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.

August 25, 2017 4:00 AM

Beyond the Stick: A State Fair photo essay

For photographer Debra Fisher Goldstein, her annual scavenger hunt "focuses on the peculiar, the poignant, the ironic and the iconic moments that happen when our diverse communities gather at the Great Minnesota Get-Together."

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

August 24, 2017 8:39 AM

Parting thoughts: Longtime State Fair volunteer to be missed

Dennis Boom passed away earlier this year. On Wednesday, as the Hamline Church Dining Hall staff prepped for the start of the fair, they remembered Boom for his warmth.

by Cathy Wurzer

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

August 24, 2017 8:27 AM

Photos: Sheep, jump-roping dogs and fried food? It's State Fair time

The Great Minnesota Get-Together has returned for 12 days of food on a stick, carnival rides, cute farm animals and more.

by Evan Frost

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

August 24, 2017 6:00 AM

6 moments you might not know from State Fair history

Get a side of history with that Pronto Pup. Only true fair-heads know about all these moments on the fairgrounds.

by Tracy Mumford

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

August 24, 2017 4:42 AM

Let it all out: Tell us why you hate the fair

The State Fair has been unleashed: Twelve days of delectable fried foods, adorable baby farm animals and long-standing family traditions. Or, if you look at it another way, it’s nearly two weeks of traffic, sweaty crowds, people chugging milk and strangers parked on your front lawn. The State Fair may be the great Minnesota get-together,…

by Tracy Mumford

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

August 23, 2017 4:57 PM

Great Big Wheel could attract great big fair crowds

The new $4 million attraction promises to be a true spectacle on the fair's north end, especially at night.

by Tim Nelson

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

August 23, 2017 12:10 PM

This is the least-crowded day to go to the State Fair

We looked at attendance figures from the past six years and concluded the first day — Thursday — is the best time to go if you hate long lines and big crowds.

by Nancy Yang

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

August 23, 2017 10:07 AM

The incredible life of the Minnesota State Fair police chief

Art Blakey has been chief of police for the state fair for 37 years. This will be his last. As he gets ready to retire, he looks back on his long career in law enforcement and those hot summer days at the fair.

by Tom Weber and Tracy Mumford

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

August 22, 2017 9:04 AM

State Fair reassures Minnesotans: Our rides are safe

Rides get three rounds of inspections, including an initial inspection when they're trucked in and assembled on the fairgrounds, a daily inspection by ride operators and a utility inspection by state electrical inspectors, said general manager Jerry Hammer.

by Tim Nelson