Minnesota State Fair announces 5-day walk-through event this month
Minnesotans can get their fix of the Minnesota State Fair a bit early this year.
The Fair is hosting a "Kickoff to Summer at the Fair" event May 27-31, featuring food, beer, live music, shopping, the Giant Slide and other activities at the fairgrounds.
“Last year’s Food Parades were a big hit, but they were also very limited,” State Fair General Manager Jerry Hammer said in a news release. “This year, we’re very happy to bring people back in a walk-around environment to enjoy a slice of the fair.”
Hammer added about this year's State Fair, “We don’t know exactly what it will look like, but we’re staying very flexible with our planning and looking forward to the 2021 Great Minnesota Get-Back Together in August.”
Gov. Tim Walz has said there's a good chance that the State Fair will be able to return "pretty close to normal," with details expected to be revealed as the fair draws near.
Tickets
Tickets for a specific day and timeslot will be sold via a lottery, with the capacity for each timeslot set at 10,000 to meet public health and safety guidelines amid the pandemic.
Tickets are $12.50 each, but children 4 and younger are free with a child ticket.
You can register for the lottery online here until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, May 6. Those who register will be randomly selected to buy tickets, and they'll be limited to six tickets (including child tickets). You'll find out likely around 8 a.m. Monday, May 10, what group you're in to buy a ticket.
Those who attend are required to wear facemasks and must be seated when eating or drinking.
Food
The food vendors who will be at the walk-around even this month are:
- Al’s Subs & Malt Shop
- Andy’s Grille
- Ball Park Cafe
- Bayou Bob’s
- Big Fat Bacon
- Blue Moon Dine-In Theater
- Café Caribe, Coasters
- Dino’s Gyros
- El Sol Mexican Foods
- Fresh French Fries
- Hansen’s Foot Long Hot Dogs & Corn Dogs
- Hildebrand Concessions
- Mancini’s al Fresco
- Minnesnowii Shave Ice
- Mouth Trap Cheese Curds
- The Perfect Pickle
- Produce Exchange
- Pronto Pups
- Que Viet Concessions
- Sweets & Treats
- Sweet Martha’s Cookie Jar
- Tiny Tim Donuts
- West Indies Soul Food
Merchants
In addition to entertainment, food and drink, merchants will also be selling their goods at the fairgrounds, including:
- Angry Minnow Vintage and Crowned Crow
- Crystal Visions
- Gentleman Forager
- GoodThings
- Hagen and Oats
- Minnesota Rusco
- Paddle North (the sponsor of this event)
- Paul’s Porch Pots
- Sota Clothing
- Star Tribune
- State FairWear and Gold Country
- Whatnot Boutique
