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Nancy Yang

This is the least-crowded day to go to the State Fair

State Fair crowds
The best day to go to the Minnesota State Fair is on the first day. It typically draws the "fewest" number of visitors.
Jim Mone | AP

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Updated: Aug. 22, 2018| Posted: Aug. 23, 2017

If long lines and huge crowds aren't your thing — but Pronto Pups and carnival rides are — listen up: The least crowded day to visit the Minnesota State Fair is also the first day.

On average, the first Thursday — typically the first day of the Great Minnesota Get-Together — draws about 107,482 people, the "lowest" number of daily visitors during the fair's 12-day run, according to attendance figures from the past six years.

Compare that to 233,514: the highest number of daily visitors, on average, for the last Saturday of the fair. In 2016, the fair even set a new attendance record, with 260,374 on its last Saturday.

Now wait a sec, you say. What if I can't go to the fair on the first day because I have to work?

Your next-best bet is to plan ahead and take a personal day on either Tuesday or Wednesday. On average, each of those days draws around 118,000 and 116,000 visitors respectively.

State Fair attendance, 2012-2017

Daily attendance figures for the Minnesota State Fair from 2012 to 2017. Source: Minnesota State Fair.  Nancy Yang | MPR News