Aug. 21 – Labor Day, Sept. 1, 2025
273 Days 6 Hours 23 Mins
Use these tips to plan your visit with young fair fans. (All information subject to change.)
Children 4 and under are always free – every day!
Admission for kids ages 5-12 is discounted on these days when you purchase tickets at the gate:
Rides & games at Kidway and Mighty Midway are discounted for everyone on:
Save big on food, merchandise and things to do with this book of 100 coupons valid all 12 days of the fair. Popular deals for young children include discounts on ride & game tickets, merchandise and kid-friendly food & beverages. The Blue Ribbon Bargain Book is just $5.
To help reunite lost children with their adults, pick up a free ID wristband when you arrive at the fairgrounds at any information booth or at Care & Assistance (fairgrounds map).
Tip: Take a photo of the young ones when you arrive at the fair, so you’ll have a readily available picture showing what they look like and what they’re wearing at the fair.
Collapsible strollers are permitted on buses servicing free Park & Ride lots and State Fair Express Bus locations. Get Here info
Strollers and wagons are available for rent at the fairgrounds from HomeTown Mobility locations near five entrance gates. Rental info
Breastfeeding facilities are located at:
All breastfeeding facilities provide electricity. Fairgrounds map
Fair guests are welcome to bring their own water bottles, as well as outside food and drink. No alcoholic beverages may be brought into the fair. PLEASE NOTE: Coolers are not permitted in the Grandstand.
Water fountains are located throughout the fairgrounds. Water bottle refill stations are located at:
Drinking fountains and water bottle refill stations are noted on the fairgrounds map.
Complimentary water is also available at some independent concessionaires, including Culligan and KARE TV.
Please wash or sanitize hands throughout your visit and especially before and after time with the animals and prior to eating. Hand-washing stations are located in the Food Building and at many entrances to buildings in the livestock area, including: Compeer Arena, Cattle Barn, Cattle Annex, Sheep & Poultry Barn, Robert A. Christensen Pavilion, and the CHS Miracle of Birth Center. Fairgrounds map
Baby changing stations, family and accessible restrooms are located throughout the fairgrounds. Fairgrounds map
A universally designed changing restroom with hoist by Momentum Refresh is located on Cosgrove Street just north of Lee Avenue (sling not provided), open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily (8 p.m. Labor Day).
A height-adjustable changing table is located in Care & Assistance on West Dan Patch Avenue across from West End Market, open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily (8 p.m. Labor Day).
Facilities for diaper changing, nursing, pumping, feeding and sensory comfort in a climate controlled environment, and an adult-size changing table located at KaiBi Mobile Family Care Center on the west side of Underwood St., between Carnes & Judson avenues. Open daily, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (8 p.m. on Labor Day).
For information about sensory-friendly spaces, Sensory-Friendly Morning at Mighty Midway & Kidway, ASL services and more, check out our Accessibility Guide.
Fill your day with unlimited fun for young fair fans – all included with the price of admission!
Go inside the minds of our favorite furry friends at Cats & Dogs The Exhibition, a sensory and interactive journey devoted to understanding and decoding the behavior of our beloved, entertaining (and sometimes confounding) fluffy family members. A fun – and surprising – experience for all ages!
Big-air stunts, incredible dog tricks, high-jumping water challenges and comedy antics will have your youngsters cheering.
Take a break at this oasis of creative crafts, books, games, photo ops and meet-the-author activities to inspire a love of letters, words and reading.
Vibrant performing arts groups present lively pop-up showcases featuring puppetry, music, dance, storytelling, theater and more.
This one-of-a-kind agricultural education exhibit is home to newborn lambs, goats and piglets during the State Fair’s 12 days.
Each day is different at the fair! Young fair guests will especially enjoy:
From amazing jugglers and magicians to energetic song and dance, this entertainment stage features family-friendly fun that will have little tykes smiling, clapping and dancing along.
Fire up the imagination of young farm hands as they help with chores and bring their “food” to the farmers market in this mini agriculture experience specially created for ages 3-10. Big kid farm hands can earn an Ag-Vestigator ribbon by testing their knowledge in a fun trivia challenge.
Meander through the Cattle Barn, Horse Barn, Robert A. Christensen Pavilion and the Sheep & Poultry Barn for an up-close look at the largest exhibition of livestock in the Upper Midwest – hundreds of breeds of cattle, horses, swine, poultry, goats, sheep, llamas and alpacas and rabbits.
At each barn, stop by these education stations:
Check schedules for details. Breeds vary by day. Please note that barns hours vary, and some barns will close early for the safety of guests, animals and exhibitors on select days when animals are leaving the fair and we are preparing for the arrival of new animals. Make sure to visit the animals early, especially on Aug. 25, Aug. 29 and Sept. 2!
Play with geometric shapes, sort and count, enjoy a numbers book, search for things to count at the fair, meet a creative mathematician and more!
Our very own gopher good guys, Fairchild and Fairborne, greet fair fans of all ages daily at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. at Visitors Plaza.
Marching bands, local royalty, mascots and more make their way through the fairgrounds every day at 2 p.m. Parade route
Captivating magic tricks are interwoven with fun facts about the important role agriculture, farmers and ranchers play in our daily lives.
Teams of lumberjacks and lumberjills show off their skills at climbing, sawing, log rolling and more in friendly, fun competition.
In every nook and around every corner of the fair, you’ll find fun for all ages! Here are other stops we’d recommend for children:
These fun adventures require the purchase of additional tickets:
Use the links above to find information on height requirements, ticket prices, locations and hours.
A concert especially for young fair fans! KIDZ BOP is Billboard Magazine’s “#1 Kid Artist” for 11 years. Featuring today’s biggest global pop hits “sung by kids for kids,” this family-friendly music brand has sold more than 24 million albums and generated more than 11 billion streams. This high-energy show will be the perfect highlight of your afternoon at the Great Minnesota Get-Together! Grandstand ticket info
All information subject to change.
