Take that, inflation: Minnesota State Fair ticket prices will stay flat for 2024
Updated 1:12 p.m.
While costs of a lot of things are on the rise due to inflation, Minnesota State Fair tickets won’t be one of them this year.
The Minnesota Agricultural Society Board of Managers — the 10-member panel that runs the Minnesota State Fair — on Sunday voted to keep ticket prices flat for the 2024 event.
That means that adult tickets will hold steady at $18 a piece, while seniors and kids ages 5 through 12 will be charged $16 for admission and children under 5 years old will get in for free. First day attendees will see lower ticket prices ($16 for adults and $13 for kids and seniors) and special kids and senior days discounts will remain in place.
“We understand we have a high level of programming and expenses but we also feel it's important that we continue on with incredible value to the fair,” Minnesota State Fair CEO Renee Alexander said. “We know that that prices are going up and we want to try and still be that affordable, valuable experience. We know how much Minnesotans love the fair and and we want to make sure we can make it as accessible as to as many people as we possibly can.”
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The board $10 million in new projects at the fair grounds including the planting of new trees, placement of shade shelters, replacement of windows and doors on the Fine Arts building and a new roof on the Arcade building. A new ticket booth is also set to be constructed at the Grandstand, replacing temporary structures there.
Parking rates are also set to remain flat for 2024. Car parking at the fair will cost $20 and motorcycle parking will run $15.
The last time the fair kept ticket prices flat from one year to the next was in 2018.
The 2024 Minnesota State Fair is set to run Aug. 22 through Sept. 2.