Hours & Admission

2026 Minnesota State Fair Dates: August 27th to Labor Day, September 7th

Hours

Fairgrounds admission is 7 AM to 9 PM daily (6 PM on Labor Day)
Fairgrounds are open 7 AM to 11 PM daily (8 PM on Labor Day)
Hours for various attractions vary. You can see all those hours here.

Regular Fair-Time Admission Pricing

• Adults (13-64): $20
• Seniors (65+): $18
• Kids (5-12): $18
• Children (4 and under): Always FREE!

Purchase your 2026 Pre-Fair Discount Gate Admission Tickets through August 26th for just $17. And the Blue Ribbon Bargain Book, available for $5, is your passport to savings at the Minnesota State Fair!

Best Attractions for Kids at the Minnesota State Fair

RIDES

Planning to spend the day on the rides? Buy your Mighty Midway and Kidway ride and game tickets before the fair to save. Through Aug. 26, $40 Fun Cards loaded with 50 tickets are available at participating Cub stores in the Twin Cities and other locations across greater Minnesota and Hudson, Wis. (while supplies last), a savings of up to $10. If you’d rather buy online through Aug. 26, Fun Cards come in four levels: $20 for 25 tickets, $40 for 50 tickets, $80 for 100 tickets, and $160 for 200 tickets. Tickets load onto a reusable Fun Card and are scanned at each ride or game.

Note: Fun Cards work only for Mighty Midway and Kidway rides and games. They can’t be used for the America Wheel, the Giant Slide, or the rides at Adventure Park.

All-Star Stunt Dogs Splash

Big-air stunts, incredible dog tricks, high-jumping water challenges, and comedy antics will have your youngsters cheering.

Alphabet Forest

Take a break at this oasis of creative crafts, books, games, photo ops, and meet-the-author activities to inspire a love of letters, words, and reading.

Arts A’Fair

Vibrant performing arts groups present lively pop-up showcases featuring puppetry, music, dance, storytelling, theater, and more.

EquiMania!™

EquiMania!™ is an award-winning equine educational exhibit developed as a traveling exhibit at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. The Minnesota State Fair partnered with the University of Guelph to create a replica housed in the Horse Barn. Display stations cover a variety of horse topics such as:

• Nutrition
• Horse Behavior
• Horse Careers
• Horse Welfare
• Anatomy
• Parasite Prevention
• Horse and Farm Safety
• And MUCH more!

Each station features educational displays, activities, and quizzes to engage youth from both urban and rural backgrounds. Visitors will have fun learning about the care and welfare of horses and exploring the many career opportunities within the horse industry.

CHS Miracle of Birth Center

Experience the wonder of new life at the CHS Miracle of Birth Center: one of the Minnesota State Fair’s most beloved (and free!) attractions! Find this attraction at the south side of Judson Avenue between Clough and Nelson streets.

For all 12 days of the Minnesota State Fair, visitors can witness calves, lambs, goats, and piglets being born and cared for in this unique agricultural education exhibit. Staffed by passionate volunteers from FFA, the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association, and the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, it’s an unforgettable way to connect with Minnesota’s farming roots.

You’ll also learn about modern egg production systems, explore veterinary science, and dive into hands-on activities next door at the FFA Chapter House & Leadership Center, where FFA members from across the state are ready to engage young visitors in interactive fun every day.

It’s a must-visit for animal lovers, future vets, and curious minds of all ages!

Ultimate Dinosaurs – new in 2026!

Life-size skeleton casts, real fossils, and augmented reality interactives introduce you to some very strange dinosaurs, creatures that evolved in wild isolation across the Southern Hemisphere and look nothing like their more familiar northern cousins. Closer to home, see real Minnesota fossils and find out how massive our new official State Fossil, the giant beaver, actually was. Dig deeper with Science Museum of Minnesota paleontologists at Fossil Corner during select hours Aug. 27-29 and Sept. 2-4. Free with fair admission.

Meet paleontologists in the Fossil Corner

• Thursday, Aug. 27, 11 AM-3 PM
• Friday, Aug. 28, noon-4 PM
• Saturday, Aug. 29, 10 AM-2 PM
• Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1-5 PM
• Thursday, Sept. 3, 1-5 PM
• Friday, Sept. 4, noon-4 PM

Ultimate Dinosaurs runs 12 days, 9 AM to 9 PM (8 PM Labor Day).

Kemps Little Farm Hands

Fire up the imagination of young farmhands as they help with chores and bring their “food” to the farmers’ market in this mini agriculture experience specially created for ages 3-10. Big kid farm hands can earn an Ag-Vestigator ribbon by testing their knowledge in a fun trivia challenge.

Livestock Complex

Meander through the Cattle Barn, Horse Barn, Robert A. Christensen Pavilion, and the Sheep & Poultry Barn for an up-close look at the largest exhibition of livestock in the Upper Midwest – hundreds of breeds of cattle, horses, swine, poultry, goats, sheep, llamas and alpacas, and rabbits.

Check the Visit the Animals webpage for details. Breeds vary by day. Please note that barn hours vary, and some barns will close early on select days for the safety of guests, animals, and exhibitors as animals are leaving and the fair prepares for the arrival of new animals. Make sure to visit the animals early, especially on August 30th, September 3rd, and September 7th. Note that the Horse Barn is closed on September 1st.

Math On-A-Stick

Play with geometric shapes, sort and count, enjoy a numbers book, search for things to count at the fair, meet a creative mathematician, and more!

Meet the Mascots

Our very own gopher good guys, Fairchild and Fairborne, greet fair fans of all ages daily at 11 AM and 4 PM at Visitors Plaza.

Parade

Marching bands, local royalty, mascots, and more make their way through the fairgrounds every day at 2 PM. Parade route.

Thank a Farmer Magic Show

Captivating magic tricks are interwoven with fun facts about the important role agriculture, farmers, and ranchers play in our daily lives.

Timberworks Lumberjack Show

Teams of lumberjacks and lumberjills show off their skills at climbing, sawing, log rolling, and more in friendly, fun competition.

Kidway, Mighty Midway, and Other Ticketed Attractions

These fun Minnesota State Fair adventures require the purchase of additional tickets:

• Kidway: Fun houses, bumper boats, swings, mini rollercoasters, and truck, train, motorcycle, whale rides, and more – dozens of rides, games, and food options for pint-sized youngsters
• Mighty Midway: Even more rides to thrill and games of skill
• More Rides and Attractions: Iconic must-dos include the Giant Slide, Great Big Wheel, SkyGlider, Space Tower, carousel, reptiles and butterflies, and more.
• Sensory-Friendly Morning at Kidway & Mighty Midway: For fair guests who would like to experience the fun of rides & games at Mighty Midway & Kidway with reduced light brightness and sound volume, on Monday, August 31st, at Kidway from 9 to 11 AM and at Mighty Midway from 10 AM to 12 PM, lights, sounds, and non-safety-related announcements will be minimized.

Use the links above to find information on height requirements, ticket prices, locations, and hours.

Minnesota State Fair Classics

Butter Sculptures: Because where else will you see a giant head carved out of butter?! Each year, Princess Kay of the Milky Way, along with nine finalists who competed to be this year’s goodwill ambassadors for the dairy industry, gets the honor of having her head carved out of 90-lb. blocks of butter.

Sweet Martha’s: You can get a cone of these, but really… just go for the whole bucket. You won’t regret it. You can find Sweet Martha’s at three locations – the first on the North side of West Dan Patch Ave between Liggett St. & Chambers St, the second on the South side of Carnes Avenue between Nelson & Underwood streets, and the third on the West side of Underwood Street between Lee & Randall avenues.

Blue Ribbon Bargain Book: This tiny but mighty book has over 100 coupons to save you some cash at the Minnesota State Fair! The books are only $5 – find them at the FairWear gift shops or at the Blue Ribbon Bargain Book Carts. You’ll cover the cost of the book just by using one or two coupons! Click here for a list of coupons.

Giant Slide:This fair classic is perfect for kids and adults alike! Grab a sack, pile the whole family on, and have someone take a video as you fly down the slide!

America Wheel: New for 2026 and honoring America250, the America Wheel is billed as the world’s largest traveling observation wheel. It rises an awe-inspiring 230 feet above the North End of the fairgrounds, features 45 gondolas, and delivers panoramic views stretching up to 14 miles in every direction. As daylight fades, the night sky is painted in a dazzling spectacle of light! You’ll find it at the southwest corner of Randall Avenue and Cooper Street.

What to Eat

The Minnesota State Fair features 300+ food vendors offering 1600+ menu items – many of which are on a stick!

There is so much food to try here that there’s no way to hit it all – so there’s a helpful searchable guide to ALL of the food vendors on their website, and you can decide what you want to hit up and even make a list in advance.

If you want to focus on what’s new, check out the list of 36 Official New Foods and nine new food vendors for 2025. There are plenty of savory and sweet, and kid-friendly items on the list. 

For the Toddlers/Babies

Baby Changing Stations: These are available in nearly every bathroom on the fairgrounds. *Insider tip: The West End Market has great, newer restrooms that are very clean and have changing tables! You can also find baby changing facilities at Family & Baby Care on West Dan Patch Avenue and at the KaiBi Mobile Family Care Center on Underwood Street.

Coolers, Bags, & Outside Food/Drinks: While your bags will be subject to search at the gate, you can absolutely bring them into the fair. No need to worry about how you will keep your bottles or baby food cold! Coolers are not permitted in the Grandstand, however.

Handwashing Stations: Handwashing stations are located throughout the grounds in the Food Building and at many entrances to buildings in the livestock area. Please wash or sanitize hands throughout your visit and especially before and after time with the animals and prior to eating.

Nursing Facilities: Family & Baby Care has nursing areas available on West Dan Patch Avenue, south of West End Market and north of Mighty Midway. Private and semi-private rooms are available on a first-come basis. Nursing facilities are also available at myTalk 107.1 radio, TPT | Twin Cities PBS television booths, the KaiBi Mobile Family Care Center, and Momentum Refresh.

Stroller/Wagon Rentals: Don’t feel like hauling your stroller or wagon along? Swing by one of five HomeTown Mobility booths to get one on a first-come, first-served basis.

Water: Keep your little ones hydrated by bringing in your own sippy cups and water bottles! These can be refilled at FREE water stations located throughout the fairgrounds, as noted by a water drop on the fairgrounds map. 

ID Wristbands: To help reunite lost children with their adults, pick up a free ID wristband when you arrive at the fairgrounds at any information booth or at Family & Baby Care. (see map)

Tip: Take a photo of the young ones when you arrive at the fair, so you’ll have a readily available picture showing what they look like and what they’re wearing at the fair.

Transportation

Bikes: If you live near the fair, biking is the cheapest way to park! Choose from one of three FREE bike lots on the fairgrounds.

Express Buses: State Fair Express Bus service features FREE parking and a direct bus ride to the fairgrounds for a small fee from farther-out suburbs around the Twin Cities. Visit mnstatefair.org/transportation/metro-transit for more information about Express Bus service, regular bus routes, and how to purchase bus tickets.

Park & Ride: FREE Park & Ride buses are offered near the fairgrounds. For more information, visit mnstatefair.org/transportation/free-park-and-ride

On-Site Parking: On-site parking is available for $25 cash or credit. Space is limited, and lots often fill by mid-morning. Many homeowners in the area open up parking spaces in their yards and driveways for a fee. If you don’t mind walking, these can be a great option. No overnight parking is allowed in the public parking lots.

Check out the Minnesota State Fair’s website for all the information you need to plan a visit to the fair. We hope to see you there!

All photos in the post were provided by the Minnesota State Fair

Don’t miss the Twin Cities Family Events Calendar for more family-friendly things to do!