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    Minnesota State Fair

    4.4 (521 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

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    East entrance
    Charles M.

    The Great Minnesota Get-Together is what many, if not most, Minnesotans think about when August rolls around. And why not? Twelve days of food, rides in the Mighty Midway, the U of M marching band, parades, animal barns and contests, beauty queens' likenesses sculpted from fresh butter, the dairy barn, Sweet Martha's chocolate chip cookies, adult drinks, Machinery Hill, the big yellow slide, pronto pups, concerts, deep fried ranch dressing (new in '24), and so much more! Close to 2 million people in total (or about 1/3 of the total population of Minnesota) visit during the course of the fair each year, according to attendance records. I've enjoyed all of my experiences over the course of 33 years. Most recently, I enjoyed a return to THE fair after a two decade absence and loved every minute of the crowd-packed, food-filled day. My favorites: fried pickles, the dairy barn, bacon-wrapped jalapeños, the yellow slide, and hanging out with family from Minnesota. The Fair has something for everyone. I look forward to returning again in the future, on a hot or cool August day or Labor Day weekend. Parking: You'll find plenty of parking choices. Some will cost you a premium, some are reasonable, and some are free. We chose a Park-n-Ride lot, where parking was free and a shuttle drove us within a short walk of the main entrance. Tickets: Look online ahead of time. Cub Foods also offers discount tickets up to a certain day. State Fair apps: I used the "MN on a stick" app and it suited my needs. Other apps are also available. Quite a help from what was available two decades ago.

    Cheese curds
    Lisa W.

    Awesome state fair. Never thought I'll have the chance to go to one of the US' biggest fair. I purposely planned my girls weekend to attend since it's only a week. I thought San Diego state fair was big, but I was wrong... this state fair is humongous. The layout is like a mini city. There's so many bars, restaurants, food stalls and things to do. It's simply one of the best fair experience I had. Bars, beers and drinks are everywhere. The price is really good too. For food, we tried cheese curds, big fat bacon, corn on the cob, tri tip in a cup, pizza balls with honey drizzle, Mary's cookies, fresh lemonade and some beignets. They have interactive farm stand for kids, it's so cute. A beans stand to get some free things. Tractor show, lots of rides. Bathrooms were plentiful and pretty clean. But advance tickets online if you know you're going. It's $3 savings, which is a soft drink or water! lol. They also have a free charter bus that takes you back to UofM, where you can park. Great experience!

    Pavilion
    George L.

    Did you know Minnesota State fair is the most attended State fair in the US? Just found that out and now I've finally made it for the first time. The MN State Fair is a huge fair with hundreds of booths, concerts, rides, exhibits, and food of all types. Located halfway between Mpls and St. Paul, prices were $20 for Regular admission and $18 for under 12s and 65+. The fair runs 12 days a year from Late August to Labor Day. I went on Day 2 in the late afternoon/evening. Note that bike Parking is free at gate 9 on the south entrance of the fair on como ave. Of course I tried the various food options and would give a review of each. Food Reviews: Fried Pickles: $9 4/5 Good, it was nice and crispy. Cheese Curd Taco: $14 4.5/5 Got the checkered taco with chicken, heavier than I expected with the cheese curds, but a filling meal. Que Viet Egg Roll on a stick: $12 4.5/5 Another great option, the pork is juicy and the exterior is crispy. It's also huge. Fluffy's Jalepeño Popper Donut: $10 3/5 Covered in honey and and cream cheese? the donut is strange to say the least. Not my favorite, the sweetness of the donut didn't really mix with the jalapeño. Safe to skip this one. Overall, there's way more food vendors than could be realistically visited even in a week so definitely check them out!

    Sweet Martha's cookies (the best cookies in the world)
    Anh T.

    The Great Minnesota Get-Together is the largest state fair turn out in the country! If you've never been here, you will wanna take a flight here every single year just to go to the Minnesota State Fair. I've been going to this since I was 5 years old! My favorite are the Sweet Martha's Cookies. Reports say this stand makes $400K per day & near $5M total during the 12 days of the state fair. The cookies are served right outta the oven, tiny bit crispy on the edges, soft in the middle and gooey-ing with warm chocolate all over! I dream about these cookies all the time! The Minnesota State Fair has the best corn dog ever just look at the yellow corn dog breading, absolutely delicious. I graduated from the University of Minnesota MINNEAPOLIS so I love to go to the U of M building and get some free freebies. My best friend from undergrad and I were the first in line at 5 PM on Sunday to get their clear plastic freebie bag. They only give out 500 per day at 11 AM and then again at 5 PM and they run out within the hour.

    Cheese Curds
    Loveleen A.

    Annual update. The State Fair seems busier than I remember which tells me it has become more popular than ever before. There are always so many new foods to try that it would take multiple visits to get to everything you wanted to try. But I love it. There is always a sense of people enjoying themselves here and that vibe traverses thru. Of the new foods,I tried the Tofuego which was a new vegan item. Deep fried breaded tofu with a pineapple salad. Light, yet filling. And I always love starting the morning at the Hamline Church hall. Buttermilk pancakes with lots of butter and syrup with a cup of coffee. Tried the Metro Transit Express for $5( when you pre purchase) and it was very efficient, plenty of buses coming around for pick up. The drivers call out for anyone willing to stand as an option when the bus seats are filled. See you again year!

    Chloe A.

    If you've never been, put it on your bucket list. The Minnesota State Fair is not just a fair, it's a full-blown cultural experience. Think: miles of food stands, endless fried creativity, music, livestock, rides, art, and more people-watching than you can process in one day. Food: From classics like Sweet Martha's Cookies, Pronto Pups, and cheese curds to the wild new items every year (pickle everything, deep-fried oddities, wine slushies, craft beers), you'll never leave hungry. Pro tip: split dishes with friends so you can taste more without rolling out of there. Atmosphere: Bustling, loud, and full of energy. It's crowded, yes, but that's part of the fun, you're shoulder to shoulder with people from every corner of Minnesota (and beyond). There are family zones, beer gardens, live music stages, animal barns, and shady spots if you need to catch your breath. One of my favorite parts is the sheer variety of experiences: one minute you're eating mini donuts, the next you're watching lumberjack competitions or learning about bees. Tips: * Go early to beat the rush, or late to catch the concerts and fireworks. * Wear comfy shoes, you'll walk a lot. * Hydrate, bring a water bottle and refill at many of the water stations around the fair. * Download the "On A Stick" app to map out your stops, food and drink, and entertainment options. Also has a daily schedule and map.

    Kevin C.

    Being out of towners, we had to visit the greatest get together on earth and see the spectacular for ourselves. Livestock exhibits, incredible food and entertainment, people watching. The fair did not disappoint. Pro tip - take the express bus. The weather cooperated. Not too hot or humid. Fried cheese curds, corn dogs, fried Oreos and candy bars, What a blast!! We'll be back!!

    Ice cream at the dairy barn
    Kathryn E.

    I'm new-ish to Minnesota, and this year I finally started to get the appeal of the State Fair. There's just so much to see, do, and (of course) eat! I went with my 11-year-old, and we had the best time exploring together. A few highlights: - The ECO Experience Building - I was so impressed! Tons of hands-on learning, activities, and displays that really drew kids in. - The tractor exhibit - My son absolutely loved it. - The dairy barn - Watching live butter carving while enjoying fresh ice cream is such a "fair classic." - The butterfly house - Beautiful, interactive, and one of my favorites. - The Twins stand - My son got to play baseball here, which he ranked as his second-favorite part of the day. (His first? He said, "Being with you" - cue heart melting!) - We also loved how many helpful info stations were scattered throughout the fairgrounds - people there were so friendly and quick to point us in the right direction. Using the fair map ended up being a great chance to teach my son how to read a map and navigate the fair. - The giant cooling fans placed around the park were another unexpected blessing on a hot day! - The Martin Wholesale booth in the Grandstand (top level, east side) had incredible deals, especially compared to most fair prices, which can be steep. And, of course, we couldn't leave without trying some fair food staples. Our first-ever Pronto Pup, fried pickles, and Martha's cookies definitely lived up to the hype! Though we did so much, there were things we missed so I finally understand why people go to the fair multiple times. That said, a few downsides are worth noting: - Most food and drinks are definitely overpriced. - It gets crowded quickly, and some lines are really long (did you see that donut line?!). - Traffic and parking can be expensive and stressful. Even with those challenges, we had such a fun, memorable day together. If you're planning to go with kids, I wrote up some tips and ideas here: Minnesota State Fair with Kids: 10 Things to Do https://kathrynegly.com/2025/08/31/minnesota-state-fair-with-kids-tips-ten-things-to-do/

    Mn sign in the fair
    Karisa L.

    The fair has so much to see! From animals and art to food and shopping. Getting to the fair is so simple with all of the transit options. Vendors worked hard at moving people quickly through lines. Ate and drank a lot of really delicious things! My favorite find this year was the land of 10,000 cakes , the item I found disappointing was the pot o gold dumplings to salty and garlicky for my taste buds. This year I saw a concert which I would highly recommend, there is not a bad seat at the grandstand. I could go on for days about how great the fair is but instead I just highly recommend a trip!

    Kavitha P.

    The MN State Fair is a summer must event! Fair food at its finest Think deep fried and on a stick!! Every year the vendors get more creative They have fun shows, tons to see and do, and the best people-watching around. It's crowded but that's part of the vibe-grab comfy shoes and just enjoy it. Bring your patient pants!!! A Minnesota tradition you can't miss! Getting there and parking can be tricky, but the park-and-ride system is super efficient and makes the experience less stressful. Tips- bring ziplock bags for those extra cookies, wet wipes , pepto bismol(if u eat to much) sunscreen and your own water bottle to fill up

    Melanie H.

    The Great Minnesota get together I love coming to the fair every year - at least once. Of course the food is great, but I also like visiting the DNR booth/fish pond, the plant competition, the art building, riding the sky ride - and so much more. Some of my favorite foods include: turkey to-go, pronto pup, fries, big fat bacon, and corn!

    Fried pickles
    Laura S.

    We got to the kick of to summer event around 11:45 am (opened at 11). The lines increased exponentially around 1 pm. Food: 4/5. Overall amazing state fair food. We had cheese curds, Baba's hummus bowls, shaved ice, beers from Ball Park Cafe, fried pickles, Sweet Martha's Cookies, cheese on a stick, and mini donuts. Service: 5/5. Quick service in all locations and staff was all very friendly. Overall I am coming to love this event almost more than the normal state fair. I love the shorter lines and smaller crowds. I do love that every year more vendors are taking part. One huge downside is that parking is a problem. It took us almost 40 minutes to get into the state fair grounds and parked. We have little kids, so some of the park and walk options weren't ideal for us this year. We will definitely continue going to this event year after year!

    Eileen B.

    Wow what an amazing fair So much food drinks shopping rides livestock and so much more You could go the whole two weeks everyday and see new things It was a great family day

    Livestock barn

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    Review Highlights - Minnesota State Fair

    We ended our night with a bucket of Sweet Martha's cookies and a not too far walk back to our car.

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