The Minnesota State Fair: Everything you need to know in 2025

Date:2025-08-20 10:37:29 Category:US Views:1 Comment:0

The Minnesota State Fair: Everything you need to know in 2025 originally appeared on Bring Me The News.

It's fair time in Minnesota.

Around two million people are preparing to descend on the Minnesota State Fair when it gets underway on Thursday, Aug. 21.

For nearly two weeks, the state will be enraptured by Grandstand shows, cheese curds, novelty drinks, and the Giant Slide.

Here's everything you ned to know to get to and revel in the 2025 Minnesota State Fair.

Kickoff to Summer at the FairMinnesota State Fair

Dates

The 2025 Minnesota State Fair will get going on Thursday, Aug. 21, and carry on through Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 1.

The fairgrounds open at 7 a.m. and continue admitting fairgoers until 9 p.m. each day, with the exception of Labor Day, when admissions end at 7 p.m. The fairgrounds are open until 11 p.m. daily, except Labor Day, when thing close up at 9 p.m.

While admissions last until 9 p.m., ticket sales at the gate will wrap up a half an hour before admissions close each day.

Ticket prices

Admission is up $2 from last year. Discounted pre-fair admission costs $17 per person for fairgoers five years old and older. Children four and under are free. Those presales will wrap up on Aug. 20.

Once the fair starts, prices rise to $20 for adults aged 13 to 64. Tickets are $18 for kids from five to 12 and seniors 65 and older.

Discount days

While the prices have risen, there are still discount days on the calendar for the budget-minded midway enthusiast.

Opening Day (Aug. 21)
$18 for adults (13–64)
$15 for senior (65+)
$15 for kids (5–12)

Seniors Day (Aug. 25 and 28)
$15 for seniors (65+)

Military Appreciation Day (Aug. 26)
$15 for active military, their spouses and kids; retired military and spouses; and military veterans and spouses. Valid documentation of service is required.

Kids Day (Aug. 27 and Sept. 1)
$15 for kids (5–12)

New foods

<p>Whipped feta topped with schug – a Middle Eastern green sauce made with jalapeños, garlic, cilantro, parsley, and fresh herbs – drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkled with crunchy toasted wild rice. Served with deep-fried pita bread tossed in Dino's signature seasoning. </p><p><strong>Location:</strong> At Dino's Gyros, located on the north side of Carnes Avenue between Nelson & Underwood streets</p> — Whipped feta topped with schug – a Middle Eastern green sauce made with jalapeños, garlic, cilantro, parsley, and fresh herbs – drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkled with crunchy toasted wild rice. Served with deep-fried pita bread tossed in Dino's signature seasoning.
**Location:** At Dino's Gyros, located on the north side of Carnes Avenue between Nelson & Underwood streets

View the 33 images of this gallery on the original article

This year, there are 33 new foods, and, as usual, they’ll be a huge draw for the almost two million visitors that are expected.

We’ve got a breakdown of all the new foods, as well as a run through some of the highlights that will have Bring Me The News staff hopping in line.

The list features wild concoctions like the Uncrustaburger, a cour-ounce burger with cheese, pickles, and special sauce, which sounds normal enough. However, the bun is made of two deep-fried peanut butter and grape jelly Uncrustables.

New food vendors

Along with the slate of new foods, the fair is welcoming eight new vendors in 2025.

That roster includes Lumpia City, bringing its traditional Filipino fried spring rolls to the Great Minnesota Get-Together with fair flair (see below for details).

Here are the new vendors:

Beans & Beignets: It will dish up beignets (deep-fried pastry dough topped with powdered sugar), along with tea, chai lattes, and espresso drinks. Northwest corner of Judson Avenue & Clough Street
Chocolate Strawberry Cup: Fresh strawberries in a cup with four options for topping them up, including Dubai Chocolate and Matcha White Chocolate. Southwest corner of Dan Patch Avenue & Cooper Street
Greater Tater: They’re serving Tater Kegs — jumbo deep-fried tots stuffed with savory fillings. West side of Liggett Street between Carnes & Judson avenues, outside the Horse Barn
Lumpia City: As mentioned above, they serve a pair of fair-inspired twists on lumpia, traditional Filipino fried spring rolls. They'll have Pizza Lumpia and Ube Butter Banana French Toast Lumpia. North side of Judson Avenue between Liggett & Clough streets
Magdalena’s Chimney Cakes: It serves chimney cakes filled with ice cream and a choice of Nutella or caramel. You can then add toppings like crushed Oreos or sprinkles. North side of Judson Avenue between Clough & Nelson streets
Midtown Global Market’s Irie Jamaican: Grab some oxtail (jerk or barbecue) with festival (a sweet fried bread); sweet plantains, coconut shrimp skewers, or a ginger and hibiscus drink. However, it'll only be at the fair from Aug. 27 to Sept. 1. Taste of the Midtown Global Market booth at the International Bazaar, east wall
Midtown Global Market’s Oasis Grill and Hoyo Sambusa: They'll have the Somali Street Fries (an official new food), as well as cones of mini sambusas, full-size sambusas, and slushies. They'll only be at the fair from Aug. 21 to 26. Taste of the Midtown Global Market booth at the International Bazaar, east wall
Urban Glow Mocktails: A stand specializing in craft mocktails. North End, northwest section, across from the North End Event Center

New beers, seltzers, and beverages

A whopping 70 new drinks land at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair as part of the Specialty Sips lineup.

While there are returning classics such as Lift Bridge Brewing’s Mini Donut beer, there are a ton of new items that run the spectrum from something you might actually see in a taproom (Indeed Brewing’s Peach Dipped Pale Ale) to more out-there inventions, like Pryes Brewing’s Soft Serve Royal Raspberry Beer, which is served as an actual soft serve in a cone.

Additionally, the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild is bringing back its Brewed in Minnesota exhibition, which includes displays and talks about the history of brewing in the state. Even more alluring are its beer flights, which will have the Guild serving more than 200 different beers from more than 85 Minnesota brewers, all arranged by style.

In addition to its style-specific flights, the Guild will have a non-alcoholic option and, new this year, an “Award Winners Flight,” with a variety of “true-to-style” beers that won awards at the annual Minnesota Brewers Cup.

Grandstand shows

As usual, the Minnesota State Fair will have nightly concerts in the Grandstand featuring big-name performers.

The 2025 lineup is largely an assortment of nostalgia acts. Though there are some somewhat more recent headliners, making the nostalgia applicable to a variety of generations.

Here’s who is playing at the Grandstand this summer.

Aug 21: Old Dominion
Aug. 22: Meghan Trainor with ellis
Aug. 23: Atmosphere & Friends: Atmosphere, Cypress Hill, Lupe Fiasco, The Pharcyde, and DJ Abilities
Aug. 24: Melissa Etheridge and Indigo Girls
Aug. 25: Happy Together Tour 2025 feat. The Turtles, Jay and the Americans, Little Anthony, Gary Puckett & the Union Gap, The Vogues, and The Cowsills
Aug. 26: Def Leppard with Brother Cane
Aug. 27: Hank Williams Jr. with Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives
Aug. 28: Daryl Hall with The Rascals
Aug. 29: The Avett Brothers with The Milk Carton Kids
Aug. 30: Nelly with Ja Rule, Mya, and Ying Yang Twins
Aug. 31: Minnesota State Fair Amateur Talent Contest Finals
Sept. 1: The Rock and Roll Playhouse plays music of Taylor Swift and More for Kids feat. Bri & The Anti-Heroes (two shows)

Free entertainment

Throughout the fair’s 12-day run, there will be live music and other entertainment on its many stages throughout the day before the Grandstand comes alive each night.

The lineup includes tribute performances like the Church of Cash and Karla Perez’s “The Selena Show,” as well as national touring groups like Arrested Development and Los Lobos, and beloved local bands like Dylan Salfer, Davina and the Vagabonds, and Cindy Lawson.

Check out the complete Minnesota State Fair concert lineup here.

New attractions and tickets at the Mighty Midway and Kidway

Five new rides are landing at the fair this year, including two at the Mighty Midway and two at the Kidway.

The Thunderbird, situated in Adventure Park, is billed as the tallest portable swing in North America, taking thrill-seekers 180 feet in the air.

At the Mighty Midway, the fair is introducing Scorpion, a three-armed attraction that tilts and swings, and Overdrive, a high-speed racing experience.

Over in the Kidway, new rides include the flying elephants of Jumbo and the appropriately space-themed Hampton Space Age. (See the next section for more on the influx of space-themed attractions.)

Those and other Mighty Midway rides aren't included with the basic state fair admission. They'll require tickets to ride, which cost $1 each.

Discounted ticket bundles can be purchased through Aug. 20, with deals that include 25 tickets for $20, 50 tickets for $40, 100 tickets for $80, and 200 tickets for $160.

When the fair starts, the ticket bundles increase to $40 for 44 tickets and $70 for 80 tickets.

Day-specific discounts, details of which have not yet been announced, are available on Aug. 21, 26, 27, and Sept. 1. Those discounts will be available as an early bird special until 1 p.m. on Aug. 22, 25, 28, and 29.

New attractions and exhibits

Each year brings a lot of changes to the fairgrounds. This year, new attractions include a few space-themed exhibitions such as the Journey to Space from the Science Museum of Minnesota and the California Science Center.

Here's a look at a few of the new additions at this year's Minnesota State Faire.

The Journey to Space is a free exhibit showcasing the challenges and triumphs of space exploration and the International Space Station.
NASA joins the fair for the first time with its Evolution of the Spacesuit exhibit, led by the Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. It will take visitors into the evolution of space attire and offers a chance to meet NASA Deputy Chief Flight Director Michael Lammers, who is a graduate of Albert Lea High School. This exhibit will be at the fair from Aug. 21 to 24.
The DNR is introducing the "Breaking Barriers" accessibility exhibit. "Learn about a variety of resources that make Minnesota’s public lands more accessible to all users, including all-terrain track chairs, accessible hunting blinds and more." The DNR Building is located at the corner of Carnes Avenue and Nelson Street and is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
The DNR is also launching a native bird songs interactive exhibit.
A bat house display will be added to the DNR Building this year.
Voyageurs Conservancy will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Voyageurs National Park from Aug. 21 to 23 at the corner of Wright Avenue and Cooper Street. It'll have daily prizes and programming around its dark sky certification with NASA solar system ambassador and dark sky specialist Jesse Gates.
Artist Adam Turman has expanded his store. It now features more than 200 items, including State Fair art prints.

Activities for kids

In addition to food and Kidway rides, there are plenty of attractions specifically geared toward a younger audience.

Here are a few of the activities worth jotting down if you're traveling to the fair with young children.

Each night, weather permitting, a fireworks display will follow the Grandstand show. The time will vary, but the fair says they'll take place at some point between 9 and 10:30 p.m.
Don't miss the daily parade, which takes place at 2 p.m. and features the high school marching band competition.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture hosts a daily storytime at 10 a.m. All of its programming, including storytime, takes place in the North Hall of the Agriculture/Horticulture Building at the northeast corner of Underwood Street and Judson Avenue.
Kemps Little Farm Hands is a free exhibit for kids (3–10) where they get to play at being a farm hand and take part in the agricultural process.
The Voyageurs Conservancy will host the Voyageurs Mobile Classroom with a chance to be sworn in as an official Junior Ranger. It'll also have its "whose scat is that" wildlife game.
While most of the stages are focused on live music, there are some live shows for young audiences. That includes lots of dance events at the Summit Stage, and a full lineup of comedy and magic at the Family Fair Stage in Baldwin Park.

Journey to Space is new to the Minnesota State Fair in 2025.Minnesota State Fair

Express buses, parking lots, and ride services

For those using public transportation to get to the fair, there are a host of options.

State Fair Express Buses from Metro Transit, Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA), and SouthWest Transit offer drop-off and pick-up at the Transit Hub at Gate #16.

Metro Transit has park-and-ride from six locations, including Blaine, Maplewood, Minnetonka, Bloomington, and Cottage Grove. Its Maple Grove service will be available exclusively on weekends and Labor Day. Round-trip tickets are $5 in advance through the Metro Transit app or $6 (cash only) at boarding locations.

Metro Transit regular bus service is also available. Details on lines that bring you close to the fair are available here.

The MVTA offers service from the Eagan Transit Station, Shakopee's Southbridge Crossing Park-and-Ride, and the Burnsville Transit Station. It'll get moving earlier than last year, with rides starting at 7 a.m. Round-trip tickets cost $6.

SouthWest Transit offers service from Eden Prairie (SouthWest Station), Chanhassen (SouthWest Village), Chaska (East Creek Station), and Carver (Carver Station). This year, it’ll offer service from all four lots each day of the fair. Tickets cost $6.

There are 34 “park free and ride” locations available, with the last bus from those lots to the fair departing at 8 p.m. daily (6 p.m. on Labor Day). Accessible buses are in use on those routes, but their frequency will be “subject to availability,” according to the fair’s website. Details on where those park-and-ride lots are located can be found here.

Anyone driving to the fair can access the standard parking lots, which have accessible spaces, beginning at 6 a.m. daily. Parking prices have increased from $20 to $25 this year.

Motorcycles are permitted in all of those lots. However, there is a motorcycle lot on Como Avenue near the International Institute where parking is $15 for motorcycles. At all other lots, motorcycles will pay the full $25 fee.

Bikers can park for free at three separate bike lots:

South bike lot: Loop Gate #9 on Como Avenue
North bike lot: North End Gate #2
West bike lot: Randle Avenue-Buford Gate #16

Like last year, anyone using app-based ride services like Lyft and Uber will find two designated drop-off and pick-up locations. Taxi will be separate, with drop-off and pick-up at Loop Gate #9 on Como Avenue. Details on where ride service lots are located can be found here.