State Fair

The 2024 Minnesota State Fair runs Aug. 22 to Sept. 2. For all of the events at the MPR booth and Dan Patch Park, go to mpr.org/statefair.

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.
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.
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.
Severe storms roll through Twin Cities, cause flooding at Minnesota State Fair
The National Weather Service says multiple EF 0 tornadoes hit east of downtown St. Paul and in suburban cities in Dakota county. Visitors at the Minnesota State Fair scrambled for cover amid flash flooding on the fairgrounds.
Free skin cancer screenings, sun safety teachings at the State Fair
M Health Fairview and the University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center will administer free skin cancer checks Saturday to the public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Here’s what they’ll be looking for, a look at skin cancer statistics in Minnesota and tips on how to keep yourself safe out in the sun.
Infrequently Asked Fair Questions: What happens at the Minnesota State Fair overnight?
Each day of the Minnesota State Fair, tens of thousands of people visit the fairgrounds. But what happens after they all leave? MPR News reporter Tim Nelson has been covering the fair for decades, at all hours of the day, and found the answer.