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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.

Here’s a guide to what to know before you go to the 2026 Minnesota State Fair, including information on tickets, transportation, attractions, what to bring and ways to save.

Gov. Walz brings back COVID cash for shots at State Fair

Gov. Walz brings back COVID cash for shots at State Fair

Gov. Tim Walz just announced the program offering $100 Visa gift cards for the first 3,600 people to get a shot is being revived at the Minnesota State Fair.
by Tim Nelson

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Virus fears lead around 150 vendors to skip Minnesota State Fair

Virus fears lead around 150 vendors to skip Minnesota State Fair

Around 150 vendors will be missing when the Minnesota State Fair returns Thursday from a one-year layoff due to the pandemic. Many pulled out due to COVID-19 fears, staffing shortages and supply chain issues.
by The Associated Press

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The Minnesota State Fair prepares for a smaller, safer return

The Minnesota State Fair prepares for a smaller, safer return

Minnesota's State Fair opens next Thursday, after a year off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But the “Great Minnesota Get-Back-Together” isn't going to be the fair you remember from 2019, either.
by Tim Nelson

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Lawsuit: State Fair must allow people to carry guns

Lawsuit: State Fair must allow people to carry guns

A gun owners group and two other plaintiffs filed a lawsuit Tuesday that argues the quasi-state agency that produces the Minnesota State Fair cannot prohibit people with permits from carrying firearms on the fairgrounds. 
by Brian Bakst and Tim Nelson

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Minnesota State Fair disbands its police as reopening approaches

Minnesota State Fair disbands its police as reopening approaches

Minnesota State Fair officials are looking for a new police force after fair officials decided to eliminate the department following the departure of the current police chief.
by Tim Nelson

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The annual State Fair weather quiz with Mark Seeley is on

The annual State Fair weather quiz with Mark Seeley is on

The Minnesota State Fair might be canceled, but there’s no way we would have let the annual weather quiz with Mark Seeley go on hiatus for a pandemic. For the 24th year in a row, Seeley took listeners’ questions about the weather and quizzed them back.
by Gary Eichten and Mark Seeley

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The Minnesota State Fair we're all missing this year

The Minnesota State Fair we're all missing this year

The Minnesota State Fair was scheduled to kick off on Thursday, but because of the coronavirus pandemic there is no fair this year. We shared our Minnesota State Fair memories while checking in with some of the people who are keeping the fair alive during the pandemic.
by Angela Davis and Karen Zamora

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