State Fair

The 2026 Minnesota State Fair runs Aug. 27 through Sept. 7. For all of the events at the MPR booth and Dan Patch Park, go to mpr.org/statefair.

Crop art travels from the State Fair to the Minneapolis Institute of Art
The Minneapolis Institute of Art will showcase award-winning and notable crop art from this year’s State Fair in the exhibition “Cream of the Crop: A Minnesota Folk Art Showcase,” Sept. 6-28, highlighting the artistry, wit and cultural resonance of the seed-based works.
Stories from the State Fair: A special broadcast from MPR News
MPR News host Jacob Aloi guides you through a special broadcast from the The Great Minnesota Get-Together — conversations, stories and events all held at the Fair.
Minnesota State Fair offers perfect opportunity to conduct scientific research
The Great Minnesota Get-Together draws nearly two million people every year — a diverse collection of the state's and even the country’s residents. A side benefit — it offers the perfect pool of participants on which to conduct health care research.
Stars, stripes and Sweet Martha’s cookies: Becoming American citizens at the fair
Amid the noise of food vendors and the smell of fried dough, a different kind of moment unfolded at the Minnesota State Fair this week: 30 people from around the world raised their right hands and became U.S. citizens.
From bee yard to table: How a Minnesota beekeeper makes State Fair ribbon-winning honey
Andrea Setsvold of Afton, Minn., has been beekeeping since 2016. She loves the hobby, and now, she has another reason to love it: entering the work of her and her honeybees into the Minnesota State Fair.  
Two sisters and two llamas: The costume competition of the summer  
Twelve-year-old Addie Odegaard and her sister Lucy are preparing their llamas, Riot and Dozer, for the State Fair’s popular llama costume contest with inventive designs — including Riot as a bath loofah with a bubble machine and Dozer as a parrot with rainbow wings — showcasing both creativity and the strong bonds they’ve built with their animals.