MINNESOTA STATE FAIR,2025: The Parade.

The Minnesota State Fair—a.k.a "The Great Minnesota Get-Together." It is the largest state fair in the U.S. by daily attendance and the second-largest overall after Texas.
The fair offers a wide spectrum of experiences—from agriculture and arts to entertainment, culinary treats, and quirky traditions.
What to Expect
Food Galore
• Over 300 official vendors serving more than 1,600 items—including 33 entirely new items and 8 new vendors in 2025 .
• Notables include a pickle-infused iced tea (courtesy of Loon Lake Iced Tea), loaded fries with Somali beef suqaar, tandoori chicken quesadillas, and indulgent creations from Patisserie 46 like a Honeycrisp apple pull-apart doughnut and a banana s’more crumb cake .
• And don’t forget Sweet Martha’s Cookies, the fair’s top-selling treat—they bake up to 3 million cookies on busy days .
Tickets & Pricing
• Pre-fair discount admission: Around $17 if purchased before August 21 .
• Gate prices (Aug 21 – Sept 1): Adults $20; Seniors (65+) $18; Kids (5–12) $18; Kids under 5 are free .
Getting There & Accessibility
• Parking: On-site or street parking runs about $25/day. Expect high demand .
• Park-and-Ride: Over 30 free lots offer shuttle service into the fair using buses or the U of M Transitway—this system handled over 1.8 million rides in 2023 .
• Alternative transport: Metro Transit State Fair Express ($5 via app, $6 cash), bikes, scooters, and rideshares are supported—with free bike corrals and designated drop-off zones .