Minnesota State Fair 2026

The Great Minnesota Get-Together runs daily from Thursday, August 27 through Labor Day, Monday, September 7 at the State Fairgrounds in St. Paul. The grounds are open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day (until 8 p.m. on Labor Day), with the food stands, animal barns, Midway rides, free stages and all the rest going the whole time.

Gate admission is $20 for adults and $18 for seniors and kids 5 to 12, with kids 4 and under free. Pre-fair tickets are $17 through Wednesday, August 26, sold online and at most Cub Foods stores.

The easiest way there from Prior Lake: MVTA runs State Fair express buses every day of the fair from Southbridge Crossings Park and Ride in Shakopee and from Burnsville Transit Station, starting at 7 a.m. Tickets are $6 round trip (RideMVTA app, cash or card at the station), and buses drop off right at the Gate 16 Transit Hub. That beats the $25 parking lots at the fairgrounds by a wide margin. Full schedules and the fair’s own free park and ride list are at mnstatefair.org.