Pickle flavored lip gloss, new foods, mystery mini prints and more at the State Fair
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It’s the happiest day of the year for many Minnesotans. Gates opened for the Minnesota State Fair at 7 a.m. to begin the 12-day run.
Tickets can be purchased at the gates for $20 for people ages 13-64, $18 for seniors age 65 and older and $18 for kids ages 5-12. Children 4 and under are always free.
MPR News staff will be reporting from the fairgrounds throughout the first day of the fair. Check back for updates.
And that’s it folks
11:42 p.m. | Sam Stroozas
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Thanks for tuning in to a full day of live updates from the fair! But wait — the fun doesn’t stop yet. Make sure to follow along as we share stories in the next 11 days of profiling sanitation workers, exploring the rise of global flavors on the grounds and paying homage to a leader in the industry. And, as always visit @mprnews on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube to see our latest social content.
See you tomorrow!
A pickle night cap
9:03 p.m | Peter Ecklund
My cousin and I are on the hunt for our family memorial bench, but no luck so far. The yellow bench zone has expanded substantially. We’ve made our way up to Machinery Hill from the Agriculture Horticulture building, and are coming back South along the Eastern border.
The journey has been longer than expected, so we stopped for a slice of pickle pizza. The line was shorter than usual.
An evening stop at the Fine Arts building
8:04 p.m. | Chelsea Ihle
I’m always in complete awe of the artistic talent our state has and I look forward to seeing what comes together in the fine arts building every year. Sculptures, paintings, photos and even some live demonstrations.
This year there were quite a few pieces representing current events in our state. Don’t miss this exhibit but leave your donut and malt outside!
Golden hour for corn
6:31 p.m. | Chelsea Ihle
The six o’clock hour is the magical time for corn at the fair! The process of getting a ticket, being handed a lightly charred ear of corn, sprinkling with salt, and taking a first bite took only 2 minutes — most of which was me trying to find a $5 bill in my pocket full of napkins.
It’s a great first food option for the evening dinner trip to the fair.
A print for Dolly
6:10 p.m. | Sam Stroozas
The Minnesota Newspaper Museum always has souvenirs hot off the press but this year, they decided to shake things up last minute. Noam Sienna, a volunteer printer at the museum, said after Dolly Parton died this week he wanted to make a print in her honor.
“It needed to be acknowledged. She was so universally loved, our goal here is to always find messages that will resonate with everyone at the fair,” he said.
There are two commemorative prints that, of course, come in pink. One reads, “I Will Always Love You,” and the other, “Find Out Who You Are and Do It On Purpose.”
Sienna said he can’t print the pieces fast enough. They’ll be available for the rest of the fair.
Giant Purple Sing Along
5:21 p.m. | Anika Besst
The Giant Sing Along on the north end of the State Fairgrounds is extending to include an hour of Prince music in the evenings. Throughout the day, it plays repeat playlists of classic and show tunes. This is the first year including an hour of solely Prince.
The Giant Sing Along booth offers karaoke for 32 brave singers daily at the fair.
Snoopy, crop art and cookies? Sweet.
5:13 p.m. | Anne Guttridge
My first crop art piece is on display in the Ag-Hort building!
While I didn't keep track of how long it took, this piece was a labor of love. By the time I finished my back was aching, I had glue under my fingernails and there were pieces of quinoa and red lentil everywhere.
I wanted to create something that was a nostalgic and cute, so I put Snoopy and Woodstock together on a State Fair bench enjoying some Sweet Martha's cookies.
The bench is dedicated to Peanuts creator and native Minnesotan Charles M. Schulz. It's made out of wild rice, French lentils and mung beans.
Snoopy is made of wild rice, quinoa and canola seeds and Woodstock is made of wild rice and mustard seeds. I also have some flax seeds and sorghum that make up the cookie bucket. The background is, of course, red lentils.
Since I wasn't able to get to the fair Thursday, my colleague, MPR News photojournalist Ben Hovland, kindly snapped this photo of my first crop art entry.
I plan to wait in the hourlong line with my mom on Monday. I'm looking forward to seeing it up on the wall!
Princess Kay carving day
5 p.m. | Aleesa Kuznetsov
The 73rd Princess Kay of the Milky Way is having her likeness carved in butter. Jena Hanson was crowned Wednesday night. Less than 24 hours later she’s sitting in a rotating refrigerator in the Dairy Building.
Each sculpture is carved from a 90‐pound block of Grade AA butter. Artist and Minnesota native Gerry Kulzer is the resident butter sculptor.
Apple fries, feeling fine
3:45 p.m. | Ellie McKinney
My year-over-year State Fair favorite for as many years as I can recall is gone (RIP corn fritters, a real sleeper hit of pillowy corn delight). I have had to open my mind to new fair faves. I tried a new food this year and was pleasantly surprised: apple fries!
They tasted to me like a lighter apple pie. The have cinnamon and sugar on really nice tart apples — some pieces even had pretty pink peal on them — very appealing. They come with a caramel dip.
I will always carry a candle for the corn fritters, but the apple fries certainly gave me something new to enjoy.
Pickle flavored lip gloss? Oh, yes.
3:18 p.m. | Sam Stroozas
The biggest line I can find at the fair? The collection of pickle-flavored lip glosses at the e.l.f. booth on Wright Avenue. From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., the brand is distributing free pickle lip glosses in a blind box-inspired giveaway.
Emily Keenan, 14, said she only waited for about 30 minutes. She got the spicy dill flavor which is what she wanted, but her sister got the same so they had to find someone willing to trade.
Diah Swenson decided to come to the fair Thursday without her husband or kids. “I’m doing whatever I want to do,” she said. And that whatever includes being at the end of the very long line.
She loves everything pickle, and is a skin care and lip gloss enthusiast. She’s not too worried about the wait and is crossing her fingers for the spicy pickle flavor.
A different kind of Cubano
3:10 p.m. | Peter Ecklund
I am a lifelong vegetarian, so I can't compare it to an authentic Cubano, but I highly recommend the Herbivorous Butcher's The Fried The Furious Cubano Drift.
The flavor was complex, with a nice, medium-level spice. Beware, though, it's pretty hefty.
Student projects rock
1:54 p.m. | Sam Stroozas
I love to check out the 4-H building because I always learn something. And I respect the hard work the students put in!
My favorite area holds the trifolds projects. This year I spent time admiring tips for bonding with your cat by Charlotte Struffert of Anoka.
The 4-H building is set to undergo major renovations so things might change for next year.
Creative Activities building
12:45 p.m. | Ellen Keal
Every year the one thing I make sure to do is stop in the Creative Activities building. As a crafter myself, I always get inspired seeing everyone's projects. I also appreciate how they display every single one of entries. Some of my work this year didn't win a ribbon, but I was able to find all my entries after about 30 minutes of searching.
‘Info Booth Ladies’ honor one of their own
11:53 a.m. | Sam Stroozas
The information booth by the Creative Activities building is a little different this year. Kristen Donaldson, Margie McCarron and Kathy Riewe worked the morning shift at the booth for years and started a podcast called “Info Booth Ladies” in 2021 about their experiences.
Riewe died suddenly this spring, and McCarron and Donaldson are trying to honor her the best they can this fair season. Riewe worked at the fair for over 50 years.
The manager of the information booth put up a photo in her honor. (Read more about the trio.)
New ice cream flavor
11 a.m. | Ahmed Hassan
Moo-sota Apple Pie has debuted at the dairy building and I got my hands on it. This new ice cream has me feeling a type of way.
The lines are long but they'll only get longer, so I recommend getting your hands on this ice cream as soon as possible. This year’s new flavor is the 11th edition of Midwest Dairy’s flavor of the year tradition.
Mini print vending machines
10:50 a.m. | Sam Stroozas
Mini print vending machines have made their way to the fair! There is a a small stand set up at Steller Handcrafted Goods at the International Bazaar by printmaker and librarian Rebecca Beatty. I tried my luck and got a Swedish tea kettle print!
Others have popped up on social media, and if you don’t like the fair but still want to participate, you’re in luck. Mini fair-inspired prints will be available for sale at Dogwood Coffee in northeast Minneapolis by MinnePrint and at Madge Home + Market in the North Loop in Minneapolis.
State Fair bag policy
10:30 a.m. | MPR News Staff
Heading to the fair? Here's the policy for bags, coolers and what you can bring:
Minnesota State Fair security allows you to bring in bags, purses and coolers for a long day on the fairgrounds. Keep in mind, all bags, purses, coolers and packages are subject to search at the entrance — and weapons, fireworks, outside alcoholic beverages, illegal substances, drones, bikes or other wheeled devices, pets and face coverings are prohibited. Some exceptions for service animals and face coverings for health and religious reasons are allowed.
If you have limited mobility or disabilities that require a scooter, stroller or wheelchair, there are some size restrictions: 48 inches long and 32 inches wide, and operated at a reasonable walking pace or slower.
Some items are prohibited from the Grandstand concert venue, like audio and recording equipment, coolers, selfie sticks, signs, strollers and laser pointers. Umbrellas are not allowed to be open during a performance at the fair. (You can have one for bad weather, but during a show they should be put away.)
Outside food is allowed at the fairgrounds.
Find more detail descriptions of what is allowed at the Minnesota State Fair website.
2026 crop art display
10:05 a.m. | Alex V. Cipolle
And so a new tradition begins: The line to the crop art exhibition now starts outside, and by 9 a.m. Thursday, there were already hundreds of people wrapping around the Ag-Hort building. Crop art superintendent Marta Shore says the change was necessary because in past years the crop art line was blocking other exhibits in the rotunda.
Hot tip: The scarecrows are now in the same room as crop art (well-deserved as their own wild and free art form), and that line begins inside the rotunda. If you don’t want to wait in the crop art line, get in line for the scarecrows and you can get a pretty good view of both. While you’re at it, say “hi” to Dolly Parton — artist Heidi Gerst of Edina was prescient to make a scarecrow ode to the icon who died earlier this week.
Spin the prize wheel at the MPR booth
10 a.m. | Jeff Moores
MPR's prize wheel is up and running. A line formed 20 mins before the fun commenced. New this year: a cool bandana, a sweet (sweet) corn necklace, magnets, keychains and more.
First day foods
9:30 a.m. | Sam Stroozas
It’s time for breakfast! Even when it’s hot I like to start the day with something warm. I always get the Poutine on day one. This is when I tell you I’m vegetarian and yes there is meat gravy, but I think at the fair that’s OK.
Now I’m headed to Anchor Coffee to get a mini donut latte (the line is already stretching down to the Minnesota Lottery stand). There’s some competition this year: Hamline Church Dining Hall has switched from the maple espresso shaker to a mini donut espresso shaker. Of course, I’ll have to try both and report back. The maple cold brew at Farmers Union is also a favorite.
Crop Art line moves outside
9:18 a.m. | Lisa Ryan
Fairgoers will now enter the crop art display from outside, unlike in previous years when the line clogged up the Ag-Hort building. The line stretched down Judson Avenue on opening day.
Amish doughnuts
9 a.m. | Kaila White
My best friend Meredith Howell loves to attend opening day of the State Fair and she makes a beeline for Peachey’s Baking Company to get their incredible Amish doughnuts. Thursday she is elated to report the company has expanded their trailer and the historically long line is moving way faster than last year! She and her husband waited just 10-15 minutes to get a box of doughnuts around 8:30 a.m., significantly less than the hour she’s waited in the past. Here's hoping she saves one for me!
On the bus!
8:58 a.m. | Ahmed Hassan
After a roughly 30 minute wait, we made it on the bus and are on our way to the fair!
Our MPR State Fair booth is open
8:45 a.m. | Sam Stroozas
The MPR booth is open for business! And we have a new look for the season. Visit us at the corner of Judson and Nelson and spin our giant wheel for a prize. Gear up with new merch and our limited edition State Fair tote bag and Nalgene water bottle.
Can’t make it to the fair? We have you covered. You can give online and have the tote or water bottle shipped to your home.
8:45 a.m. | Emma Ujifusa
If you’re looking for a morning pick-me-up, Java Jive has all the classic coffee options. Highly recommend using the QR code to order ahead and skip the line. Now I'm ready to go clock in at the MPR booth!
Park and ride wait times
8:30 a.m. | Ahmed Hassan
I've been waiting for about 10 minutes and still no bus at the University of Minnesota lot. The mood seems very chill and upbeat, but you can definitely tell people at the end of the line are eager for it to pick up. Everyone seems pretty excited though.
Breakfast time
8 a.m. | Jeff Moores
I can report that the people have arrived and they are craving breakfast. 10-minute waits already for the big breakfast spots: crepes, French Meadow and yes, even the burger spots.
Fair competitors
7:50 a.m. | Sam Stroozas
Well, I’m a loser again. My cookies were up against 116 others in my category (ball type, not flattened before baking). This is only my third time entering. I grew up in western Wisconsin and was always jealous of everyone else who could enter stuff, so when I moved to the Twin Cities I knew I had to start competing!
I join a long list of other State Fair losers, but it’s a title we hold proud. Even though I’d like a little glory — we do it for the love of the fair.
My coworker Anika Besst wrote a beautiful story that came out Thursday, talking to other competitors about the joy of entering. Make sure to read it!
Park and Ride up and running
7:40 a.m. | Emma Ujifusa
I’m at the Minnetonka Boulevard park and ride this morning on my way to the fair. I arrived at 7:30 a.m. despite bus service not beginning until 8 a.m., and my call time at the MPR booth not until 9 a.m.. (I learned my lesson last year that the line starts early!) The line spans about halfway across the bridge over Interstate 394.
Prepare for the fair
7:15 a.m. | Sam Stroozas
My parents are on their way to pick me up! We go to opening day of the fair together every year. I only missed one year and my first visit was at 2 months old. I like to stay prepared so my bag is full of stuff. My ticket, hand sanitizer, plastic bags (leftovers, anyone?), ChapStick, lotion, sunscreen, deodorant… you get the picture.
But there are some things you can’t bring into the fair, like pets, alcohol, weapons, selfie sticks and bikes and skateboards. Check out the full list here.
Gates are open!
7:10 a.m. | Estelle Timar-Wilcox
The gates are officially open! The first-in-line title this year goes to 9-year-old MaryJane Burgett, with her parents Clayton Burgett and Rose Hume. They got here 24 hours ago, and got a little sleep in a tent by the gates.
It's MaryJane's fourth year in a row getting to the gates early. It's a family tradition now, she says.
For anyone showing up on a less- nocturnal schedule: there was already a bit of a line for a fair parking lot around 6 a.m. this morning. Check out the fair's park-and-ride shuttle options, bus routes and bike lock areas if you're looking for an easier commute.
Competition results coming soon…
7 a.m. | Sam Stroozas
I am anxiously awaiting the results from the baking competitions to get posted. My colleague Lisa Ryan and I waited on Saturday for drop off and the line was ginormous. But — update from the fair — there’s a reason for that. There was a 30 percent increase in folks who submitted baked goods this year for a record number of 4,135.
The results are usually posted by 9 a.m. Wish us luck! I made Chai Tea cookies and Lisa made sourdough tortillas.
Ideal weather for opening day
6:55 a.m. | Ben Cathey
The weather looks lovely for the first day of the State Fair. We have pretty ideal conditions out on the Midway — it will be nearly full sunshine, low humidity and dry with temperatures in the 80s. But the sunburn risk is high nearly all day, so bring the sunscreen.
Princess Kay of the Milky Way is crowned
4 a.m. | Sam Stroozas
Jena Hanson from Steele County was crowned as the 73rd Princess Kay of the Milky Way. Hanson was one of 10 women from across Minnesota who competed for the title to serve as a goodwill ambassador for the state’s dairy farmers.
She was crowned in a ceremony at the Minnesota State Fair Bandshell Stage the night before the fair. Soon she and the other finalists will have their likeness sculpted from a 90-pound block of butter in a rotating cooler inside the Dairy Building by butter sculptor Gerry Kulzer.
