Cattle Congress 2012: Schedule, Performers, Tickets Info. and Directions

Coming soon to a fairground near you: Bengal tiger encounters, live reptiles and monkeys, Iron Man, Spiderman and Hairball, an '80s-style hairband whose members reportedly changes their costumes a minimum of 20 times per show.

Cattle Congress 2012 is here, and with such attractions as those, it promises to entertain.

The festivities kick off a day early this year, on Wednesday, and last throughout the weekend.

Tickets, which can be bought at the gate, are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for kids 5-17, and free for those 4 and under. Each ticket is for a single day's entry.

Here is more information on the headlining bands, followed by a full schedule of events. For a list of exhibitors, visit the National Cattle Congress website. Directions to the National Cattle Congress fairgrounds in Waterloo are at the bottom of this article.

Price includes admission to the fair.

There will be music outside McElroy starting at 6 pm before the event.

Price includes admission to the fair.

9/14/2012 7:00 PM
$18
Buy Ticket

Price includes admission to the fair.

Full daily schedule:

Wednesday, September 12th

Gates Open at 1:30PM Grand Opening

Carnival Ride

Bengal Tiger Encounter

Wild About Monkeys

Reptile Adventures

DJ Faith Kubik

TBA (Never the Less)

Molly Hatchet, Bad Company former lead singer Brian Howe, Jimmie VanZant

Thursday, September 13th

Gates Open at 9:00AM

Street Magic Live

Carnival Ride

Bengal Tiger Encounter

Bennington Knoll

10:00AM, 1:00PM, 4:00PM

Exhibit Hall

Muttsville Comics - Dog Show

Estel Hall

10:30AM, 1:30PM, 4:30PM

Wild About Monkeys

Vets Plaza

11:00AM, 2:00PM, 5:00PM

Reptile Adventures

Vets Plaza

12:00PM, 3:00PM, 6:00PM

Knotty Bits

Ag Building

1:00PM, 4:00PM, 7:00PM

Lyle Beaver

Pavilion

1:00PM

Marvel Comics Presents - Captain America

Estel Hall and Roaming

1:00PM, 4:00PM, 7:00PM

Pig Races

Concourse

1:30PM, 4:30PM, 7:30PM

Bike Night - Urban Legend

Outdoor Stage

5:00PM-8:30PM

DJ Easy Does It

Pavilion

5:00PM

Hairball

McElroy

8:30PM-11:30PM

Friday, September 14th

Gates Open at 9:00AM - Kids Day

Mr. Nick

Roaming

All Day

Carnival Ride

All Day

Open Dairy Show - $17,000 Premiums Offered.

Pullin Simonsen Arena

8:00AM - 1:00PM

10:00AM, 1:00PM, 4:00PM

Exhibit Hall

Estel Hall

10:00AM-9:00PM

Muttsville Comics - Dog Show

Estel Hall

10:30AM, 1:30PM, 4:30PM

Wild About Monkeys

Vets Plaza

11:00AM, 2:00PM, 5:00PM

Reptile Adventures

Vets Plaza

12:00PM, 3:00PM, 6:00PM

Knotty Bits

Ag Building

1:00PM, 4:00PM, 7:00PM

Marvel Comics Presents - Iron Man

Estel Hall and Roaming

1:00PM, 4:00PM, 7:00PM

1:30PM, 4:30PM, 7:30PM

Motocross Preview

Race Track

5:00PM

Back Home Boys

Outdoor Stage

5:00PM - 6:30PM

Barrel Racing $20,000 Guaranteed Purse

Pullin Simonsen Arena

5:00PM - 10:00PM

Welcomes Richie Lee, Silver Wings, Crusin’ 1250 Real Oldies

Pavilion

7:00PM - 11:30PM

Chris Cagle, Josh Thompson, HER and Kings County

6:30PM - 11:30PM

Saturday, September 15th

Saturday Gates Open at 9:00AM

Mr. Nick

Roaming

All Day

Carnival Ride

All Day

Barrel Racing

Pullin Simonsen Arena

8:00AM

Novice Dairy Show

McElroy

8:00AM

Youth Dairy Show

McElroy

8:30AM

Junior Dairy Show

McElroy

9:00AM - 1:00PM

Exhibit Hall

Estel Hall and Roaming

10:00AM-9:00PM

Bengal Tiger Encounter

Bennington Knoll

10:00AM, 1:00PM, 4:00PM

Muttsville Comics - Dog Show

Estel Hall

10:30AM, 1:30PM, 4:30PM

Wild About Monkeys

Vets Plaza

11:00AM, 2:00PM, 5:00PM

First Annual Iowa Supreme Champion Dairy Heifer Scholarship Show

McElroy

11:00AM - 1:00PM

Reptile Adventures

Vets Plaza

12:00PM, 3:00PM, 6:00PM

Sound Check Saturday Welcomes Minitallica

McElroy Outdoor Stage

2:30PM-3:00PM

Sound Check Saturday Welcomes Eleventh Hour

McElroy Outdoor Stage

3:30PM-5:00PM

Sound Check Saturday Welcomes Crossed

McElroy Outdoor Stage

5:30PM-6:30PM

Sound Check Saturday Welcomes Wicked Andersons

McElroy Outdoor Stage

7:00PM-9:00PM

Sound Check Saturday Welcomes Jontay Damar

McElroy Outdoor Stage

9:15PM-9:45PM

Sound Check Saturday Welcomes Skool'd

McElroy Outdoor Stage

10:00PM-11:00PM

Knotty Bits

Ag Building

1:00PM, 4:00PM, 7:00PM

Marvel Comics Presents - Spider Man

1:00PM, 4:00PM, 7:00PM

Pig Races

Concourse

1:30PM, 4:30PM, 7:30PM

Dualling Pianos

Pavilion

Afternoon

Dualling Pianos

Pavilion

Afternoon

PRCA Rodeo tour with Drew Smith during intermission

McElroy

3:00PM & 7:30PM

TBA Country

Outdoor Stage

5:00PM - 7:00PM

Motocross Championship

Race Track

5:00PM - 10:00PM

HER and Kings County

Pavilion

9:30PM

Sunday, September 16th

Sunday Gates Open at 9:00AM - Family Food Bank Day

Roaming

All Day

Mr. Nick

Roaming

All Day

Carnival Ride

All Day

Exhibit Hall

Estel Hall

10:00AM - 6:00PM

Bengal Tiger Encounter

Bennington Knoll

10:00AM, 1:00PM, 4:00PM

Muttsville Comics - Dog Show

Estel Hall

10:30AM, 1:30PM, 4:30PM

Pig Races

Concourse

11:00AM, 2:00PM, 5:00PM

Wild About Monkeys

Vets Plaza

11:00AM, 2:00PM, 5:00PM

Knotty Bits

Ag Building

11:30PM, 2:30PM, 5:30PM

Reptile Adventures

Vets Plaza

12:00PM, 3:00PM, 6:00PM

Dualling Pianos

Pavilion

Afternoon

Beef Show

Pullin Simonsen Arena

1:00PM

PRCA Rodeo

McElroy

2:00PM

Directions to Cattle Congress:

National Cattle Congress is located at 257 Ansborough Ave in Waterloo, IA.  A few blocks east of US 218.

From US 218
- Take US-218 South to exit #182 / Ansborough
   Ave / Fletcher Ave - go 0.4 miles
- Turn left on Ansborough Ave - go 0.2 miles

From I 380
- Take I-380 North toward IA-27 N/Waterloo -
   go 9.3 miles
- Take the Waterloo / Airport exit onto I-380 North -
   go 1.8 miles
- Continue on Leo P Rooff Expy (US-218 N) -
   go 0.5 miles
- Continue to follow US-218 N - go 2.3 miles
- Take exit #182 / Ansborough Ave / Fletcher Ave -
   go 0.9 miles
- Turn right on Ansborough Ave - go 0.1 miles