(Des Moines, IA) -- Fair goers couldn't ask for better weather on the first day of the 2023 Iowa State Fair, with sunshine and temperatures in the low 80s. The National Weather Service is predicting a day-time high around 90 on Friday.
Gate attendance at the Iowa State Fair is typically close to or just over one million people.
This year's fair is expected to capture the national political spotlight, due to a large number of presidential candidates planning to attend to court voters. Former President Donald Trump will be at the fair Saturday, August 12th at 1 p.m. The location is TBD. Also on Saturday, Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, and Ron DeSantis will be at the Fair, as well as Democrats Robert Kennedy Jr, and Marianne Williamson.
The Iowa State Fair runs thru Sunday, August 20th.
Early crowds arriving ahead of the opening ceremonies of the 2023 Iowa State Fair