Aug. 26 – Labor Day, Sept. 6, 2021
334 Days 2 Hours 52 Mins
Check out what’s happening today for the Minnesota State Fair: At-Home Edition here and on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube pages! Minnesota Cooks Day Today would have been Minnesota Cooks Day at the Minnesota State Fair! Through cooking demonstrations and lively discussions with Minnesota farmers, chefs and celebrities, this program focuses on the importance […]
Check out what’s happening today for the Minnesota State Fair: At-Home Edition here and on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube pages! Virtual Showcase: Quilt On-A-Stick Results are now live for the Quilt On-A-Stick virtual showcase! Over the past few weeks, we asked you to submit entries for the Quilt On-A-Stick competition, normally featured in […]
Check out what’s happening today for the Minnesota State Fair: At-Home Edition here and on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube pages! We Miss You, Minnesota! A few familiar faces and voices are missing the Minnesota State Fair this year just like us! Watch the video. Mental Health Awareness Typically, on the first Monday of […]
Check out what’s happening today, the last day of the Minnesota State Fair: At-Home Edition, here and on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube pages! Hmong Minnesota Day at Dan Patch Park Celebrating its fifth year last year, Hmong Minnesota Day programming at Dan Patch Park featured songs, dance, visual arts and live music that […]
Check out what’s happening today for the Minnesota State Fair: At-Home Edition here and on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube pages! K-12 Artwork & Photography Results are now live for the K-12 artwork & photography virtual showcase. Over the past few weeks, we asked students to submit their entries in both artwork and photography. […]
Check out what’s happening today for the Minnesota State Fair: At-Home Edition here and on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube pages! Friends of the Fair Day Today at the fair would have been Friends of the Fair Day! On this day, we celebrate the Minnesota State Fair Foundation’s mission to preserve and improve State […]
Check out what’s happening today for the Minnesota State Fair: At-Home Edition here and on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube pages! Virtual Showcase: Crop Art Results are now live for the crop art showcase! Over the past few weeks, we asked you to submit entries in both the novice and advanced classes of this […]
Check out what’s happening today for the Minnesota State Fair: At-Home Edition here and on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube pages! Minnesota DNR The Minnesota State Fair may be canceled, but the Department of Natural Resources is helping to fill the void by highlighting ways you can connect with Minnesota’s great outdoors. Minnesota offers […]
Check out what’s happening today for the Minnesota State Fair: At-Home Edition here and on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube pages! Read & Ride Day Today would have been Read & Ride Day at the fair! This day celebrates Minnesota’s public libraries and readers of all ages. Public library cardholders receive an admission discount […]
1903 The (Main) Agriculture Building 1906 Crowd at the Grandstand and Infield 1907 View of the Hippodrome from the Grandstand 1909 Construction of the current Grandstand 1912 Streetcar Loop south of the Grandstand 1913 Cattle judging in the Hippodrome 1922 Lillian Boyer ascending a rope in a car-to-plane stunt 1927 Aircraft Show on Machinery Hill […]
What is the oldest food concession on the fairgrounds? Hamline Church Dining Hall, which began operating in 1897 When did the All You Can Drink Milk tradition begin? 1955 Fresh French Fries made its debut at the fair in what year? 1973 When was the Pronto Pup introduced at the State Fair? 1947 In what […]
Check out what’s happening today for the Minnesota State Fair: At-Home Edition here and on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube pages! Welcome to the Minnesota State Fair: At-Home Edition! Today would have been the first day of the 2020 Minnesota State Fair. While this day is bittersweet, and we wish we could be celebrating […]
Check out what’s happening today for the Minnesota State Fair: At-Home Edition here and on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube pages! The Grandstand The historic Grandstand that currently sits in the heart of the fairgrounds was built in 1909. It has hosted horse racing, fireworks shows, auto racing, locomotive collisions, comedy acts, headline musical […]
Check out what’s happening today for the Minnesota State Fair: At-Home Edition here and on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube pages! 4-H Day Today would have been 4-H Day at the Minnesota State Fair! Each summer, hundreds of Minnesota 4-H members take over the fairgrounds to showcase the projects they’ve been diligently working on […]
After three years of territorial fairs, the first Minnesota State Fair was held in 1859 near what became downtown Minneapolis. This was a year after Minnesota was granted statehood. During the fair’s early years, the site of the exposition changed annually with stops in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, Red Wing, Winona and Owatonna. In the […]
1850-1859 1854: Minnesota Territorial Agricultural Society founded (governing body of the fair) 1855: First territorial fair, held in Minneapolis 1857: Territorial fair moves to St. Paul 1858: Minnesota admitted to the Union (no fair due to lack of funds) 1859: First State Fair, held in Minneapolis 1860-1869 1860: State Fair held at Fort Snelling 1861: […]
Anniversaries 160 Years 1860: State Fair held at Fort Snelling 145 Years 1875: Known as “the grasshopper year,” the grasshopper plague was the worst in history ★ Percheron and Norman draft horses made their first appearance 135 Years 1885: The first year on the permanent fairgrounds 130 Years 1890: Named the “Farmer’s Fair” after the […]
History Pin Explore 12 of the Minnesota State Fair’s most historically significant spots in this virtual walking tour we’ve posted on History Pin. Get interesting “Then” and “Now” insight and see historical photos. If you see a white line with a pink dot at the top of a photo, drag the pink dot along the […]
The Minnesota State Fair is all about gathering together to celebrate the best of our great state. As you stroll through our 322-acre fairgrounds, in every nook and around every corner, there are wide-ranging opportunities for all to learn, no matter your interests. Sometimes, you’ll discover intriguing insights that will surprise you. Other times, you […]
When you venture into the Alphabet Forest at the fair, you enter a world where words and letters jump to life, especially for the young and young at heart. What better place to inspire a love for reading and vocabulary than the captivating world of the State Fair?! These do-at-home activities bring the magic to […]
The littlest fair fans (and even some not so little ones) fire up their imaginations, help with farm chores and see their food move from the farm to the grocery store. Along the way, they also get an up-close look at crops, learn about pollinators, dig into more about soil and more. Become an Ag-Vestigator […]
At the Minnesota State Fair you can find lots of things on-a-stick – even math! Tucked away at Family Fair at Baldwin Park, Math On-A-Stick is a welcoming place where kids and grown-ups can explore cool math concepts. Here are a few that we’ve selected to bring the spirit of Math On-A-Stick to you. Play […]
The power and majesty of horses make them some of the most enthralling animals at the fair. The hands-on EquiMania!TM education exhibit in the Horse Barn gives horse enthusiasts of all ages intriguing insight into the behavior, anatomy and care of horses. Here are at-home activities to show what you know. EquiMania!TM Challenge If you […]
During the State Fair, this popular exhibit is the birthplace of 200 calves, lambs, goats and piglets. As you stroll through, volunteers with FFA and the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association answer questions about livestock and animal care. Livestock Fun Facts Slideshow A bushelful of fun facts is posted on the wall for fair fans to […]
Inside and outside the Cattle Barn, the Moo Booth is a comprehensive collection of education stations showcasing dairy and beef cattle, and how farmers work to produce wholesome, healthy and safe food for our kitchen tables. While we can’t throw the barn doors open this year, we’re sending some Moo Booth magic to your home […]
Since the very first Minnesota State Fair in 1859, the fair has remained dedicated to its original purpose of promoting Minnesota agriculture. Throughout the year and throughout the 12 days of the fair, the State Fair partners with a wide range of organizations to present dozens of opportunities to connect Minnesotans with the people and […]
