Minnesota State Fair - St Paul, Minnesota

Minnesota State Fair - St Paul, Minnesota

"The Great Minnesota Get-Together."  That’s what the Minnesota State Fair is known as to those that attend.  It is said to be the largest state fair in the nation for the number of days it runs.  The spectacular live entertainment scheduled in the grand stand, the livestock exhibits and completion, the exhibits of new and exciting things in the varied industries building and throughout the ground along with the exhilarating rides on the midway make this a fabulous place for both the locals and the visitors to spend not only one day, but a few days, if possible.

Oh, and don’t forget about the food!  You can walk around the grounds eating a wide variety of items, many of them served on a stick so you can just carry them with you!

It is held at the state fairgrounds, adjoining the St Paul campus of the University of Minnesota. The site is in the suburb of Falcon Heights, Minnesota, adjacent to the state’s capital city of St Paul, Minnesota.

It typically runs for twelve days, running from late August into early September with the last day being Labor Day.

Bring you family; show them all there is to see at the fair.  Be sure to take them through the livestock barns, especially those that are from the city, they probably have no idea where milk comes from or may ask you if it is true that brown cows give chocolate milk.  Can’t blame them, they don’t know so educate them at the fair!

Enter your items in the fair yourself.  Maybe you are a photographer, there is a class for that, or maybe you bake fabulous bread, rolls, pies or cakes, enter them.  What if you make the best pickles in the whole world?  Well, enter them!  It’s fun, it’s easy and you are most welcome to participate.

 

Regular admission at the gate: adults (13-64) $11; seniors (65 & over) $9; kids (5-12) $8. Children under 5 are always free!

Parking: $9 or one additional pre-fair discount admission ticket ($8).

Save by Coming on Discount Days!

Thrifty Thursday: Aug. 21; adults (13 and over) $8; kids (5-12) $5; and children under 5 are always FREE! Enjoy all day discounts on Mighty Midway and Kidway rides, games and concessions.

Seniors Days: Monday, Aug. 25 & Thursday, Aug. 28; seniors (65 and over) $5.

Kids Days: Monday, Aug. 25 & Monday, Sept. 1; kids (5-12) $5; and children under 5 are always FREE! Enjoy all day discounts on Mighty Midway and Kidway rides, games and concessions.

DIRECTIONS

The fairgrounds is located at 1265 North Snelling Ave. in St. Paul.

To get to the fairgrounds:

Coming from the north: Take 35W south to Highway 36 east via Cleveland Avenue Exit on Snelling Avenue South.

Coming from the south: Take 35W north to I-94 east. Exit on Snelling Ave., then turn left and head north. Or take 35E north to I-94 west. Exit on Snelling Avenue, then turn right and head north.

Coming from the east: Take I-94 west to Snelling Avenue, then turn right and head north.

Coming from the west: Take I-94 east to Snelling Avenue, then turn left and head north.

OPTIONS FOR CROSSING THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER

North of I-35W

I-694 to I-35W, south on I-35W, just past Co Rd C, move into the left lane and exit on to Cleveland Avenue.  Take Cleveland Avenue to Larpenteur, east on Larpenteur Avenue to Gate # 1 (North Underwood).

Lowry Avenue Bridge, cross river, south on Stinson Blvd to I-35W north, I-35W north to east Hwy 36 to Cleveland Avenue, south on Cleveland Avenue to Larpenteur Avenue, east on Larpenteur to Gate # 1 (North Underwood).

Broadway Street, cross river, I-35 W north to east Hwy 36 to Cleveland Avenue, south on Cleveland Avenue to Larpenteur Avenue, east on Larpenteur to Gate # 1 (North Underwood).  This route will not work going west from the fairgrounds.

Plymouth Avenue Bridge, cross river, Plymouth to Stinson Avenue, south on Stinson Avenue to Hennepin, east on Hennepin (turns into Larpenteur Avenue), east on Larpenteur Avenue to Gate # 1 (North Underwood).

Hennepin Avenue, cross river, Hennepin Avenue (turns into Larpenteur Avenue), Larpenteur Avenue to Gate # 1 (North Underwood).

South of I-35W Bridge

Washington Avenue, cross river, Washington Avenue (U of M Minneapolis campus), to University Avenue W, University Avenue W to Hwy 280, Hwy 280 north to Como Avenue.  Como Ave east to fairgrounds.

I-94 east to Hwy 280.  Hwy 280 exit is outside lane after Huron Blvd exit (U of M), Hwy 280 north to Como Avenue, east on Como Avenue to fairgrounds. 

Lake Street Bridge, cross river (Lake Street becomes Marshall Avenue), Marshall Avenue to Cleveland Avenue, north on Cleveland to University Avenue W, west on University Avenue to Raymond Avenue, and north on Raymond to Como Avenue, Como Ave east to fairgrounds.

Hwy 5 to West 7th Street, west on 7th Street to I-35 E north, I-35 E to I-94 west.  Follow signs.  I-94 W to Snelling Avenue, north on Snelling Avenue to Como Avenue, west on Como to fairgrounds.

Phone: General Informaiton: (651) 288-4400; Tickets: (651) 288-4427.

Physical Mailing Address: 1265 Snelling Ave. N., St. Paul, MN 55108-3099