Insider’s Guide to the Minnesota State Fair
Find out everything you need to know about the Minnesota State Fair with helpful links to specific information.
Minnesota State Fair Attractions
In between bites, there are plenty of attractions to enjoy. By no means a full listing, here are some spots we recommend you don’t miss.
Photo Credit: Minnesota State Fair
1. Giant Slide
You’d be hard-pressed to find a Minnesotan who doesn’t know the feeling of gliding down the yellow and green waves of the Giant Slide atop a burlap sack. Not just for the kiddos, folks of all ages can enjoy this State Fair tradition.
2. CHS Miracle of Birth Center
In addition to the full-grown animals who temporarily reside at the fairgrounds, nearly 200 babies enter the world each summer at the CHS Miracle of Birth Center. The newborn calves, lambs, piglets and more are a hit with kids and adults alike.
3. Skyride & Skyglider
Another fair tradition is surveying the crowds as you short-cut from one side of the fair to another on the Skyride (enclosed gondolas) or the Skyglider (open-air chairlifts).
4. Space Tower
If you seek a higher vantage point than those provided by the Skyride and Skyglider, the 340-foot Space Tower will take you up into the clouds for amazing views of the fairgrounds and beyond. If you're into heights, hop on the tallest traveling Ferris wheel in North America, the Great Big Wheel, for breathtaking views from a height of 156 feet.
5. Midway & Kidway
What’s a fair without rides and games? Get your adrenaline going, weave through fun-houses and win your sweetie a giant stuffed animal in the Mighty Midway. If you’ve got little ones, plan some time at the more tame Kidway.
Photo Credit: Minnesota State Fair
Photo Credit: Minnesota State Fair
6. 4-H Llama & Alpaca Costume Competition
You won't find this at any other state fair - the Llama & Alpaca Costume Contest is unique to Minnesota. Catch 4-H’ers and their pets in complementary costumes. Following the contest, the fun continues with participants competing in novelty games. Wednesday, August 31, at 6 p.m.
7. Live Music at the Grandstand or on Free Music Stages
Some of music’s biggest names have been known to rock the open-air Grandstand stage each summer. 2022 headliners include Diana Ross, Counting Crows, Zac Brown Band and Pitbull. You can also catch over 100 local and national acts for free at various stages throughout the fairgrounds, including music in every flavor through the Celebrate.Culture.Community line-up presented by OMG Media.
8. Ye Old Mill
This over 100-year-old “Tunnel of Love” is the oldest (and weirdest) attraction at the fair, with an experience that is essentially the same as it when it first opened. The two-minute boat ride through a darkened tunnel of various kitschy (and bizarre) vignettes is quite the tradition.
9. Butter Sculptures
Butter sculptures? You butter believe it. The Dairy Building’s butter sculptures of Princess Kay of the Milky Way and the other 11 finalists are one of the fair’s most popular yet strange traditions.
Photo Credit: Minnesota State Fair
Photo Credit: Minnesota State Fair
10. Crop Art
Also unique to the Minnesota State Fair is the infamous Crop Art Competition. Make your way to the Agriculture Horticulture Building to see artwork made of Minnesota-grown seeds, stems and other plant parts and see the humor and creativity of Minnesotans on full display.
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More to Explore
Minnesota State Fair Food Guide
At the Minnesota State Fair, you can probably find your favorite food deep-fried or on a stick somewhere on the fairgrounds.
Fun Facts: Minnesota State Fair by the Numbers
Hundreds of acres, thousands of ears of roasted corn, millions of cookies! This fair is a big deal.
Minnesota State Fair Pro Tips
There are a few tricks to the trade when it comes to navigating the Minnesota State Fair. We hope these 6 tips will help you skip the lines or save a few bucks.