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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.

2024 Minnesota State Fair bus usage broke transit records

2024 Minnesota State Fair bus usage broke transit records

Minnesota State Fair attendance was up this year — and so were the number of people using buses to get there, Metro Transit and the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority report.
by Lisa Ryan

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Minnesota State Fair attendance breaks 5 daily records for 2024, falls short of overall record

Minnesota State Fair attendance breaks 5 daily records for 2024, falls short of overall record

The fair’s final weekend — which traditionally sees the biggest crowds each year — saw some of the highest jumps in attendance numbers. The weekend’s cooler and drier weather also likely helped draw people to the fair.
by MPR News Staff

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Riding roller coaster of weather and attendance, Minnesota State Fair heads into final weekend

Riding roller coaster of weather and attendance, Minnesota State Fair heads into final weekend

Heading into the final weekend of the Minnesota State Fair, the weather forecast calls for sunny, dry, mild conditions. That’ll be a welcome change from earlier in the fair’s run.
by Estelle Timar-Wilcox

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Behind the scenes with Peter Sagal of 'Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me'

Behind the scenes with Peter Sagal of 'Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me'

MPR News host Tom Crann sat down with Peter Sagal and the team from “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me” at the Minnesota State Fair for a conversation about life behind the scenes of the iconic public radio quiz show. It’s been on the air for more than 25 years.
by Tom Crann

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These Minnesota love stories began at the State Fair

These Minnesota love stories began at the State Fair

MPR News spoke with four couples whose stories started among cheese curds, midway rides and all-you-can-drink milk.
by Gretchen Brown

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