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.

New chief leading Minnesota State Fair police force
Art Blakey retired last year after 37 years as the chief of the fair's police force; he passed away earlier this summer. Blakey's one-time deputy, Paul Paulos, has now succeeded him.
State Fair's newspaper museum preserves piece of journalism's past
The Minnesota Newspaper Museum has been running for 31 years at the State Fair. They feature a simulation of a 1930s-era newspaper press with Linotype, printing press and folder machines. As print newspapers today face down growing challenges, the museum hopes to keep the tradition alive.
Church launches campaign to replace ancient fair ovens
The Minnesota State Fair's oldest food vendor needs four new ovens. The popular Hamline Church Dining Hall is getting by with a backup oven this year. But it hopes to raise $25,000 so it can buy new stoves before next year's fair.
At fair, Smith and Housley disagree on much, especially Trump
One of the hardest fought campaigns this fall is the U.S. Senate contest between Democrat Tina Smith and Republican Karin Housley. The candidates have been making their pitch to voters at the State Fair.
Reptile show at the Minnesota State Fair goes on without founder
Monty's Traveling Reptile Show continues to entertain fairgoers even without its namesake proprietor to welcome them. Monty Krizan, the show's founder and namesake, died in April of heart failure at age 74.
New apple variety debuts at State Fair
The First Kiss apple was developed at the University of Minnesota. It's based off a Honeycrisp apple but ripens up to a month earlier, about Aug. 20 -- right around fair time.