Minnesota State Fair Reviews

Wow this is my jam.i love MN STATE FAIR.Always popping,lots of fun.looking forward to next year

If you like long lines, greasy food, and crowds, then go for it.

The state fair is pretty fun. You have fun with friends and family, eat, and get your daily steps in. Every single year they break the record. IT IS INSANE!! They should have a record for breaking the attendance record in a row.

We go every year and have a great time. It is the Minnesota State Fair of course!

One of Americas largest summertime festivals! New and exciting rides, attractions and edibles-on-a-stick every year! Big name recording stars at the grandstand, meet-n-greets with local athletes and celebs and awesome family fun. Great for people watching, if that's your thing.

My favorite time of year! Love going out to try the new food with a group of friends, trying the new beers is an additional bonus. I have gone every year I have lived in this state (I grew up in Minnesota)

The fair has something for everyone. Take my advice beat the lines and preorder your tickets online. You will thank me for it!!

Hot, crowded and the largest daily attendance.of any fair in the US. Worth a look see...

I always love the fair, lots of food and fun. Never disappoints.

So sad that its closed for 2020 due to Covid 19. I sure hope its back next year.

Minnesotans love their fair and it's easy to see why. The fair has an upbeat youthful energy, with lots to see and do, and is great fun for kids. Prices are reasonable, and there are a huge number of food stands. We also met some really generous people who were excited to share their love of the fair with us. However, the location and setup feels like a small-town fair that grew too fast without keeping up on amenities. Getting to and from the fair is difficult. While the city brings in extra buses and transit services, the location doesn't sit on a major public transport line. The main food pavilion is cramped, with limited food options and almost no seating. Outside the food pavilions is little better, with inadequate seating. Walking around, you mainly see the same food stand companies repeated at regular intervals; perhaps the fair had unique character in food at one time, but that's largely gone. That said, there were some gems (like the warm baked cookies). Some food stands were downright abysmal. Out of the 7 we tried, only 2 were really good (burgers & cookies). The animal, farming, honey, and informational stands were great, and it was nice to see an open-air amphitheatre. While we met some really lovely people, I didn't appreciate the many dirty looks my partner got from the presumably red-hatters; it just made us want to leave. Overall, after having been to Toronto's CnE for the last few years, the Minnesota State Fair doesn't come close to competing in transit, food range, food quality (in particular), amenities, and diversity. Still, if you're in town, it's a must-do, especially if you have kids.

The great Minnesota get together ..fun for everyone the weather was great this year

Best fair in the USA! I've been going for over 40 yrs.

Always a good time. Tons of people. Only thing I wish is there were more womens bathrooms, there is always a huge line no matter where you go. But when you have 200,000+ people there it happens!

Awesome place to be if in town at the right time. Amazing food, rides, live music and much more. Just be prepared don't come with no pocket change because that won't even buy the cookies neither the less the glass of milk. One of my favorite dish at the fair has to the be the turkey leg. Never felt so satisfied with the food but cost me all my rides' money so come prepared!!!

Love this place. Put on your walking shoes and go. There is so much to see and do at the fair. I recommend you go at least once a year.
The horse and cattle barns are some of my favorite places to visit when I am there.

Tradition. Family friendly. You can't go wrong with free music, interesting demonstrations, daily parade, mini donuts, corn dogs, merchandise, horticulture, people, so many reasons... Go at least twice!

Food cannot get anywhere else we ate number one in the us

Great get together. Food, fun in the sun, music and people watching.

I've been going to the state fair for as long as I can remember. Absolutely love it every year. There's never things to try every year but the classics are always a hit. Food is great and people walk around with a smile on their face. Truly one of the best state fairs if not the best. Concerts at the grandstands are always a good show.

Always super fun people watching. Good selection of rides and games for all ages. The animal barns are entertaining, maybe more than they should be

great place.... must go and visit good place for kids and family

This is humanity's greatest accomplishment. The fair is crowded, but not cramped. The food is everywhere, you could literally go all twelve days and eat ten things each day and never eat the same thing twice. It is safe, clean, there is music everywhere, and if you need a beer, oh look, beer! Wear comfy shoes and feast on humanity's greatest accomplishment. I'd tell you my secret spots to get away from the crowds, but then they wouldn't be secret. I will go every year as long as I am physically able to.

The food is the best! We go every year, it's a tradition for our family. I'd suggest to buy the Blue Ribbon bargain book once you get there. It's $5.00 and well worth it. This year we had small kids with us and they loved the rides and the raptor show at the DNR building.

I go every year! I try all the new beers, and a few of the new foods. Great excercise, and the people watching is the best! Best fair in the world!!

The best Fair in the country! (In my opinion.) Something for everyone; to see and do, eat and shop. Reliably crowded and the best people watching anywhere! If you're in MN up to ten days before Labor Day, you have to check out the Minnesota State Fair!

Great venue for concerts and amazing cheese curds. Make sure you get milk with your cookies!

There's a reason so many people attend. Be prepared for too much of everything. People, food, smells, walking, exhibits, and sugar. You can still find moments though. We spent an hour learning about bees and honey this year.

It's the Minnesota St fair! Nothing more to be said. Awesome time! Great food, good people watching! Just a great experience everyone needs to go! Use park and ride.

Nice Fair, expect big crowd on weekend. Available parking in the area. A lot fried food.

I'm a Minnesota girl, will always love the fair, rain or shine!!

What's to say. Minnesota great get together. Always a great time.

Very very busy, but that's because there is so much to see and do. Parking can be an issue, it's best if you can go during the week.

The MN State Fair is a mixed bag for me.

First and foremost I love food that is terrible for me, and then to make it easily portable? Sign me up. But at the same time I had a gastric bypass 5 years ago, so I can't just eat all the things, I'd throw up.

But the main thing that works against me is I hate large crowds, which the MN State Fair is almost guaranteed to have. And the way that no one around here apparently knows how to walk? Don't get me started.

If I were in charge of the MN State Fair, I'd put walking lanes on all the roads. Far outside would be breakdown/stopping lanes. The next lanes would be slow lanes (strollers, slow/old people, etc....). Final lanr would be the fast/passing lane.

All that said, I do love the MN State Fair, just hate the other people who are there.

Great food, fun things to do for all ages, great concerts. The only knock is the high prices.

Great American get together. This has to be marked on your calendar.

Went here for the car craft Summer Nationals car show with a bunch of guys. And down one of my favorite car shows to go to. These Fairgrounds are absolutely beautiful! We love going here! Seems like every time we come up it gets better and better. New buildings etc..... Great Fairgrounds!

We went on a Thursday that happened to be Senior Citizens day. The crowds were much less than weekends, and we got to see and do all we wanted with minimal hassle. Fun trying the new foods, too.

The best State Fair in the country! Always great food with many new items each year. Also, great entertainment.

The best and biggest state fair in the country! Food food food!!!

We have gone to fair both with plenty of money and with not much money and have been able to enjoy different facets of the fair each year. The history is amazing, the sculptures are amazing, the gardens are amazing, the different arts that contribute their talents to the fair every year are always varied and top notch. It makes the crowds and the parking, or busing, seem like a small issue compared to the massive amount of things to see, hear, and do. My only request for state fair coordinators is to put a cap on the parking prices for now, particularly for the ones that must park in the handicap accessible parking. And ask the bathroom folks to keep a really good eye on the toilet paper in all the bathrooms. Thanks!

One of the best state fairs in the nation. If you like crowds this is the place for you. People watching is great.

Ive showed in 4H each year for the past 3 years down there, and I'm planning on showing dairy again down there. Greetings from Stevens County!!

For those born and raised here it's a faith issue to love or hate The State Fair. I love it and enjoy it all. It's a big event with plenty of space and lots to see, eat and do. Getting better every year and keeping up with the times. Except the mobile app, that needs some love too.

Nice area in Falcon Heights, close to University of Minnesota so can park on the campus. Enjoyed walking around and eating deep fried items on a stick.

TIPS:
- There are some great shows in conjunction with the fair, like, Beach Boys, Earth Wind & Fire, Etc. Concerts cost extra, but pick a group you want to see and make a folder day and evening of it!
-park at Mall of America and ride the shuttle. $5 round trip, but if all you have is a $50, they might just let you ride for free.
-to avoid maximum crowds, go in the evening while there's a popular concert going on.
-Start walking toward the shuttles for the return trip home just before the nighttime fireworks begin. You'll beat the crowds but still enjoy the fireworks.
-the miracle of life pavilion closes early so if you go in the evening, hit it first.

The fair is enormous, the weird food is plentiful, the people watching is spectacular, and it's fun to see these earnest kids show off the animals they've been grooming all year!

Always a great time expensive but it's only once a year

You better take out a loan... Over priced. It was fun when I was younger, but it'll be a few years before I go back.... The great mn. GETOGETHER isn't Wat it use to be...

Amazing art, crops, flowers, beer and the people watching is close to the best in the world.

I must-do in Minnesota!! Hugenormous!!! You need 2 whole days.... At least. Don't forget to take a bucket of Sweet Martha's Cookies home at the end.

Must go to the Minnesota State Fair. Great free concerts at the Leinie Lodge, you name it you will have it to eat or drink! Lots of awesome things to see and do! Wouldn't miss it for anything!

There just isn't anything for me here anymore. I'm interested in science, technology, and making/building stuff. They got rid of the technology building (the only thing I found worth seeing out there). and turned it into the eco building, which is nothing but a joke. The only reason I go now is so my wife can see the cows.
As far as the food goes, I make better at home.

Listen if you have never been you just have to go. It is truly the great Minnesota get together. Expect large crowds but who cares right?

It's the state fair. The food gives you diabetes and it's fun to people watch.

Had a WONDERFUL experience at the state fair. Lots of great (and unique!) foods to try, fun rides, and so much to see. It is a huge fair, and there is a lot of walking so come prepared. I also really appreciated how many water stations there were, it was much needed in the warmer weather. There are so many different kinds of entertainment - worth going even if you re not into rides. The Ukrainian dancers were so fun to watch, and I could have spent hours on end in the arcade.

It's a big cool fair with alot of stuff to do in it,

The Great Minnesota Get Together! We go every year. The food is delicious and diverse. Security and ticketing is efficient. Handicap accommodations and access is great. The fair has such great vibes and a feeling of community during the day. I wouldn't recommend going after about 7pm. The fair grounds are littered with teenagers and drunkards. If that's your scene, by all means go ahead, but I feel the best experience is during the morning and afternoon hours.

The Minnesota State Fair truly has something for everyone. Actually many somethings for everyone. Must eats include Martha's cookies and cheese curds. The 4-H and agricultural exhibits are truly fascinating and necessary reminders of where our food comes from. The Creative Activities showcase was one of my favorite parts. It showed a variety of crafts from people thought the statement. I never thought I would see so much artistry in needlepoint, croqueting, knitting, glasswork, and carving all done by Minnesotan amateurs.

Great day at the MN State Fair! Perfect weather, lots to see and eat!

The great Minnesota Get-Together! Get a Scotch Egg.

This is a great area during off season when the State Fair is not active. It is relatively quiet in terms of car traffic. There are plenty of sidewalks to take for a long walk. This is a great area to play Pokemon Go as well, as there are many Poke Stops and Gyms along the sidewalks. The State Fair, when active, is also a great place to visit for fun and food.

Lots of food. Lots of of entertainment. LOTS of people watching. What more do you need?

The best state fair in the country! Hands down way better than it's supposed competition(the Texas state fair). Cant wait to go every year. It's the great Minnesota get together..

If your a state fair noob follow these tips.

1. Wear proper shoes. NO Sandals, Flip Flops, or heals.

2. If you are wondering what type of breakfast you should eat before the fair. Eat light or not at all, there is too much good food at the fair for you to be putting extra food in your stomach.

3. If you are going to look at something, do everyone a favor and move to the side of the road.

We went on the busiest day in their 145 yr history! Too many people to be able to get around easily. But fun just the same!

We love going to the Minnesota State Fair! There is so much to see and do for all ages! We look forward to it each year, especially the food!

Fun time although getting crazy as attendence records are set each year. For many, just too many people. Vender's display many new products

My favorite was the Fine Arts building. Wonderful drawings, paintings, sculptures, photos, mosaics, and on and on!

I always love the State Fair , I enjoy the free stages these years past . Love to nosh .

Love it good food and I go every year since I been here but I miss one year before that.

I think it s safe to say every Minnesotan loves the state fair!

The fair is always fun. Miss the good cheese curds, which the fair no longer has, but the raspberry malt at the dairy barn is always good. If you can get there before it gets too crowded, you should have a good time!

Lionel Richie's coming to town can't wait to go to the concert would love to be a choreographer for the show hit me up Lionel remember the Civic center back in the day all right Lionel Richie I'll be looking for you. Westside Como area I'm ready when you are.

Under promise over deliver! Is this what all state fairs are supposed to be like? What an incredible experience. Someone could spend three or four days at the Minnesota Fair and still maybe not see everything. This is second largest state fair in the U.S.A. Go! Your family will have a great time.

Food, more food, getting to and from the fair sux. Bus lots fill up early, so do on site lots, so no way to park. Rate 5 for fair and -5 for ease to get there.

The fair was fun but this guy barfing into his shirt on the MVTA bus back to the Eagan Park and Ride was fairly disgusting.

Always great food. We go early before the crowds. ***warning*** Too many mini donut beers may cause you to go a little crazy shopping. LOL Love my finds, though. :)

It was well put together. No way to be bored at all

I can't say enough fabulous things about the State Fair. My teenage kids and I go every year and spend over 12 hours there each time and have been doing so for about a decade! When I asked them what will happen after they graduate they said, "we're coming back for the State Fair, Mom! It's what we do!" I have also gone a second day by myself. We usually spend about $100 when we go. When I go myself, I usually bring my own food and water. The free entertainment is really good. I didn't know anybody this year when I went alone but saw a lot of really good performances. The Leinie Lodge usually has the best performances but the other smaller venues (I saw a great Johnny Cash performance at one of the bars) also have good shows. In recent years we take the free park and ride bus service offered by the fair and save the long walks back to the car or high costs of parking near the fair. The bus service is offered from 8 a.m. to midnight (but we get there around 7:30 and a bus often fills and leaves before and we get to the fairgrounds by 8) so it accommodates almost every need. The bus drivers are friendly and drive safely.

Shrine Circus. Nice to have events that usually have free parking and more space when State Fair isn't there.

First time pretty spendy. Park outside of park. Don't bring stroller

Although the weather was terrible that day with a big thunderstorm the fairground is a lot bigger than anything I've ever seen! Lots of vendors and sites to see

I've never actually been to the State Fair event in late summer.
However, if you are into Pokemon Go, you can go there during off times and rake in Poke-Stops, raids, and Pokemon. Everyone in there is doing the same, so there's literally no shame in it. If you are looking to nail down a big raid, the fairgrounds is the place to get an impromptu group together to conquer big raids.