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State Fair

The 2025 Minnesota State Fair runs Aug. 21 through Sept. 1. For all of the events at the MPR booth and Dan Patch Park, go to mpr.org/statefair.

Infrequently Asked Fair Questions: Where do the 4-H kids sleep?

Infrequently Asked Fair Questions: Where do the 4-H kids sleep?

Most people associate 4-H kids at the Minnesota State Fair with animals. When you go to the fair, you see these hard-working farm kids prodding pigs, shearing sheep and cozying up with cows — all in hopes of earning a ribbon. The animals stay in the barns. But where do the kids that brought them go at night?

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Appetites live at the state fair with Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl

Appetites live at the state fair with Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl

On the last Appetites, Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl made some predictions about which new state fair foods will get the glory. She returns to see how they held up and fields questions from fairgoers in a special live broadcast from the fairgrounds with MPR News host Tom Crann.
by Tom Crann and Megan Burks

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Infrequently Asked Fair Questions: What happens to all the manure at the Minnesota State Fair?

Infrequently Asked Fair Questions: What happens to all the manure at the Minnesota State Fair?

Hundreds of farm animals are shown every year at the Minnesota State Fair — and where you find farm animals, you know you’re going to find something else. Manure. Lots and lots of manure. Where does it all go?
by Tim Nelson and Tom Crann

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How to manage the MN State Fair if you are sensitive to over-stimulation

How to manage the MN State Fair if you are sensitive to over-stimulation

Jillian Nelson, Community Resource and Policy Advocate with the Autism Society of Minnesota, talks with Cathy Wurzer about strategies to find places of calm at the fair, particularly for those who are neurodivergent.
by Cathy Wurzer and Britt Aamodt

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The tight competition for this year's State Fair top baker award

The tight competition for this year's State Fair top baker award

The best bakers of Minnesota submitted their breads, cakes, cookies and pies and this year there was a tie for Supreme Baker — or so they thought. Chad O'Leary and Kimberly Maize both were named the Supreme Bakers for this year. But then in a twist, competition organizers realized they made a mistake. Cathy Wurzer talks with runner-up Chad O’Leary.
by Cathy Wurzer, Ellen Finn and Melissa Townsend

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Union Hmong Kitchen becomes State Fair's first Hmong restaurant

Union Hmong Kitchen becomes State Fair's first Hmong restaurant

Nearly 50 years after the first Hmong refugees arrived in the Twin Cities, the Minnesota State Fair has its first Hmong food vendor. Chef Yia Vang’s Union Hmong Kitchen is attracting big crowds to the fair’s International Bazaar.
by Grace Birnstengel

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A look at a young 4-H member's first trip to the state fair — and her blue ribbon rabbit

A look at a young 4-H member's first trip to the state fair — and her blue ribbon rabbit

More than 7,000 Minnesota youth are with their animals at the State Fair this year. Cathy Wurzer spoke with Denica Sleiter of Morris, Minn. about her rabbit.
by Cathy Wurzer, Melissa Townsend and Ellen Finn

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