Why the Great Minnesota Get-Together is America's most attended daily state fair

Cultures · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Spanning 322 acres in Falcon Heights, the Minnesota State Fair draws roughly two million visitors every year. While it ranks second in total attendance behind Texas, it holds the top spot for average daily crowds. From butter-carved princesses to seed-based celebrity portraits, it remains a unique cultural institution.

The fair traces its roots to 1854, though the inaugural state-sanctioned event occurred in 1859. After decades of rotating locations, including Rochester and Owatonna, a committee selected the former Ramsey County Poor Farm as a permanent, neutral site between Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The fairgrounds officially opened there on September 7, 1885, on a 210-acre plot that has since expanded to its current size. It has operated as a self-sustaining entity since 1949, receiving no government funding.

Tradition defines the experience, most notably through the annual selection of Princess Kay of the Milky Way. Since 1964, the winner has sat inside a refrigerated glass booth while a sculptor carves her likeness from a 90-pound block of butter. Other staples include the Midway, the historic 1915 Ye Old Mill, and the Grandstand, which hosts major concerts and once served as a venue for stock car racing until 2002. The fair also serves as a massive seasonal employer, hiring approximately 3,000 temporary workers for its 12-day run.

The fair has faced significant interruptions, including cancellations during the Civil War, the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, and the 1946 polio outbreak. Most recently, the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic forced a total cancellation, leading to the creation of the 'Kickoff To Summer' event in 2021 to test the fair's return. Despite these challenges, the event remains a cornerstone of regional identity, celebrated for its diverse agricultural competitions, eclectic food offerings—ranging from deep-fried candy bars to hotdish on a stick—and its enduring commitment to showcasing Minnesota's rural and urban heritage.

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