(Des Moines, IA) — Fair officials have released the full lineup of new beverages coming to this year’s Iowa State Fair, and the list is packed with unusual combinations that are already turning heads.
Running August 13 through 23, the fair will introduce more than 30 new drinks across its vendor booths, ranging from alcohol-free specialty sodas to bold new cocktails. Among the alcohol-free additions is an espresso-based affogato drink topped with soft serve, along with several “dirty soda” creations mixing grenadine, cold foam, and fruit syrups. A number of drinks lean into the fair’s patriotic theme this year, tying into America’s upcoming 250th anniversary, with names like Freedom Float, Liberty Lemonade, and Star Spangled Soda featuring red, white, and blue flavor combinations.
Other standout additions include a cotton candy-topped lemonade that dissolves on contact with the drink, a jalapeño-infused lemonade for those wanting spice with their citrus, and a limeade blending citrus, berries, and popping boba inspired by Southeast Asian and Latin American flavor traditions.
On the alcoholic side, vendors are rolling out several margarita and cocktail variations, including a watermelon-mint Moscow mule and a frozen fruit margarita. But one drink in particular is drawing extra attention: a spicy, wine-based margarita infused with mango and habanero flavors, served with a real scorpion skewered on a stick as garnish.
Prices for the new drinks range from about $5 to $19, with most falling between $7 and $10. Fair organizers say the expanded drink menu is meant to give attendees new flavor experiences to pair with the fair’s usual food offerings.
With less than three weeks until opening day, fairgoers are already circulating the list online, debating which drinks they plan to try first — and which ones, like the scorpion cocktail, they’re simply curious to see in person.