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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.

'It's showtime': 4-H'ers work for months to get animals ready for State Fair

'It's showtime': 4-H'ers work for months to get animals ready for State Fair

Each day at the Minnesota State Fair, thousands of people wander into the livestock barns to look at award-winning cows, sheep and pigs. But behind each of those animals — and sometimes sleeping in the stalls with them — are kids who have put in months of hard work preparing for the fair.
by Marcheta Fornoff

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Minnesota State Fair sets another attendance record

Minnesota State Fair sets another attendance record

Fair officials reported that Friday's attendance was 157,224 — shattering the previous record of 141,023, set in 2016.
by Andrew Krueger

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Sen. Bernie Sanders brings campaign to Minnesota State Fair

Sen. Bernie Sanders brings campaign to Minnesota State Fair

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders brought his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination to the Minnesota State Fair on Saturday, sharply criticizing President Trump and saying the rest of the 2020 Democratic candidates are only just now catching up to his policies and positions.
by MPR News Staff

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Record crowds flock to Minnesota State Fair on opening day

Record crowds flock to Minnesota State Fair on opening day

Fair officials said 133,326 people passed through the gates on Thursday. That broke the previous opening-day record of 122,695, set just last year.
by Andrew Krueger

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Appetites: Food critics dish on their must-try food at the fair — and must-avoid

Appetites: Food critics dish on their must-try food at the fair — and must-avoid

As usual, there are dozens of new foods to tempt you when you go to the Minnesota State Fair. To help you decide, we asked food writers what they liked best, and least, on the fair’s first day.
by Tom Crann and John Nguyen

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What you need to know about this year’s State Fair

What you need to know about this year’s State Fair

MPR News intern Sophia Sura was at the fairgrounds early Thursday morning, and talked to MPR News host Cathy Wurzer about what fairgoers can expect to find there.
by Cathy Wurzer and Sophia Sura

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Sliding down 50 years of State Fair history

Sliding down 50 years of State Fair history

The Giant Slide at the Minnesota State Fair marks 50 years of operation this year.
by Tim Nelson

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Here are the least crowded days to go to the State Fair, according to data

Here are the least crowded days to go to the State Fair, according to data

Based on attendance data from the Minnesota State Fair, your best day to avoid the crowds and long lines is the first day on Thursday. Check out the attendance data for the fair since 2012.
by Matt Mikus

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A fair challenge: Preventing spread of animal diseases

A fair challenge: Preventing spread of animal diseases

As farm animals from across Minnesota head to the State Fair, the Board of Animal Health is asking everyone to help limit the spread of disease.
by John Enger

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Reinventing the wheel: As State Fair nears, giant ride rises again

Reinventing the wheel: As State Fair nears, giant ride rises again

All told, the Ferris wheel known as the Great Big Wheel weighs about 400,000 pounds. It takes 13 semis to bring in all of the pieces, and a 200-ton crane to put them all together.
by Marcheta Fornoff

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