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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 not a race: 4 tips for mindful eating at the fair

It's not a race: 4 tips for mindful eating at the fair

Dietitian Rasa Troup isn't here to tell you to "eat this, not that" when it comes to the State Fair. Instead, she wants you to slow down, savor each moment and listen to your body.
by Nancy Yang

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Beyond the Stick: A State Fair photo essay

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."

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Parting thoughts: Longtime State Fair volunteer to be missed

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

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6 moments you might not know from State Fair history

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

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

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

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Great Big Wheel could attract great big fair crowds

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

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

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

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The incredible life of the Minnesota State Fair police chief

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

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