Twin Cities Area County Fairs and the Minnesota State Fair!
SUMMER 2026 LIST
It’s time for summer fairs!
Note that the larger fairs will have an admission price, and the smaller fairs will be free. Note that this information is based on each fair’s website at the time of posting and may change.
(See bottom of list for my tips on having a great time with kids!)
JUNE
Hennepin County Fair: June 12 – 14
7205 County Rd 101, Corcoran, MN 55340
JULY
Ramsey County Fair: July 16-29.
Held in Maplewood. Historic Barn, 2020 White Bear Avenue, Maplewood, MN 55109.
Free admission! Parking is now $10.
Cancelled from 2020 to 2025, it’s back for 2026!
Sherburne County Fair. July 16 – 19.
Held in Elk River, about 30 minutes west of Minneapolis.
$5 entry for ages 6 and up
Sherburne County Fairgrounds
13372 Business Center Drive
Elk River, MN 55330
Rice County Fair: July 22-26.
Held in Faribault, about an hour south of Minneapolis. At the Rice County Fairgrounds.
Chisago County Fair: July 9-12.
Held in Rush City, about an hour north of Minneapolis.
2025 info: Free admission. $5 daily parking or $10 for a 4 day parking pass. $30 for a Ridepass. Some events have fees.
St. Croix County Fair, Wisconsin: July 15-19.
Held in Glenwood City, WI, about an hour east of the Twin Cities.
Parking is $10 per day or $25 for a 4 day parking pass.
Anoka County Fair: July 21-26.
Held in Anoka.
2025 info: Admission is $15 for age 13 & older, $10 for ages 6-12, FREE for ages 5 & under. Includes Grandstand shows and parking. Advance tickets are cheaper. Tuesday is Kids Day, Wednesday is Senior Day. Check their website for other specials.
Scott County Fair: July 22-26.
Held in Jordan, southwest of the Twin Cities.
No admission fee but parking is $15 per vehicle (regardless of how many people – great excuse to carpool!). Motorcycles are $5 to park. They also have a season parking pass for $30. Thursday is Kids Day and parking is free if there are youth 12 and under in the car until 3pm. Friday is Veterans/Senior Day – FREE parking for veterans and seniors over the age of 65 until 3:00pm. Separate costs for Grandstand admission and carnival rides.
AUGUST
Washington County Fair: July 29 – August 2.
Held in Stillwater.
Last year’s info: Daily admission is $12.00 for age 8 and up, FREE for ages 7 & under. Discounts for senior and military. Cash/check only at gates. Season passes also available in advance. Free parking.
Dakota County Fair: August 10-16.
Held in Farmington, about 45 minutes south of Minneapolis.
Pricing not yet listed. In 2025 – $10 daily parking fee. No admission price for fair. (We’ve been to this one and had a blast.)
Goodhue County Fair: August 11-15.
Held in Zumbrota, 90 minutes SE of Minneapolis. Daily Admission $7, Season Gate Pass $20, and under 12 years FREE.
Friday is Senior Citizen Day. Seniors 65+ Get Free Gate Admission – Open ALL DAY!
Steele County Fair: August 18-23.
Held in Owatonna, 60 minutes south of the Twin Cities. Free admission. Grandstand events are ticketed. The Steele County Free Fair is the largest county fair in Minnesota and welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
Carver County Fair: August 12-16.
2025 info: Held in Waconia. $9.00 for ages 7 through adult, FREE for ages 6 & under. FREE for all on Sunday after 6pm. Special days for military and senior citizens. Grandstand Season passes available.
Minnesota State Fair! August 27 – Labor Day, September 7.
Held at the State Fairgrounds in St. Paul.
2026 Ticket Prices:
- Pre-fair discount admission tickets for all ages through Aug. 26: $17. These tickets are now available online and are valid any day of the fair and for any age.
- Regular fair-time admission at the gate: Adults (ages 13-64) – $20; Seniors (65+) and Kids (ages 5-12) – $18; Children (4 and under) – always free
- Promotional day discounts will continue to be offered on Opening Day, Aug. 27; Seniors Days, Aug. 31 and Sept. 3; Military Appreciation Day, Sept. 1; and Kids Days, Sept. 2 and 7
- On-site car parking: $25
Watch for my tips for the Minnesota State Fair this summer! For example, park in a free lot and take a free bus!
Tips for fair-going with kids
1. Bring lots of ICE water! Expect hot temps and lots of sweating. If you don’t bring water, expect to pay at least $1.00 per water bottle.
2. Bring cash for: rides (typically $1.00 per ticket, where a standard ride is 3-5 tickets), food (I spent $8.00 on lemonade alone, even though I had water, too), games (if you can’t resist), souvenirs, etc.
3. Take photos!
4. If it’s a hot day, try to plan your visit for early morning or late afternoon. Though many activities and shows take place in the middle of the day, you can still have plenty of fun earlier or later. If you do go in the middle of the day (like we did), take plenty of breaks under sheltered areas like tents or buildings.
5. Bring something to use as a personal fan. There was a church that gave out thick paper glued to popsicle sticks that were to used as personal fans, which we did! That was a great idea. Before you go, maybe involve the kids in making “fans” like this to bring along to help keep cool.
6. Bring baby wipes or wet wipes. Your children will be touching a lot of animals. Trust me!
Hope you have fun! -Lisa
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