Longtime deputy Renee Alexander, tapped to take over as CEO of the Minnesota State Fair, posed for a portrait

Longtime Minnesota State Fair deputy taking over for retiring CEO Jerry Hammer

Renee Alexander has been the entertainment and marketing deputy to Hammer for 13 years.
The Mighty Midway, featuring amusement park rides, is a popular area at the Minnesota State Fair. One person was shot in the leg late Saturday near th
State Fair

Minnesota State Fair attendance rebounds in 2022, but no records

September 6, 2022
Two incidents of gun violence marred the event's final weekend.
Brandi Carlile lit up Xcel Energy Center in 2022.
Music

The unstoppable Brandi Carlile will return to Minnesota State Fair grandstand in 2023

March 16
The Grammy favorite sold out Xcel Energy Center last summer after a long history of Twin Cities gigs.
Natalie Maines of the Chicks performs during a tribute concert to Billy Joel in Washington, Wednesday in 2014.
Music

The Chicks will return to Minnesota State Fair in 2023 led by 'Gaslighter'

February 14
The Texas trio sold out the grandstand twice in 2016, largely leaving the controversy from a decade earlier behind.
Duran Duran performs in Times Square for the New Year’s Eve celebration on Dec. 31, 2022, in New York.
Music

Duran Duran coming to Minnesota State Fair in 2023 after storms canceled a 2022 gig

February 8
The first grandstand concert announced for 2023 will also feature openers Bastille and Nile Rodgers' Chic.
Jerry Hammer, executive vice president and general manager of the Minnesota State Fair, has spent his working life with the Great Minnesota Get-Togeth
State Fair

Longtime State Fair general manager says he is paid $350,000

September 14, 2022
Jerry Hammer released his salary in response to a written request even though it's not public.
Gary Turnquist watched as his great-granddaughter Kaia, 5, worked on a seed art of her own after viewing his prize-winning entry of Jesus Christ in th
Don’t miss

Lindstrom man wanted crop art honoring 'The Shining.' Then his family showed up.

September 4, 2022
The Lindstrom artist's work may have planted a seed in the next generation.
don’t miss

Do you know where these letters are located at the Minnesota State Fair?

September 3, 2022
The signs are all around you, but how well do you know your State Fair typography?
Eat & Drink

78 new foods from the State Fair, ranked from tasty to try again

August 26, 2022
After a relatively subdued post-pandemic comeback, vendors were holding nothing back this year. We sampled not only the "official" new State Fair foods, but also a bevy of unofficial new ones, and ranked them.

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.