Here’s what’s new at the Minnesota State Fair for 2025

For those who love to try something new, this year’s Minnesota State Fair is bringing in quite a few new attractions that appear to be worth a wait in line..

Here are some of the standouts.

A new ride that’s billed as the “tallest portable swing in North America” is set to give riders a view of the fair from 180 feet in the air. Called the Thunderbird, it’s described as a “family-friendly” addition to the fair’s Adventure Park. It sounds gentle enough for those of us who would never dare to ride the nearby Sling Shot but still want a sky-high experience.

The fair is also bringing in two new rides to the Mighty Midway: Overdrive and the Scorpion. There will also be two new rides to the Kidway, called Jumbo (Flying Elephant) and Hampton Space Age.

The fair is debuting a new indoor “hands-on” exhibit called “Journey to Space” that is set to show visitors what it’s like to travel to the International Space Station. The exhibit will be set up in the North End Event Center and was produced by the Science Museum of Minnesota and the California Science Center with support from NASA.

For the first four days of the fair only (Aug. 21-24), the space exhibit will also include some special displays and visitors from NASA, including a moon rock from the Apollo 15 mission and several space suits.

This year, the State Fair added a new division to the open class dairy goat show: sable goats. This colorful breed will be part of the competition for the first time.

Carting around giant rulers, wearing paper pig hats and picking up the Minnesota Star Tribune’s lip balm are all part of the fair-going experience. This year there will be a long list of new booths stocked with freebies.

Minnesota’s Voyageurs National Park will be celebrating its 50th anniversary at the fair and offering activities for kids and giveaways during the fair’s first three days only.

There will also be a giant can of beans, thanks to Bush’s Beans. The company is hoping people pose for photos in front of it before picking up some free items. For healthy free samples, fairgoers can seek out SugarBee apples.

The Minnesota State Fair is renovating the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum. This is a multiyear, estimated $22 million renovation, but the good news is that all work is paused during the fair.

The Coliseum and livestock area will be open for the fair with “no anticipated limitations,” according to fair organizers.

As part of the project, the Minnesota State Fair Foundation is seeking donations to fund the improvements. Donors can purchase a name plate to go on a seat in the Warner Coliseum arena at the Minnesota State Fair Foundation booth in the Coliseum.