Arts & Entertainment

Minnesota State Fair Shatters Previous Opening Day Attendance Record

Thursday's crowd was the largest opening day turnout in the fair's history.

Crowds fill the grounds at the Minnesota State Fair, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, in Falcon Heights, Minn.
Crowds fill the grounds at the Minnesota State Fair, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, in Falcon Heights, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)

FALCON HEIGHTS, MN — The Minnesota State Fair opened on a record note Thursday, drawing 155,185 visitors to the fairgrounds, according to attendance figures posted by fair officials.

The turnout topped the previous Thursday opening-day record of 138,875, set in 2024, making it the highest single-day attendance for the fair's opening Thursday in its history.

Fairgoers this year have plenty of new options to fuel the record crowds.

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The fair rolled out 36 new food and drink items and nine new vendors for 2026, bringing the total lineup to roughly 1,600 offerings across nearly 300 concession stands.

Standouts include a pickle-flavored pie from LuLu's Public House, a Korean barbecue bao bun, a lobster-topped burger from Cafe Caribe, and a dill pickle cookie.

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New vendors range from a dirty soda stand to a smoked turkey barbecue spot.

This year's Minnesota State Fair runs from Aug. 27 through Sept. 7, 2026.

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