The Minnesota State Fair just announced a few changes for the 2022 fair. Plus, discounted ticket prices are available now through January 31st so if you know you are going this year, you may want to purchase your tickets now.
Changes
Because COVID cancelled the fair in 2020, and impacted the fair in 2021, the Minnesota State Fair reported significant financial loss in the past 2 years. Their operating loss was $16.5 million in 2020 and $1.3 million in 2021. But they are planning to have the fair again this year in 2022.
Operating hours will be changed in 2022. They are open one hour later and closed one hour earlier each day.
From Thursday, August 25th through Sunday, September 4th, their hours are 7:00am to 11:00pm. Previously it was 6:00am to midnight.
On Labor Day, September 5th, their hours will be 7:00am to 9:00pm. Last year they were open 6:00am to 9:00pm on Labor Day.
This probably won’t affect fairgoers much (I’m not an early bird or a night owl so I wouldn’t want to be there outside those times anyway), but it may lower revenue for vendors.
TICKETS
Ticket prices are going up this year. They are going up $1 in each category – adults, kids and seniors. Regular gate admission for adults 13 – 64 will be $17, and for kids 5-12 and seniors 65+ will be $15.
The pre-fair admission rate will be $14.
BUT you can lock a discounted rate of $13 for all ages if you purchase tickets by January 31st.
More information: https://www.mnstatefair.org/tickets/admission-tickets/
Not sure?
The pre-fair ticket rate is only going up $1 per ticket February 1st, and may also apply to discount days during the fair. So you can still save money.
Are we going?
In 2021 we did not go, and we’re not sure about this year. It seems the closer we get to being past COVID, the further the end becomes. (If that makes sense?) We’ve gone most years and always have a great time, and I have had a lot of fun previewing foods at the Minnesota State Fair.
I am from South Dakota, 5 hours away from the Twin Cities. My wife and I dropped our daughter off for school at Bethel University in August of 1997. We had most of the day remaining after that and wondered what we could do . Someone suggested the State Fair. We had no idea where or what it was like so we hopped on a shuttle bus and went. We were hooked ! I haven’t missed going in the past 25 years except for the no fair covid year, my wife only missed twice. It sounds funny, but it is the onething in my life that I look most forward to every year !! Thank You so much !!! 🙂