Minnesota State Fair 101: Your guide to the Great Minnesota Get-Together of 2025

Minnesota State Fair 101: Your guide to the Great Minnesota Get-Together of 2025

The time of the year when powdered sugar is a food group.

Whether you’re into carnival rides, local artists or simply drinking enough dill pickle iced tea to concern your physician, the Minnesota State Fair has a little something for everyone. Here’s everything you need to know, from how to get there to where to snag some great deals.

When is the Minnesota State Fair?

The Minnesota State Fair runs Aug. 21 through Labor Day on Sept. 1. Gates open at 7 a.m., and the fairgrounds are open until 11 p.m. each night (except for Labor Day, when the grounds close at 9 p.m.). Guests can enter the fair until 9 p.m. each day (and until 7 p.m. on Labor Day). To see the hours for specific areas of the fair, visit the fair’s website.

State Fair tickets

You can purchase discount admission tickets for $17 online, by calling Etix at 1-800-514-3849 through Aug. 20, at the fairgrounds ticket office, and at participating Cub stores and at various locations in greater Minnesota and Hudson, Wis. Advance tickets are available now through Aug. 20, subject to availability. You will be able to store your tickets on your phone, print them and even get them mailed to your home for an additional $5 fee per order.

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The day-of ticket price is generally $20 for people 13 through 64 years old, $18 for people 65 and older and kids 5 to 12 years old, and free for children 4 and under. Tickets are cheaper on certain discount days. You can also buy tickets online from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. (limited to 12 tickets per order).

Pre-purchased tickets are not refundable.

Grandstand tickets

To see acts like Melissa Etheridge, Def Leppard and Daryl Hall, you’ll need a Grandstand ticket in addition to your general admission ticket to the fair.

Show listings and tickets are available on the Etix website or by calling 1-800-514-3849.

Ride and attraction tickets

If you’re not content to let any of those new foods settle, there are plenty of midway rides to jostle you around.

This year, the fair adds two new rides to the Mighty Midway: Overdrive, which boasts “fast-action spinning sleds,” and The Scorpion, a three-armed tilting swing.

The Kidway is adding two new rides as well: Hampton Space Age, a rotating, track-based ride, and Jumbo (Flying Elephant), which lets riders control their own height on the attraction.

Like last year, Midway and Kidway rides require a Fun Card to store purchased tickets. Tickets are available online or in person, and pre-fair discounts are available. Tickets expire at the end of this year’s fair.

The fair is also adding The Thunderbird, which it calls “North America’s tallest portable swing” at 180 feet tall. The Thunderbird is one of several attractions, like the Space Tower and the Skyride, that do not accept Fun Card credits, only cash or debit/credit card. The Thunderbird is $8 per rider.

People ride the Defender on the Mighty Midway at sunset during the Minnesota State Fair. Nicole Neri for MPR News | 2024

Getting to the State Fair

Driving

If you arrive by car, the State Fair offers limited parking spaces available on a first-come, first-served basis for $25 (cash or card). These parking lots open at 6 a.m. and they fill quickly every day. Overnight parking is not allowed. If you leave the parking lot and later want to return, you will have to pay the parking fee again.

If you plan to park near the fairgrounds, keep in mind that earlier this year, Falcon Heights announced it would be charging a flat $25 parking fee in neighborhoods east of Snelling Avenue.

Biking

If you want to ride your bike or non-licensed scooter, you can park in bike corrals, which are fenced-in areas monitored by a staff person. Bicycle parking is free. Locations are:

• South Bike Lot: Loop Gate (#9) on Como Avenue
• North Bike Lot: North End Gate (#2)
• West Bike Lot: Randall Ave-Buford Gate (#16)

If you want to park a a vehicle with a license plate like a motorized scooter or motorcycle at the State Fair, you can park either in State Fair lots for the standard $25 or in a motorcycle lot on Como Avenue near the International Institute for $15.

Bike and motorcycle lots open at 6 a.m.

Public transportation

Express buses

If you live in the Twin Cities area, a resourceful and accessible way of arriving at the State Fair is via express buses operated by Metro Transit, Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA) and SouthWest Transit. Drop-offs and pick-ups will be at the State Fair Transit Hub located at Gate No. 16.

The State Fair Express Buses from Metro Transit feature free and accessible parking within the Twin Cities metro area. Routes are available daily from Blaine, Maplewood, Minnetonka, Bloomington and Cottage Grove, and the route from Maple Grove is available on weekends and Labor Day.

For folks who live in the south metro area, the MVTA provides free parking and direct bus service from Eagan, Shakopee and Burnsville. New for this year, all three stations will offer service beginning at 7 a.m. each day of the fair.

And a bus service through SouthWest Transit will offer free parking and direct service from Eden Prairie, Chanhassen, Chaska and Carver. This year, bus service will be available every day of the fair, including Labor Day.

Roundtrip tickets are $5 to $6. Learn more on the fair website.

Find more information on regular bus service and Metro Mobility on the State Fair website.

Taxis, rideshare apps

Rideshare

Planning to get an Uber, Lyft or other app-based ride service? The State Fair offers two designated drop-off and pick-up points near the fairgrounds: at the northeast end of the fairgrounds outside the North End Gate No. 2 and at the south end of the fairgrounds in the parking lot across from Gate No. 7 and the Dairy Building.

Taxis

If you prefer a regular taxi, the designated taxi space is Loop Gate No. 9 on Como Avenue on the south side of the fairgrounds.

Park and ride

If you prefer to avoid parking at the fairgrounds, you can park in public spaces near the fairgrounds and be dropped off by State Fair buses for free. This year, the free shuttle will serve 32 nearby lots between 8 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. daily (except Labor Day, when shuttles will run between 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.).

Find more information on pickups and drop-offs on their website.

People ride the Techno Power ride on the Mighty Midway at sunset during the Minnesota State Fair.Nicole Neri for MPR News | 2024

10 things you should bring to the fair

1) Comfortable shoes

If you want to walk around the fairgrounds and enjoy the fair all day, you need to make sure you are wearing good shoes. Soft and comfortable walking shoes are highly recommended.

2) Water

Save money on beverages by bringing your own refillable water bottle, jug or hydration pack. There are more than a dozen water fountains and refill stations across the fairgrounds. Here’s a map of where you can find them.

3) Portable charger

There are a few places that offer free charging stations (booths for AT&T, Renewal by Andersen and Bobby & Steve’s Auto World), but it is a good idea to have another way to charge your phone — especially if you are planning to spend all day at the fair.

4) A map

We know it sounds a little bit old school, but maps — either printed or digital — can save you time and help you navigate the fair grounds.

5) Summer gear

Minnesota weather can be unpredictable, but we are still in the warm summer season. Bring sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen.

6) Cash

Not all vendors or attractions accept cards. Save yourself the additional fees and long lines at the ATM and have some cash on you.

7) Hand sanitizer

Consider bringing sanitizer to keep your hands clean in between all that fair food you will eat.

8) Napkins or cleaning wipes

Hot honey jalapeño popper donuts aren’t known for being simple to eat. Remember to keep some napkins or wipes on hand.

9) Bag

Have a place to carry important items like your phone, wallet, keys and all the items we mentioned above. Otherwise, important items can “get lost” when you go on fun rides such as the SkyGlider.

Backpacks, bags and coolers are permitted on the fairgrounds but are subject to search. There are no lockers or bag checks at the State Fair.

10) A plan

With dozens of booths, concerts, food and beverages to choose from, we advise you to come up with a list of priorities and a plan on where to go and how to get there.

The Minnesota State Fair launched its own mobile app in 2024 with maps, schedules, a food finder and more. It’s available in the App Store and Google Play Store.

Cows rest in their pens during the closing weekend of the Minnesota State Fair.Nicole Neri for MPR News | 2024

5 things you cannot bring into the fairgrounds

The fair’s security program includes walk-through metal detectors at all entry gates. Bags, purses, coolers and packages will be subject to search. Find a full list of prohibited items on the fair website.

1) Pets

Pets are not allowed on the fairgrounds, with the exception of service dogs or animals approved as part of an exhibition. Emotional-support animals are not allowed.

2) Alcohol or illegal substances

You cannot bring or consume outside alcohol or any illegal substances. Smoking cannabis is also banned on fair grounds.

3) Selfie sticks, drones and recording of performances

Selfie sticks are prohibited in the Grandstand concert venue, free entertainment stage seating areas and on rides at Mighty Midway, Kidway, Adventure Park and ticketed attractions. So if you want to snap a selfie, you’ll have to do it the old-fashioned way.

The State Fair also prohibits unauthorized operation or use of any unmanned aerial vehicle, or drone, on or above the fairgrounds.

You are welcome to bring cameras to the fair, but recording of performances on free entertainment stages is prohibited. For Grandstand performances, audio and video recording is not permitted, and still photography may be restricted depending on the artist.

4) Weapons

Weapons and objects that appear to be weapons are not allowed. This includes guns and knives as well as self-defense items like pepper spray, mace and stun guns.

5) Bikes, skateboards, hoverboards, skates

You can bring your own personal conveyance vehicles such as strollers, wagons, wheelchairs or electric mobility scooters, or rent them from HomeTown Mobility starting at $20 per day.

If you bring your own power-operated mobility device, it must meet the criteria listed on the fair’s website.

Crop art is on display during the Minnesota State Fair.Nicole Neri for MPR News | 2024

Minnesota State Fair on a budget

Here are our top tips to save money at the fair.

1) Discount tickets in advance

In addition to discounted admission tickets ahead of opening day, you can also get tickets for Midway and Kidway rides and games at the cheapest rate if you buy ahead of opening day.

Advance tickets are $20 for 25 tickets (or 80 cents per ticket) and available in 25-ticket sets. During the fair, tickets are $1 for an individual ticket, $40 for 44 ($0.91 per ticket) or $70 for 80 tickets ($0.88 per ticket).

2) Volunteer for free admission

The fair is offering a free ticket to anyone who volunteers to help out for shifts of two to three and a quarter hours. You can sign up as a group or as a single person.

Volunteer opportunities include helping out with photo opportunities and crafts at the Alphabet Forest and guiding children through the agricultural process at Kemps Little Farm Hands (where you also get a free T-shirt!). Check the fair's website for the full list of opportunities.

3) Blue Ribbon Bargain Book

For just $5, you can get the Blue Ribbon Bargain Book, which features 100 coupons for classic foods (no new foods, sorry), attractions at the Mighty Midway and fun things to buy.

The coupon books are available online, at the State Fairgrounds Ticket Office or at participating Cub locations through Aug. 20.

The fair says every coupon in the book is worth a discount of at least 30 percent, but some offers give as much as 50 percent off a purchase.

4) Bring your own food and drinks

Food costs can get pricey at the fair, especially for families. If you don’t mind skipping out on fair food, preparing your own is a great way to save money. The fair allows guests to bring outside food and coolers, as well as nonalcoholic outside drinks.

One note: Coolers are not allowed at the Grandstand.

5) Discount days for kids, seniors, veterans

Take advantage of special discounts throughout the fair for seniors, kids and military families. Admission must be bought at the gate for reduced pricing. Here are the discount days:

Opening Day, Thursday, Aug. 21: Admission for adults (13 to 64) is $18, admission for kids (5-12) and seniors (65+) is $15. All-day deals are available on merchandise and food and at Mighty Midway & Kidway.

Seniors Day, Monday Aug. 25: Senior admission (65+) is $15, and there are deals on merchandise and food for all fair guests.

Military Appreciation Day, Tuesday, Aug. 26: Admission for military families, veterans and spouses is $15 per person with valid military service documentation.

Kids Day, Wednesday, Aug. 27: Admission for kids (5-12) is $15 at the entrance gates.

Seniors Day, Thursday, Aug. 28: Admission for seniors (65+) is $15, and there are deals on merchandise and food for all guests.

Kids Day, Monday, Sept. 1: The fair closes out with $15 admission for kids ages 5-12 at the entrance gates.

6) Free entertainment

The fair offers hundreds of free events throughout its run, from live entertainment to educational workshops. Their online schedule allows you to filter by terms, days and categories, so find which events sound fun to you.

They also offer over 100 live shows and concerts at no extra cost; check out the lineup on their website.

7) Go on the last day

Labor Day, the last day of the State Fair, will be packed with deals on food and merchandise. The flyer with those deals can be picked up at any information booth or on their website on Labor Day.

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