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State Fair
Lisa Ryan

2024 Minnesota State Fair bus usage broke transit records

A crowded street at a state fair
Fairgoers line Liggett Street at the Minnesota State Fair on Aug. 28.
Ben Hovland | MPR News

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Minnesota State Fair attendance was up this year — and so were the number of people using buses to get there.

The Minnesota Valley Transit Authority announced Wednesday that it set a State Fair ridership record this year with 127,220 rides, which eclipsed last year's record ridership by about 16,500.

It said the daily ridership tracked closely with the fair’s daily attendance, which broke five records. The south metro’s public transit provider set six daily shuttle bus records during the 12 days of the fair.

This year the fair saw 1,925,904 total visitors.

“It was a very interesting year with ebbs and flows based on the weather,” MVTA Chief executive officer Luther Wynder said in a statement. “The extreme heat on the first Monday and threats of storms during the week kept attendance down. People were ready to go on the days with pleasant forecasts.”

Metro Transit also saw an increase compared to last year’s State Fair ridership. The Twin Cities’ public transit operator announced Wednesday it provided nearly 331,000 express and regular route rides, a 14 percent increase from 2023.

Minnesota Valley Transit Authority bus
Minnesota Valley Transit Authority ridership was tracking slightly behind last year’s pace, but a record-setting Labor Day weekend made the difference.
Courtesy of Minnesota Valley Transit Authority

It said the increase is due in part to adding two new Park & Rides, which provided express bus service to the fairgrounds from Maplewood and Maple Grove.

“These busy past few weeks underscore just how important transit is to our community,” Metro Transit general manager Lesley Kandaras said in a statement. “Thank you to everyone who rode with us, and to all the staff who came together to provide convenient, reliable and environmentally sustainable transportation during one of the busiest times of year.”

Now that the State Fair is done, Minnesota Valley Transit Authority said it will shift additional buses to serve the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, which continues through the end of the month.