Iowa State Fair Playground: Variety Star Playground
The Iowa State Fair in partnership with Variety Club of Iowa have brought a new all inclusive playground to the Iowa State Fair grounds—Variety Star Playground! This playground honors Iowa’s rich agriculture history while offering so much to engage everyone with all abilities! (And it is my favorite shaded playground!)
First look at the main playground structure, immediately captures imaginations! You are transported to the world of grain bins, chicken coops, hay bales–memories of your grandparent’s farm. The main structure has a ramp to a sensory board area engaging everyone in play. This playground offers many ways to climb up–rock walls, unique belt ladders, and chain tunnels. My kids loved hanging out in the belt tunnel (the big kids especially loved climbing on the top of it!)
One of the striking elements of this playground is that it is on a hill with rubber surfacing, adding a thrilling element to exiting the slide and playing on the auxiliary features. In the lower area of the playground, my kids loved climbing on the play corn stalks and jumping off of them. The cutest chicken statues were perfect hurdles for kids but also invited imaginations to play farming, along with the bouncy sheep and cow seats. The accessible in-ground merry-go-round had the cutest farm scenes around it.
We were very excited too that the State Fair kept the beloved wooden train near the playground! The play train has brought my kids joy for many years. If you have a train or transportation lover, I can’t recommend it enough! (My kids also always seem to make their way over to the MidAmerican Energy Stage next to the playground to sing or dance!)
How to visit the playground?
The playground is located on the Iowa State Fairgrounds on the east side of the John Deere Agriculture Building, 3000 E Grand Ave.
Accessing the playground when it is not fair season, you may drive into the fairgrounds and park along East Vermeer Lane, right next to the playground.
Accessing the playground when it is almost fair season, the gates may be closed to vehicles. If so, park in the North lot (large grassy lot) and walk into the playground. Admission is not charged until the first official day of the Iowa State Fair.
During the Iowa State Fair, the playground is only accessible with paid fair admission. Take a look at our Kids Guide to the Iowa State Fair!
Basic Park Details
Type: Places to play
Bathrooms: Restrooms are typically only open on the fair grounds during the official Iowa State Fair dates.
Shade: Shaded by large trees!
Playground: 5-12 year old inclusive playground and wooden train playground
Trails: No trails but walking around that state fair grounds is always fun!
Water: During the state fair (and sometimes the day before) spray ground on the south side of the John Deere Agriculture Building.
Official website: https://www.blueribbonfoundation.org/node/182
Park Amenities
- Poured in rubber surfacing
- In ground merry-go-round
- Large shade trees
- benches
- Street parking when not fair season
- Restroom only accessible during fair season
- No swings
