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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.

Review: Soft-serve beer makes its debut and s'mores abound

Review: Soft-serve beer makes its debut and s'mores abound

This year’s roster of new Minnesota State Fair foods includes a wide variety of new foods and drinks to sample. And as she’s done every year, food writer Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl was out there bright and early on the first day to try every single new offering.
by Emily Bright and Ngoc Bui

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Wright County’s Malorie Thorson crowned 72nd Princess Kay of the Milky Way

Wright County’s Malorie Thorson crowned 72nd Princess Kay of the Milky Way

A 20-year-old college student from Waverly was crowned the 72nd Princess Kay of the Milky Way on Wednesday, the night before the Minnesota State Fair began. The winner, Malorie Thorson, studies dairy production at South Dakota State University.
by Regina Medina

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From horse races to rock concerts: The unique history of the Minnesota State Fair’s Grandstand

From horse races to rock concerts: The unique history of the Minnesota State Fair’s Grandstand

For more than a century, the Grandstand has held decades of laughs, speeches and sparks of cultural change. But how did this towering piece of history become such a fixture of Minnesota summers? The answer lies in its long and often surprising history.
by Jaylan Sims

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Minnesota DNR stocks fish pond ahead of State Fair opening

Minnesota DNR stocks fish pond ahead of State Fair opening

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources stocked its popular State Fair fish pond Tuesday morning. There, fairgoers can see the rare paddlefish and prehistoric lake sturgeon, plus a few dozen more species.
by Estelle Timar-Wilcox

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New Smithsonian exhibit highlights American fairs, including crop art, butter from Minnesota

New Smithsonian exhibit highlights American fairs, including crop art, butter from Minnesota

An August exhibition at the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery, inspired by Minnesota’s State Fair traditions, will highlight American craft through artworks like crop art, butter sculptures and textiles.
by Alex V. Cipolle

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