull - Festival Area
2pm: Bohm's Family Show - Exhibit Grounds
3pm: Kid's Day Prize Giveaway - Top of Grandstands (must be present to win)
3pm: Nature Nick's Animal Adventure - Exhibit Grounds
3pm; Release of poultry, beef breeding, milk cows
3pm: Xtreme Dance - Big Top
4pm: Frog Jump - Festival Area
4pm: The Road Less Traveled Community Theater - Big Top
4pm: Dubuque Dance - Festival Garden
5pm: Nature Nick's Animal Adventure - Exhibit Grounds
5:30pm: 4-H Awards Ceremony - Big Top
6:30pm: Bohm's Family Show - Exhibit Grounds
7pm: Nature Nick's Animal Adventure - Exhibit Grounds
7pm: Sprint Invaders - On the Track
8pm: Ken Peiffer, DJ - Blain's Stage in the Festival Garden

The 70th Annual Dubuque County Fair Logo. Photo Credit: Dubuque County Fair

Thursday, July 27th (Country Day):

Thursday is probably the day of the fair I'm looking forward to the most! Not only is it "Country Day," it's the day Lauren Alaina takes the Main Stage!

8am: Grounds Open
9am: 4-H/FFA Swine Show - Swine Barn
10am - 8pm: Creative Arts Building/Kids Corner Open
10am - 8pm: Country Store Open
10am - 8pm: 4-H Building Exhibits Open to the Public
11am - 7pm: Chain Saw Carvings
11am - 8pm: Exhibit Hall Open
11am - 8pm: Creative Adventure Lab - Exhibit Building
11am: Bohm's Family Show - Exhibit Grounds
11am: Survivor - Exhibit Grounds
12pm: Nature Nick's Animal Adventure - Exhibit Building
1pm - 11pm: North American Midway Rides open
1:30pm: LEGO Contest - Creative Arts Building
2pm: Entry of Clover Kids Pets
2pm: Bohn's Family Show - Exhibit Grounds
2:30pm: Clover Kids Pet Show - Show Barn
3pm: Nature Nick's Animal Adventures - Exhibit Grounds
3:30pm: Entry of All 4-H Pets - Show Barn
3:30pm: Kids Planting Marigolds w/ Judy Selchert from Steve's Ace Hardware - Creative Arts Building
4pm: Release of 4-H/FFA (Livestock Not Being Sold)
4pm: Tiny Prince and Princess Judging - Big Top
4pm: Dubuque Dance - Blain's Stage in the Festival Garden
4:30pm: 4-H/FFA Pet Show - 4-H Building
5pm: Nature Nick's Animal Adventures - Exhibit Grounds
6pm: The Road Less Traveled Community Theater - Big Top
6:30pm - Bohm's Family Show - Exhibit Grounds
7pm: Nature Nick's Animal Adventures - Exhibit Grounds
7:30pm: Lauren Alaina - Main Stage
7:30pm: Back Booth Alley - Blain's Stage Festival Garden

Photo Credit: Steve Pulaski

Friday, July 28th (Rock Day):

Friday is "Rock Day" at the Dubuque County Fair, capped off with a performance by Skillet and Theory of a Deadman at 7:30pm and Zac Matthews Band at 9pm.

8am: Grounds Open
9am: 4-H/FFA Auction - Swine, Sheep, and Meat Goat
10am - 7pm: Creative Arts Building/Kids Corner Open
10am - 7pm: 4-H Building Exhibits Open to the Public
10am - 8pm: Country Store Open
10am - 4pm: Scavenger Hunt - Jr. Fairboard Activity
10am - 7pm: Chain Saw Carvings
11am - 8pm: Exhibit Hall Open
11am - 8pm: Creative Adventure Lab - Exhibit Building
11am: Bohm's Family Show - Exhibit Grounds
12pm: Nature Nick's Animal Adventures - Exhibit Building
12:30pm: 4-H/FFA Dairy and Beef Auction - Show Barn
1pm -5pm: Bingo - Across from the Grandstands
1pm - 11pm: North American Midway Rides open
2pm: Bohm's Family Show - Exhibit Grounds
3pm: Nature Nick's Animal Adventures - Exhibit Grounds
3pm: The Road Less Traveled Community Theater - Big Top
4pm: Release of all remaining 4-H Livestock
4pm: Chicken Chucking Contest - Exhibit Grounds
4pm: Dubuque Dance - Blain's Stage in the Festival Garden
5pm: Nature Nick's Animal Adventures - Exhibit Grounds
6:30pm - Bohm's Family Show - Exhibit Grounds
7pm: Nature Nick's Animal Adventures - Exhibit Grounds
7:30pm: Skillet & Theory of a Deadman - Main Stage
9pm: Zac Matthews Band - Blain's Stage/Festival Garden

Photo Credit: Steve Pulaski

Saturday, July 29th (Tractor Pull & Family Day):

Saturday at the Dubuque County Fair is Tractor Pull and Family Day, sponsored by Midwest Concrete Inc.

7:30am: Entry of 4-H/FFA Rabbit
8am: Grounds Open
8am: Chili Cook-Off Check In
9am: Open Class Horse Show - Horse Arena
9am: Open Class Dairy Show - Show Barn
9am: Clover Kids Rabbit Show - Swine Barn
10am - 7pm: Creative Arts Building/Kids Corner Open
10am - 7pm: 4-H Building Exhibits Open to the Public
10am - 8pm: Country Store Open
10am - 4pm: Scavenger Hunt - Jr. Fairboard Activity
10am: 4-H/FFA Rabbit Show
11am - 7pm: Chain Saw Carvings
11am - 8pm: Exhibit Hall Open
11am - 8pm: Creative Adventure Lab - Exhibit Building
11am: Beer Olympics - Festival Area
11am: Bohm's Family Show - Exhibit Grounds
12pm - 11pm: North American Midway Rides open
12pm: Nature Nick's Animal Adventures - Exhibit Grounds
12pm: Kiddie Calf Show - Show Barn
12pm: Chili Tasting Begins
1pm - 5pm: Bingo - Across from the Grandstands
2pm: Bohm's Family Show - Exhibit Grounds
2pm: Chili Cook-Off Turn-In
3pm: Battle of the Bands - Festival Garden
3pm: Nature Nick's Animal Adventures - Exhibit Grounds
4pm: Chicken Chucking Contest - Exhibit Grounds
4pm: Dubuque Dance - Blain's Stage in the Festival Garden
5pm: Nature Nick's Animal Adventures - Exhibit Grounds
6:30pm: Bohm's Family Show - Exhibit Grounds
6:30pm: CIPA/Badger State Tractor Pull - On the Track
9pm: Menace - Blain's Stage/Festival Garden

Photo Credit: Steve Pulaski

Sunday, July 30th (Race Day):

The final day of the 70th Annual Dubuque County Fair is Race Day, with a Demo Derby at 12pm and the Julien Dubuque Classic Stock Car Races at 6:30pm!

8am: Grounds Open
10am - 7pm: Creative Arts Building/Kids Corner Open
10am - 1:30pm: Chain Saw Carvings
11am - 7pm: Exhibit Hall Open
10am - 8pm: Country Store Open
11am - 8pm: Creative Adventure Lab - Exhibit Building
11am: Bohm's Family Show - Exhibit Grounds
12pm - 7pm: 4-H Building Exhibits Open to the Public
12pm - 8pm: North American Midway Rides open
12pm: Nature Nick's Animal Adventures - Exhibit Grounds
12pm: Demolition Derby - On the Track
12pm: Pack a Port-a-Potty w/ Robb Munter
1pm - 5pm: Bingo - Across from the Grandstands
2pm: Bohm's Family Show - Exhibit Grounds
2pm: Open Class Beef Show - Livestock Arena
3pm: Chain Saw Carving Auction - After the Demolition Derby, Top of the Grandstands
3pm: Xtreme Dance - Big Top
3pm: Nature Nick's Animal Adventures - Exhibit Grounds
4pm: Race Car Driver Autographs - Exhibit Grounds
4pm: Chicken Chucking Contest Finals - Exhibit Grounds
5pm: Nature Nick's Animal Adventures - Exhibit Grounds
6:30pm: Bohm's Family Show - Exhibit Grounds
6:30pm: Julien Dubuque Classic Stock Car Racing - On the Track
7pm: Nature Nick's Animal Adventures - Exhibit Grounds
8pm: Winner of the Battle of the Bands - Blain's Stage in the Festival Gardens

Admission to the Fair (Wednesday - Sunday) for 12 and older is $10, while children age 11 and under are FREE. For more details, visit the Dubuque County Fair's website and Facebook page!