Minnesota State Fair 2016: What You Need to Know

The Great Minnesota Get-Together, otherwise known as the Minnesota State Fair, is 12 days long and runs from Aug. 25 through Labor Day, Sept. 5.

Before heading out to the fairgrounds, find important information about this year's state fair here.

2016 State Fair Admission Tickets

Pre-fair discount admission tickets for the 2016 Minnesota State Fair are on sale now for $10.

Discount tickets can be purchased at:

• The State Fair Ticket Office on the fairgrounds through Aug. 24
• The customer service centers of participating Cub stores through Aug. 24. View a list of locations.
• Many locations in greater Minnesota and Hudson, Wis., through Aug. 24. View a list of locations.

Regular State Fair Ticket Prices:

• Adults (13-64): $13
• Seniors (65+): $11
• Kids (5-12): $11
• Children (Under 5): Free

Fairgrounds parking lots are open from 6 a.m. to midnight (6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Labor Day).

Parking Fees: $13 per vehicle* (cash only)

$26 per vehicle with trailer (cash only)

Grandstand Shows

Artists performing at the 2016 State Fair include Don Henley, the Dixie Chicks, Weezer, and Garrison Keillor. View the complete lineup here.

An interactive map of the entire fairgrounds can be viewed here.

Express Bus Service

State Fair Express buses operate from 21 Twin Cities locations. For State Fair transit information, call (612) 373-3333. Use the State Fair Express Finder to find locations. Express buses serve the State Fair Transit Hub, which is on the west side of the fairgrounds.

Service Every Day, Aug. 25 to Sept. 5:

Cash or Bus Bargain Tickets accepted at these locations. Service Approximately Every 15 Minutes.

National Sports Center – Blaine
1700 105th Ave. NE, Blaine, MN 55449

Bottineau Blvd. & 63rd Ave. – Brooklyn Park
7000 63rd Ave. N., Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

I-394 & Co. Rd. 73 Park & Ride – Minnetonka
1100 Hopkins Crossroads, Minnetonka, MN 55305
Southwest corner of I-394 & County Road 73

Parade Stadium/Dunwoody College of Technology – Minneapolis
600 Kenwood Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55403
I-394 & Dunwoody Boulevard

Bloomington – 82nd Street & 24th Avenue South
Across from Mall of America east parking ramp

Service Every Half Hour:

Fridley Station – Fridley
6050 Main Street, Fridley, MN 55432
61st Avenue & Main Street Northeast, board at east lot

Marcus Oakdale Cinema – Oakdale
5677 Hadley Ave. N. Oakdale, MN 55128

Signal Hills Shopping Center – West St. Paul
1201 S. Robert St., St. Paul, MN 55118
South Robert Street & Butler Avenue (near Kmart)

Cottage Grove Park & Ride – Cottage Grove
7500 West Point Douglas Rd. S., Cottage Grove, MN 55016
Along Highway 61 between 80th Street and Jamaica Avenue

Maplewood Mall Transit Center – Maplewood
1793 Beam Ave., Maplewood, MN 55109
Board on Southlawn Drive

Newport Transit Station – Newport
250 Red Rock Crossing, Newport, MN 55055

Weekends and Labor Day Only:

Cash or Bus Bargain Tickets accepted at these locations.

Service Approximately Every 15 Minutes

Knox Ave. Park & Ride at Best Buy – Richfield
7701 Knox Ave., Richfield, MN 55423

Service Approximately Every Half Hour

Maple Grove Transit Station – I-94 & Hemlock Lane

More Express Service:

Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (Return service is from noon to midnight)

Burnsville Transit Station – Hourly service on weekdays 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; service every 30 minutes from 8 a.m. on weekends and Labor Day.
12155 Nicollet Ave., Burnsville, MN 55337
Highway 13 and Nicollet Avenue

Eagan Transit Station – Hourly service on weekdays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; service every 30 minutes from 8 a.m. on weekends and Labor Day.
3470 Pilot Knob Rd., Eagan, MN 55123
Yankee Doodle Road and Pilot Knob Road at I-35E

Marschall Road Transit Station – Hourly service from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends and Labor Day.
1615 Weston Court, Shakopee, MN 55379
Highway 169 and County Road 17

SouthWest Transit (Cash Only)

Wooddale Church – Weekdays only.
Service approximately every half hour from 8 a.m.
6630 Shady Oak Rd., Eden Prairie, MN 55344

SouthWest Station – Weekends & Labor Day only.
Service approximately every half hour from 7 a.m.
13500 Technology Dr., Eden Prairie, MN 55344

SouthWest Village – Weekends & Labor Day only.
Service approximately every half hour from 7 a.m.
650 SouthWest Village Dr., Chanhassen, MN 55317
Highway 212 and Highway 101

East Creek Station – Weekends & Labor Day only.
Service approximately every half hour from 7 a.m.
2120 Chestnut St. N., Chaska, MN 55318
Highway 212 and Highway 41

Carver Station – Weekends & Labor Day only.
Service approximately every half hour from 7 a.m.
1607 Hartwell Dr., Carver, MN
Jonathan Carver Parkway and Ironwood Drive

Image: m01229 via Flickr /Creative Commons