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If you want the Minnesota State Fair experience, but would prefer to avoid all the people, your best bet is to go on the first Thursday. 

On average, the first Thursday, often the first day of the state fair, draws about 109,655 people. That’s the lowest number of daily visitors during the fair’s 12-day run, according to attendance figures from the past seven years.

The highest number of daily visitors, on average, is the last Saturday of the fair — with an average of 238,787. In 2018, the fair set a new single-day attendance record — with 270,426 visitors on the last Saturday of the fair.

Minnesota State Fair attendance from 2012 to 2018 graph

The previous single day record? That was in 2016, with 260,374 visitors. And yes, it was on the last Saturday.

If Thursday is booked up and you can’t make it over to Falcon Heights, your next-best days to visit are Tuesday, Wednesday, then the first Friday. Those days draw in a range of around 119,000 to 120,000 people.

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Matt Mikus

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Based on attendance data from the Minnesota State Fair, your best day to avoid the crowds and long lines is the first day on Thursday.  Check out the attendance data for the fair since 2012.

Here are the least crowded days to go to the State Fair, according to data

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