Answers to all your questions about going to the Great Minnesota Get-Together

The Minnesota State Fair has been going on almost every year since 1859. Maybe you’ve even been to it by now! But you may still be wondering about a couple of things. What’s the best way to get there? What can we bring in? What does it cost? Who’s playing? Where are the new foods? We’ll start with the basics.

It’s “The Great Minnesota Get-Together” — the North Star State’s end-of-summer celebration of Minnesota life, industry and culture — encompassing food, live music, agriculture, recreation, animals, art, rides, entertainment and more.

Minnesota’s fair is historically the second most attended state fair — trailing only Texas — but is firmly No. 1 in terms of daily attendance. A post-pandemic record of 1,925,904 people attended over 12 days in 2024, with the all-time record of 2.13 million set in 2019.

The fair runs the 12 days ending on Labor Day, so this year it comes relatively early, from Aug. 21 to Sept. 1.

Duh, on the State Fairgrounds! It’s almost a city unto itself, but the 322-acre fair fills up a fifth of the city of Falcon Heights. The official address: 1265 N. Snelling Av.

Ticketholders can enter the fair daily between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., with reduced hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Labor Day, Sept. 1. The grounds are open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., or 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Labor Day. Individual building hours may vary.

• Limited parking, which rises to $25 this year, is available at the fairgrounds. There are also three free, secured bike and scooter corrals. Property owners nearby often sell parking on their lots and lawns.

• Metro Transit has park-and-ride service from Maple Grove (weekends and Labor Day only), and daily from Maplewood, Blaine, Minnetonka, Bloomington and Cottage Grove ($5-$6).

• Express bus service is also available every day from Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (Eagan, Shakopee and Burnsville) and SouthWest Transit (Eden Prairie, Chanhassen, Chaska and Carver), with pickup and drop-off at the fair’s Transit Hub ($6).

Backpacks, bags, purses and coolers are subject to search, and all fairgoers will pass through metal detectors. Outside food and drink, service animals, wheelchairs and strollers are allowed. The no-go list includes weapons, fireworks, alcohol, illegal drugs, pets, drones, bikes, skateboards, hoverboards and nonreligious or nonmedical face coverings.

Advance tickets are $17 online (through Aug. 20), at participating Cub stores and outstate locations, and at the State Fair ticket office. Once the fair begins, tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for ages 5-12 and 65 and older. Ages 4 and under are admitted free.

Are there any discounts?

You can bring your own wheelchair, mobility scooter or stroller. HomeTown Mobility rents electric mobility scooters ($75/day), wheelchairs ($30), strollers ($20 single, $25 double) and wagons ($20) at five locations inside the fairgrounds. Advance reservations are recommended; otherwise, it’s first-come, first-served.

Of course! There are thousands of menu items from some 280 vendors. The Star Tribune’s Food team has the rundown of new foods and drinks and will provide dispatches from the fairgrounds at startribune.com. Just looking for the cheese curds or corn dogs? There’s a food finder through the Minnesota State Fair website. Coming soon: Strib Fair Bot is a new app that will help you find the cuisine you’re craving.

Certainly — once you’ve paid fair admission. Besides the marquee lineup at the grandstand, the fair boasts more than 100 acts of all types performing unticketed shows, at such stages as the International Bazaar, the Schilling Amphitheater and the Family Fair Stage. At the Bandshell, top headliners include Rachel Platten of “Fight Song” fame (Aug. 21-22), Arrested Development (Aug. 23-24), Los Lobos (Aug. 25-26), Karla Perez’s Selena tribute (Aug. 29-30) and Ber (Aug. 31-Sept. 1).

All over. The Mighty Midway is the heart of the fun, and the Kidway has rides for fairgoers as little as 30-36 inches tall. Adventure Park is home to extreme thrills, and classics like the Great Big Wheel, Space Tower, Ye Old Mill, Skyride and Sky Glider are found throughout the fairgrounds. At the midway and Kidway, specials are offered all day on Aug. 21, 26-27 and Sept. 1, and before 1 p.m. on Aug. 22, 25 and 28-29.

The renamed Family & Baby Care center is at 1838 W. Dan Patch Av., across from West End Market. Families should pick up a free ID wristband to assist in reuniting lost kids and their families. They’re available at Family & Baby Care or any information booth. Family & Baby Care also provides nursing and changing facilities and wheelchair charging.

We count 18 designated smoking areas, including four around the grandstand. Look for the red and black icons on a State Fair map, available at information booths. Marijuana smoking is prohibited.

Usually! The nightly fireworks show happens between 10 and 11 p.m., weather-permitting. It’s a great way to cap a long day at the fair.