Aug. 27 – Labor Day, Sept. 7, 2026
26 Days 0 Hours 33 Mins
The Minnesota State Fair is one of the largest and best-attended expositions in the world. Celebrating Minnesota’s agriculture, art and industry, the Great Minnesota Get-Together is always 12 Days of Fun Ending Labor Day. Check out recent attendance figures.
What began in 1855 as a territorial fair to highlight agriculture and encourage farming in the region became the Minnesota State Fair in 1859, a year after Minnesota was granted statehood. Learn more about the State Fair’s rich history.
The State Fair’s mission is to educate and involve our guests by providing a world-class showcase that is innovative, entertaining and fun. We strive to:
Located midway between Minneapolis and St. Paul, the 322-acre State Fairgrounds is renowned for its park-like setting, beautiful gardens and architecture reflecting the art deco and Works Progress Administration eras.
Beyond the annual State Fair, the fairgrounds hosts more than 200 events throughout the year, including horse and livestock exhibitions, athletic competitions, merchandise sales, car shows, corporate meetings, special events and more. Check out a calendar of events.
The Minnesota State Fair is a quasi-state agency as defined by state law. The fair is financially self-supporting and has not received state government funding since 1949. Revenue from ticket sales, percentages and fees paid by vendors, facility rental, sponsorships, grants from the Minnesota State Fair Foundation, and other sources brings the fair to life – powering memorable experiences, world-class year-round operations, and exceptional care of the historic fairgrounds.
Primary fair-time expenses include extensive guest services such as Park & Ride buses, sanitation, law enforcement and security, entertainment and attractions, as well as fairgrounds operations and administration. In a typical year, the State Fair invests between $6 million and $20 million in maintenance and capital improvements to the State Fairgrounds without financial support from the state. Recent major projects include multiyear renovations to the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum and extensive work currently underway in the 4-H Building.
The fair is governed by the Minnesota State Agricultural Society, which is charged exclusively with oversight of the State Fair and the care, custody and control of the fairgrounds, which is classified as state property. Society delegates represent Minnesota’s county fairs and more than 40 statewide associations representing agriculture, horticulture and education. At its annual meeting each January, delegates elect a 10-member board of managers; nine members represent the society’s nine regional districts, and the 10th member (the president) serves at large. The executive vice president serves as the fair’s CEO.
The State Fair employs nearly 90 full-time staff year-round. During the summer, approximately 450 seasonal employees are added to complete preparations. More than 2,300 staff members work fair time in departments such as parking, ticketing and sanitation. Fair vendors employ an estimated 10,000 additional workers. Learn more about fair-time employment.
The fair’s annual economic impact in the Twin Cities in 2018 was a Super Bowl-sized $268 million, plus additional unmeasured impact throughout the Midwest. Check out the findings from that 2018 State Fair economic impact study. Using an inflation calculator, $268 million in 2018 would be equivalent to more than $343 million today.
The Minnesota State Fair was named the No. 1 Best State Fair in 2025 by readers of USA Today and the No. 1 State Fair Worth Traveling For in 2026 by Travel + Leisure.
