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Susan Knapp Amphitheater celebrates 20 years at Iowa State Fair
By Calyn Thompson,
5 hours agoDES MOINES, Iowa — This year marks 20 years of the Susan Knapp Amphitheater at the Iowa State Fair.
The namesake of the free stage at the fairgrounds is proud to have her name displayed, especially during the month of August.
“The closer it gets to the fair every year, that’s when I’m checking in at the doctor’s office, and they’re like, ‘Susan Knapp? Are you Susan Knapp Amphitheater at the fair?'” Knapp explained. “So, it comes alive during fair season.”
Susan grew up going to the state fair and even introduced her late husband to it.
“Bill Knapp had never been to the Iowa State Fair, even though he was born on a farm in southern Iowa,” Knapp said. “So, I brought him to the fair one year, and he absolutely fell in love with it.”
That love led to large donations to the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation.
“I know that he was the first person to give $1 million to the foundation,” Knapp said. “So, he believed in giving to what it is that you like and what you want to improve.”
New service hopes to help you skip the line at the Iowa State FairIt’s why you’ll see the Knapp name all over the fairgrounds: William C. Knapp Varied Industries Building, Paul R. Knapp Animal Learning Center, and Susan Knapp Amphitheater.
Bill and Susan cut the ribbon together 20 years ago, in 2006. A memory Susan will cherish.
“Bill is such a powerful force. And he loved the fair. He loved the fair,” Knapp said.
This will be her first year at the fair without Bill. The prominent real estate developer and philanthropist died this past November at 99-years-old.
“It’s different. It’s going to be different,” Knapp said, “but we’re going to carry his legacy on.”
A legacy that’s allowed hundreds of people to perform on this stage for two decades.
“Well, I think you can have ordinary talent, and you can be on this stage,” Knapp said. “And I think that enables people to be able to move up to other stages. And there are a lot of really nice hits coming on this stage.”
Hits from artists on the lineup you might already know or could learn later. You just have to show up to enjoy.
“What I love most about this stage is that it’s free,” Knapp said. “Anybody can come here.”
A stage named after Susan Knapp, an Iowan who says there’s something for everyone at the Iowa State Fair.
“It’s everything. It is everything. The state fair is just ordinary people showing their wares. They’re baking cakes; they’re showing their pigs, showing their cows. They are involved. And it’s all hands on,” Knapp said. “That’s what I love about the Iowa State Fair.”
WHO 13 News is the media sponsor of the Susan Knapp Amphitheater. Click here for the full lineup. In addition to the free concerts at night, Hello Iowa will be broadcasting live every weekday starting at 11:00 a.m.
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