Minnesota State Fair 101: Your guide to the Great Minnesota Get-Together for 2023

EMILY BRIGHT: It's Minnesota Now. I'm Emily Bright in for Cathy Wurzer. In just two days, visitors will begin to pour through the gates of the Minnesota State Fairgrounds for what is usually one of the biggest events of the year.

MPR News Digital Producer Nicole Johnson is going to the state fair for the first time this year, and she has been doing a lot of research. She wrote a guide to help everyone, whether you're a newcomer, a seasoned fairgoer, or somewhere in between, make the most of the great Minnesota Get-Together. And she is here with me in studio now.

Hello, Nicole.

NICOLE JOHNSON: Hi, Emily. Thanks for having me.

EMILY BRIGHT: Yeah. Well, I'm so glad we're talking about this now because there is still time to get early tickets, right?

NICOLE JOHNSON: Yeah, right now you can buy pre-fair discount tickets online at mnstatefair.org for only $15. And if you have a Cub Foods nearby, you can check if it is a participating store, and you can purchase tickets there through Wednesday. Now, it is important to know that we're limited to 12 tickets per order. So, well, you can also buy tickets at the gate, and they cost $18 for adults this year.

EMILY BRIGHT: Now, there are separate fees for grandstand shows and attractions, right? How does that work?

NICOLE JOHNSON: Yeah, unfortunately, the grandstand show tickets are a separate deal. So if you buy tickets for, let's say, the Jonas Brothers, you'll still need to buy a general admission ticket to enjoy the state fair. And now you will need a Fun Card to enjoy most Midway and Kidway rides. And I want to highlight the word "most rides" because if you want to go to the Skyride, let's say, you'll have to pay by card or cash.

EMILY BRIGHT: Do you have any advice for how to get to the fair?

NICOLE JOHNSON: You have plenty of options. Do we have time?

EMILY BRIGHT: Go for it.

NICOLE JOHNSON: One of the most common ways is by car. Parking hours start at 6:00 AM, but they tend to fill quickly. So while you can leave fairgrounds at any point, someone else can take your spot as soon as you leave. Parking costs $20. So my personal advice is not to abandon your parking spot and save those $20 for foot-long corn dogs.

If you absolutely have to leave, a good option is to use public transportation. And this is also the cheapest option. So for $6 cash, you can get a ride to and from the fair via this State Fair Express Bus.

So the services start at 9:00 AM on weekdays, 8:00 AM on weekends and Labor Day. And the last return bus is at midnight. So these buses will drop you off at different points in the Twin Cities metro area, where you can also park for free.

Now, if you prefer to share a taxi or take an Uber or Lyft, there will be designated drop off and pick up spaces that, well, I specify in the guide. Now, if you live close enough to the fair, you could bike to the fair and park it in a bike area. It is monitored. And, well, parking hours for bikes are different, depending on which gate do you park. I also have the detailed hours in my piece. The cost for that is $15.

Now, if you're cool enough to ride a motorcycle, there will be a designated space at the main parking lots for $20. And the fair also offers a motorcycle lot on Como Avenue for $15. Parking hours also start at 6:00 AM over there.

EMILY BRIGHT: That is all super helpful. So what should people bring?

NICOLE JOHNSON: I think that it really depends on the person. But I wanted to come up with a list of ideas based on my experience from going to lots of other festivals and fairs. Well, first of all, at least a water bottle, even the plastic one, so you can refill it and save some money. You should wear comfy shoes. You should charge your phone, maybe bring a portable charger.

You should also bring a map, especially if you're not a fair pro just like me, some cash, summer gear unless it rains outside. Of course, hand sanitizer, napkins, and a little bag so you can carry all those important items. But the most important thing to me is to actually have a plan. Knowing what to do and where to go will save you hours, trust me. So, Emily, let me tell you about a little planning tip.

EMILY BRIGHT: OK.

NICOLE JOHNSON: So the Minnesota State Fair website, it offers a possibility of finding food or shop vendors through search filters. This tool is really helpful because you're able to filter hundreds of vendors by category, or you can pick a specific location, or you can just type a keyword of what you're most interested in. And, well, once you know where your favorite items are located, my advice is print out a map of the fairgrounds, and then you'll know where to go to get them.

EMILY BRIGHT: That sounds like really good planning. What should people not bring?

NICOLE JOHNSON: Oh, many things. So people should know they will have to walk through a metal detector. The forbidden items are drugs, alcohol. You also cannot smoke cannabis. But you can smoke tobacco or electronic cigarettes in designated areas.

Pets are also forbidden, even emotional support animals. No selfie sticks or drones, no weapons, or even that fun lighter that looks like a gun. No bikes or skates. You should be able to park your bike outside. Now, wheelchairs are allowed, of course. People can bring their own or rent them at the fairgrounds.

EMILY BRIGHT: The fair is super fun. But the cost can add up really fast, especially if you're coming with a family. So what do you recommend for people who are trying to get the experience but stick to a budget?

NICOLE JOHNSON: Well, from my research, they should get the Blue Ribbon Bargain Book, which has more than 100 coupons for food and attractions. The state fair is selling those alongside pre-fair discount tickets. I would also like people to know that there are special day discounts on admission tickets for particular groups, such as seniors or kids.

Also, I would recommend enjoying all the free events the fair offers. There are more than 500 events that will take place in those 12 days. And believe me, they really look amazing. And again, if you have a plan ahead of time, you'll be able to create a budget and kind of know how much you will be spending that day.

EMILY BRIGHT: Well, I know, Nicole, that you've been making a plan for yourself. Is there anything in particular you're excited about?

NICOLE JOHNSON: Of course. Well, I'm Peruvian, and this might sound a little biased, but there's one event in particular that I'm really looking forward to going, which is a Pan-Latino day on September 2. It will be a Latino festival of music, dance, and art. And it is organized by La Raza radio, which is the top Latin station in Minnesota.

I also love to dance, so I'm really excited about the dance classes, the Latin dance classes. I also think that mariachi is pure art, so I would love to listen to Mariachi Son de Morelos. And also, I know that there is a group called Rumba Nueva, and I would love to hear them play tropical music.

EMILY BRIGHT: Wow. That all sounds like a lot of fun. So I love the fair, but it can be a lot, especially for people with sensory issues. Last year, we talked with Jillian Nelson from the Autism Society in Minnesota about how people who are neurodivergent and sensitive to a lot of stimulation can approach the fair. Are there options for folks who need a quieter space this year?

NICOLE JOHNSON: Sure. I know that the Fraser Sensory Building on Cosgrove, which is located near the home improvement building, is one option that will be available again this year. It is a quieter space with some activities that are designed for people with sensory sensitivities.

I know that it will be open from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM each day of the fair except on Labor Day, which is, well, the last day of the fair, when it closes at 8:00 PM. And this year, there's also a special session at the Mighty Midway and the Kidway for those visitors who are sensitive to overstimulation. I know that what the fair is planning to do is to tone down the lights and sounds on the rides for a few hours on Monday, August 28.

EMILY BRIGHT: Last question. What other stories from the fair are you covering?

NICOLE JOHNSON: I am currently working on a piece about the Latino community at the fair. I've been talking to vendors, chefs, event organizers, artists, and they're all putting their hearts and souls into showcasing their cultures. Many of them have been working at the state fair for decades. And I'm really excited to give them a voice. And I am also planning to translate that particular piece into Spanish.

EMILY BRIGHT: Thank you, Nicole.

NICOLE JOHNSON: Thank you.

EMILY BRIGHT: Nicole Johnson is a digital producer for MPR News, and you can find her guide and all our state fair coverage at mprnews.org. And the Minnesota Now team is gearing up to cover the state fair as well, from meeting a blue ribbon baker to a day in the life of a draft horse, talking to kids who are bringing their animals to the state fair for the first time, even listening to tape from MPR's archives with past reporting on the fair. Cathy Wurzer will call in from a bike ride to the fairgrounds with her friend, the "Pedaling Pastor." And, of course, we'll have the weather quiz with Mark Seeley. That's it for today's Minnesota Now.