Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
MPR News Staff

State Fair attendance on record pace through first three days

Crowds pack the streets and the sky ride on the first day of the Fair.
Crowds pack the streets and the sky ride on the first day of the Minnesota State Fair in Falcon Heights, Minn. on Thursday, August 23, 2018.
Evan Frost | MPR News

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

The Minnesota State Fair has set two daily attendance records in the first three days of this year's 12-day run.

Fair officials on Sunday annnounced that Saturday's attendance was 222,194 — more than 20,000 above the previous first-Saturday record of 202,126, set in 1998.

Saturday's events at the fair included The Current's "Music on a Stick" concert at the Grandstand, headlined by Minnesota bluegrass band Trampled By Turtles.

The fair also set a daily record on Thursday — the fair's opening day — when 122,695 people passed through the gates. Friday saw a slip in attendance thanks to rainy conditions.

Overall, through the first three days of the fair, 452,948 people had attended the fair. That's more than 50,000 ahead of the first three days in 2017, when the fair set its overall attendance record of just short of 2 million people (1,997,320).

There's a chance for rain in the Twin Cities on Sunday night, and again on Monday and Tuesday.