TrekUnity
When
August
Attendance
~1,900,000
Admission
Ticketed
Setting
Outdoor
The Minnesota State Fair, held over 12 days ending on Labor Day in Saint Paul, is one of the largest and best-loved state fairs in the country — famous for its staggering variety of food-on-a-stick, agricultural exhibits, grandstand concerts, and crop art, drawing around two million visitors.
Locals call it "The Great Minnesota Get-Together," and it lives up to it: acres of vendors, animals, contests, and rides that make it a genuine summer institution and a fun anchor for a Twin Cities trip.
Want to go? Turn Minnesota State Fair into a trip you plan with your group.
Creates an editable trip seeded with a starter itinerary, hotels & eats.
Event details
Typical dates
12 days ending on Labor Day (late Aug–early Sep)
Admission
Daily gate admission · rides & concerts extra
Parking
On-site and neighborhood paid lots plus extensive Park & Ride shuttles from around the Twin Cities.
Nearest airport
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International (MSP) — ~20 min
Typical weather
Warm, humid late-summer Minnesota — 70s–80s °F; occasional storms, cooler toward Labor Day.
Official website
Location
Saint Paul, MN
Where to stay
The Saint Paul Hotel
Historic downtown St. Paul landmark.
Graduate Minneapolis
Fun campus-area hotel near the U of M.
Twin Cities chains
Plenty of options a short drive from the fairgrounds.
Where to eat & drink
Food-on-a-stick (all of it)
The fair's legendary specialty — hundreds of options.
Sweet Martha's Cookies
The iconic bucket of warm cookies.
Matt's Bar (Jucy Lucy)
Minneapolis birthplace of the cheese-stuffed burger.
Nearby attractions
Como Park & Conservatory
Free zoo and gardens near the fairgrounds.
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
Home of the Spoonbridge and Cherry.
Mississippi Riverfront
Walkable mills district and St. Anthony Falls.
A sample itinerary
1Arrive + Minneapolis
- •Fly into MSP
- •Afternoon: Sculpture Garden + riverfront
- •Dinner: a Jucy Lucy at Matt's Bar
2Fair day
- •Morning: Park & Ride to the fair
- •All day: food-on-a-stick, animals, crop art
- •Evening: grandstand concert + Sweet Martha's
3Como Park + depart
- •Morning: Como Park & Conservatory
- •Head to MSP
Make it yours — an editable trip you can share with your group.
Travel tips
- Take a Park & Ride shuttle — fairgrounds parking is a scramble.
- Go hungry and share so you can try more of the food-on-a-stick.
- End the night with a bucket of Sweet Martha's cookies.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Minnesota State Fair?
It runs for 12 days ending on Labor Day, in late August into early September.
What is it famous for?
Its enormous variety of food-on-a-stick, Sweet Martha's cookies, crop art, agricultural exhibits, and grandstand concerts.
How do you get there?
Use one of the many Park & Ride shuttles from around the Twin Cities to skip the parking crunch.
Going with friends?
TrekUnity keeps the whole group on the same page — vote on plans, split costs, and see who's arriving when.
Start planning freeTrekUnity is an independent travel guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Minnesota State Fair or its organizers. Dates, prices, and details are provided for informational purposes and can change — always confirm on the official event website before booking.