History of the North Iowa Fair

The North Iowa Fair Association, a 501-C-3 nonprofit organization, looks upon the facilities at Highway 122 and Eisenhower as a recreational complex for North Iowa, as an attraction for tourists to our area, and as home of the North Iowa Fair. In 1858 the first Cerro Gordo County Fair was held. The North Iowa Fair Association has been in existence since 1950 and the Fair has been at its present location since 1956. We produce a Regional Fair that includes the Cerro Gordo County 4-H Show and Open Class Competition. Wheel events as well as music shows are usually featured. Free entertainment is offered on two indoor stages; in an outdoors-permanent site; and we offer diverse entertainers who stroll around the grounds. Local entertainment and contests are held throughout the Fair. A carnival and both indoor and outdoor commercial exhibits are usually featured with a variety of choices for food. The annual Fair attracts approximately 20,000 visitors over its five day run featuring competition, entertainment, education, and recreation. The North Iowa Fair Facilities, in addition to being the Home of the North Iowa Fair, are available for numerous events throughout the year and 130,000+ people who attend these events spend over $3.4 million in North Iowa with local businesses. Not only do we offer this economic boost to the community, our facility adds to the quality of life, a valuable asset, to North Iowans. Many people call our office year around or drive through the grounds to "see what?s happening at the North Iowa Fair Facility".

Events include:

annual AKC Shows since 1973 AKC Shows - 2 days - October Training Classes - 2 months for 4-H club members

In September, and December since 1975

Sponsored by the North Iowa Fair - monthly September through April since 1988

In April since 1981

Held in March since 1981

In February since 1992 - North Iowa Fair owned since 2005, cancelled in 2011

In February or March since 1992

Horse Shows/Events

Nearly every weekend from mid-April to mid-September

Hunter-Jumper (since 1984) and Dressage Shows, Iowa Paint Horse Shows, Barrel Racing

Shows, Min-I-Kota Pinto, Arabian, POA Horse Shows, Tennessee Walking Horse Shows,

Futurities, Open Horse Shows, Youth Horse Shows by HII, others, and more!

North Iowa Ice Sports Association - daily activities, weekend tournaments
Mohawks Hockey - Regional Mason City Youth Hockey high school team
Iowa Figure Skaters - daily practice and two or more shows each season

Weekly Auto Racing from April through September - Sunday nights
Modified, Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks & B-Mods
Seasonal Special Races are scheduled

Held in March and November

Every March or April since 1988

Circus Performances

Nearly every year in the spring - by North Iowa Shrine Club and others

Held in late April

Ag Fair for Mason City and Cerro Gordo County schools - annually in first quarter since 1999

Pro Am Archery Tournament - Held in January since 2001 - moving in 2012 to Des Moines

National Shows/Rallies

Monaco Coaches 1999

National Trappers Association 2001 - and 2008

Pyrotechnics Guild International August 2005 & 2009 - returning in 2014 or 2015

Royal Lipizzaner Stallion Show: 1984, 1988, 1994, 1997, 2006, 2008, 2010

Auctions - by Rex Taylor, Mark Tlusky, Jim Seeck and others.

Proud Member of the following:

Special thanks to:

North Iowa Fair Association Sponsors

History of the North Iowa Fair

Events include: