Eat & Drink
August 31, 2018
Burger Friday: State Fair's Lunch Box still serving nostalgia after 56 years

Burger Friday: State Fair's Lunch Box still serving nostalgia after 56 years

The Lunch Box represents a different fair era, before the drive to create an Instagram-grabbing food item. Instead, the focus is on reliable, familiar, reasonably priced fare, served with a smile.
Politics
August 31, 2018
Being up for anything at the Minnesota State Fair is pretty much job No. 1 in running for governor. Tim Walz, left, and Jeff Johnson are game.

Campaign for governor turns folksy and fun at the State Fair

Whole-hog participation is unwritten prerequisite for statewide elected office.
Variety
August 31, 2018
File photo: People line up at the main ticket booth at the State Fair.

Upcoming highlights from the Star Tribune Stage at Minnesota State Fair

Photography
August 30, 2018

Fair at night

One last turn on the Big Wheel, one more dance under the lights, a bucket of cookies for the road — when night falls and the lights go up, half the fair settles down while the other revs up for rock 'n' roll and midway partying.
Business
August 30, 2018
Columnist Lee Schafer, left, and Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari in the rain at the Minnesota State Fair on Tuesday.

Schafer: Talking bank failures and 'Hamilton' at the fair with Neel Kashkari

Local
August 30, 2018
Taylor Greathouse, kissed her boyfriend Daniel Sloper in the midway after wining some stuff animals at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Sunday August 2

2018 Minnesota State Fair attendance

Taste
August 29, 2018

2018 Minnesota State Fair food competition blue-ribbon winners

Photography
August 29, 2018

Feet at the fair

That's right, we're going to the fair feet-first today, from the gallop of the first few hours to the trudge toward the bus stop as the fireworks boom. As all veteran fairgoers know, proper footwear is essential to enjoying the day — even the horses would agree. Comfort and durability beat out fashion, hands down.
St. Paul
August 29, 2018
In this Jan. 6, 2018 file photo, St. Paul K-9 Gilly, a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois, sat for a portrait with his partner officer Colleen Rooney.

Mayor Carter halts K-9 demonstrations at State Fair

No canine demonstrations are permitted until the police department's K-9 audit is complete.
Business
August 29, 2018
Essence One owner, Lauren VanScoy, center, helped customers at her shop at the Minnesota State Fair.

Think it takes decades to get a booth at the State Fair? It really doesn't

It helps to have a desirable product with an unusual selling point.
Variety
August 29, 2018
Minnesota State Fair Mounted Patrol member Steve Roberts, atop his 14-year-old bay quarter horse, Hickory, guided animal trailers into the fairgrounds

State Fair Mounted Patrol is part petting zoo, part crowd control

Members bring their own horses and put in 13-hour days during the fair's run.
Eat & Drink
August 29, 2018
Blue Barn's egg bake. Photo by Rick Nelson

13 great places to eat breakfast at the State Fair

Insiders know that an ideal time to enjoy the Minnesota State Fair is in the morning.
Music
August 29, 2018
En Vogue proves its '90s music is still fashionable at Minnesota State Fair

En Vogue proves its '90s music is still fashionable at Minnesota State Fair

The pop/soul trio brought the memories at the Bandshell despite a steady drizzle.
Photography
August 29, 2018

Fair from the Sky

You can take the SkyGlider or the Great Big Wheel and get a quieter overview of the fair, and our photographer takes you there in today's photo essay. Soar over the crowds, the noise and the bacon smoke with a bird's-eye view of this whole big party, from the riding mowers to Melvin the Wacky Wheeler.
Photography
August 29, 2018

Midway

Toss a ring, wing a baseball, pick a horse in the Kentucky Derby, take flight on the Hurricane, land back on Earth with bugs in your teeth. When fairgoers feel lucky, they stroll over to the Mighty Midway.
Local
August 29, 2018

How do you do the Minnesota State Fair? There are so many ways

Three die-hard families share their favorite attractions and some of the secrets behind their fair-day fun.
Local
August 28, 2018

2018 Minnesota State Fair attendance

State Fair
August 28, 2018
August 29, 1976 The monster startled a visitor. Reactions were genume. The photos were taken with a flash in darkness and visitors didn't see the phot

Minnesota State Fair schedule for Wednesday, Aug. 29

Music
August 28, 2018
Bucky Heard, left and Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers opened for the Beach Boys at the Grandstand. ] Richard Tsong-Taatarii•Richard.Tsong-Taat

Beach Boys and Righteous Brothers thrill crowds at State Fair

The Beach Boys and Righteous Brothers were like reconditioned classic cars at the grandstand show.
Photography
August 28, 2018

Butter sculptures

What pairs well with a tiara? When you're Princess Kay of the Milky Way — this year that's Rebekka Paskewitz of Todd County — your best bet is a ski jacket or perhaps a snowmobile suit.

Minnesota State Fair

Coverage of the annual Minnesota State Fair. including food reviews, grandstand concert performances, full daily schedules, live video and a fairground map.