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Aug. 27 – Labor Day, Sept. 7, 2026

145 Days 20 Hours 43 Mins

Kickoff to Summer at the Fair

More Food, More Fun!

The popular Kickoff to Summer at the Fair returns over Memorial Day Weekend! This slice-of-the-fair event features fair food and brews at more vendors than ever – more than 40! Fan-favorite features return – limited attendance so there’s plenty of space to enjoy the day with family and friends, free parking, music and entertainment free with admission, shopping at nearly 50 specialty Minnesota merchants and so much more!

NEW in 2026! Read below for details on the Hunter & Jumper Horse Show and the Second Glance Crop Art Exhibit – both free with admission! Plus, the sold-out Milk Run 5K Race is Saturday, May 23.

To make this event experience extra special, attendance for each day is limited and some days may sell out.

  • Thursday, May 21: 4-9 p.m.
  • Friday, May 22: 4-9 p.m.
  • Saturday, May 23: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, May 24: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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Tickets

SAVE $3 when you buy in advance online! Through May 20, tickets are $14 each online (fees and tax included). May 21-24 online or at the gate, tickets are $17; at the gate, tickets are sold via QR code (credit/debit only; fees and tax included). Children 4 and under are free and do not require a ticket. Each ticket is valid for a specific day. You will choose your day when you purchase tickets. Attendance is limited per day and some days may sell out. This event is rain or shine. Tickets are non-refundable.

DEAL! Get a free 2026 State Fair admission ticket when you buy the Weekday Ticket Bundle – four Kickoff to Summer tickets for either Thursday or Friday! (You’ll get your free State Fair ticket at the time you purchase your Weekday Bundle.) Weekday Ticket Bundle offer is good through May 20.

Tickets for this event will go on sale Friday, April 3, at 10 a.m.

Buy Tickets

Note that tickets for this event are limited for each day, and some days may sell out.

Questions about tickets: Contact the Minnesota State Fair Ticket Office at tickets@mnstatefair.org or 651-288-4427.

Is it safe to buy tickets from a source other than Etix? Unfortunately, as with any event ticket, you run the risk that a ticket bought from an unauthorized third party will not be valid when we scan it at the entrance. If your ticket is not valid, you will not be permitted to enter.

Food & Brews

Fair food faves and refreshing summer beers! Visit our Menu & Vendor Offerings page and view our downloadable program and detailed event map (coming soon) for additional details.

  • Aldo’s Burgers – new this year!
  • Al’s Subs & Malt Shop
  • Amish Annie Donuts – new this year!
  • Andy’s Grille
  • Auntie M’s Gluten Free
  • Baba’s
  • Ball Park Cafe
  • Bayou Bob’s
  • Beverages by Giggles’ (two locations) 
  • Big Fat Bacon
  • Blue Moon Dine-In Theater
  • Cafe Caribe
  • Cheese On-A-Stick and Fresh Squeezed Lemonade
  • Chimborazo
  • Coasters
  • Dino’s Gyros
  • Duke’s Poutine
  • El Burrito Mercado
  • Fresh French Fries
  • Hansen’s Foot Long Hot Dogs & Corn Dogs
  • Jersey Jo’s
  • Little Prairie Coffee – new this year!
  • LuLu’s Public House
  • Mami Churros & Creamery – new this year!
  • Minneapple Pie
  • Minnesnowii Shave Ice
  • Mouth Trap Cheese Curds
  • Nelson’s Foot Long Hot Dogs & Corn Dogs
  • The Perfect Pickle
  • Peterson’s Pork Chops – new this year!
  • Pronto Pups (two locations)
  • Que Viet Concessions
  • RC’s BBQ
  • Richie’s Cheese Curd Tacos
  • Rick’s Pizza
  • Sabino’s Pizza Pies – new this year!
  • Sambusa Express
  • Summer Lakes Beverage
  • Sweet Martha’s Cookie Jar
  • Sweets & Treats
  • Tiny Tim Donuts
  • Tot Boss
  • Trickster Tacos
  • West Indies Soul Food

Kickoff Happenings

New! Hunter & Jumper Horse Show

This year marks the Kickoff to Summer debut of the Hunter & Jumper Horse Show and your chance to check out the newly renovated Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum. Showcasing their powerful partnership, horse and rider navigate a course one team at a time, clearing fences and other obstacles with precision, control and unmistakable style. From timed rounds that reward speed and accuracy to judged competitions that highlight overall performance, form and manners, each ride offers something exciting to watch. Stop by any time to catch the competition – free with Kickoff admission!

New! Second Glance Crop Art Exhibit

We’re thrilled to offer Kickoff to Summer guests a special second glance of crop art originally showcased at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair! This selection of more than 50 pieces highlights the incredible creativity of artists from across the state. Whether you missed the exhibit at the fair or simply want to admire these wonderful works of art again, this showcase is a perfect opportunity to experience the artistry and tradition that make crop art such a beloved part of the Minnesota State Fair. This exhibit is located in the northwest part of the lower Grandstand and is free with Kickoff admission. (Pre-recorded audio description available for select pieces by scanning a QR code with a smartphone.)

New! Read to a Breed

On Saturday and Sunday only, children can read a short story with therapy dogs, cats, rabbits, alpacas, a llama or a mini horse from North Star Therapy Animals. An ideal experience for children ages 3-12; animal availability varies. Located on Underwood Street north of Carnes Avenue. Free with admission.

  • Saturday, May 23: Noon to 4 p.m.
  • Sunday, May 24: Noon to 4 p.m.

New! Blood Typing and Donating

Wonder what your blood type is? Want a convenient way to save lives by donating blood? Memorial Blood Centers joins Kickoff to provide blood typing all four days of the Kickoff event, free with admission; blood donation is Friday & Saturday only. Located in the lower Grandstand.

Music & Entertainment

Spring into summer with free live entertainment and plenty of fun activities! View our downloadable program and detailed event map (coming soon) for additional details. ASL services will be provided on request – contact accessibility@mnstatefair.org or 651-288-4448 by May 8.

Jam out to Free Entertainment!

  • DNR Stage (DNR) sponsored by Cal Spas: At DNR Park
  • Visitors Plaza Arts Pop-Up (VP): At Dan Patch Ave. & Underwood St.
  • Christensen Farms Stage (CF): On Judson Ave. near CHS Miracle of Birth Center
  • Adventure Park Amphitheater (AP): South of Judson Ave. between Nelson & Underwood streets
  • Independent Stages*: Located throughout the fairgrounds, grab a bite or a brew and enjoy some live entertainment brought to you by our food vendors!
    • Cafe Caribe (CC)
    • Dino’s Gyros (DG)
    • RC’s BBQ (RC)

Thursday, May 21

Friday, May 22

Saturday, May 23

Sunday, May 24

*Please note: Entertainers on Independent Stages are booked and compensated by the concessionaires that host them at these privately owned venues. The Minnesota State Fair is not responsible for scheduling entertainers at Independent Stages (schedules are posted as information becomes available and are subject to change).

Fun Around the Fairgrounds

New! Silly Stops
Find these 10 fun, quick activity stops throughout the fairgrounds – learn to sign your name in ASL, mimic a favorite animal, do a yoga pose and more. Fun for the whole family!

Exclusive Puzzle Hunt Challenges
The Lodge of Lazarus Crowe and Trapped Puzzle Rooms, the Twin Cities’ premier escape rooms since 2015, present two exclusive puzzle challenges this year!

  • New! Lazarus Crowe’s Carnival Challenge: Do you have what it takes to be a member of The Lodge of Lazarus Crowe? Test your mettle in six carnival-style puzzle games, each designed to challenge your physical and mental dexterity. For each game you complete, you will earn the favor of a different department of the Lodge. Can you collect them all?!
  • Kickoff Conundrum Puzzle Hunt: Back by popular demand, this one-of-kind puzzle hunt tests your wit and sense of adventure as you explore the fairgrounds in a unique and immersive quest! Your mission: An interdimensional rift has opened right at the heart of Kickoff to Summer at the Fair! It’s a wacky, weird window into the UNfair Universe, and some anomalies from their twisted version of the Great Minnesota Get-Together have fallen through! To save the fair, you’ll need to explore the fairgrounds, discover clues, solve puzzles, and close the rift! Can you crack this Kickoff Conundrum?!

Complete the puzzles at your own pace – cookies and Pronto Pup in hand, in between catching some live music, or power through if you’re on a roll. Puzzle passes and guidebooks – keys to the adventures – are available for purchase at The Lodge of Lazarus Crowe tent south of the Grandstand. Puzzle passes for the Carnival Challenge are $5 per player, and the challenge will take 30-60 minutes. Guidebooks for the Conundrum Puzzle Hunt are $10 per player, and the entire hunt is a one-to-two-hour experience. Fun for all ages, especially those 10+.

Weekday Spin-to-Win
Everyone loves a prize wheel! On Thursday and Friday only, this is your chance to try your luck at winning fair admission tickets, State Fair swag, vendor coupons, vintage fair giveaways and entries into grand prize drawings for tickets to a 2026 Grandstand concert of your choice, Family Fun Pack (four admission tickets, Fun Card with 40 ride & game tickets and a Blue Ribbon Bargain Book), a personalized tile installed on the Welcome Wall, or an on-site parking pass for the State Fair day of your choice. Stop by the tent at West Grandstand Plaza. Rules apply. Free to spin!

Say Hello to our Furry Friends Fairborne & Fairchild
Watch for our beloved furry State Fair mascots sponsored by Mattress Firm – they’re done hibernating and ready to help us spring into summer! Find them in various locations around the fairgrounds throughout each day of the event.

Giant Slide
A chance to ride the slide in May! Tickets are $4; cash only. The slide is open weather permitting; if it rains, the slide will reopen when it dries.

Play the Arcade
Dozens of cool and classic coin-operated arcade games – fun for all ages!

Stroll through History Guided Walking Tour
Take a 30-minute guided walking tour to learn about the fair’s historical role in introducing new products, interesting ideas and the latest marvels to fair guests in the 19th and 20th centuries. Brought to you by the Minnesota State Fair Foundation. It’s free! (ASL available upon request by May 7.)

  • Thursday, May 21, 6 p.m.
  • Friday, May 22, 6 p.m.
  • Saturday, May 23, 12:30, 2:30 & 4:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, May 24, 12:30, 2:30 & 4:30 p.m.

Plus, stop by to learn about the Minnesota State Fair’s Friends of the Fair program. Donations help fund a wide range of fair projects, AND our Friends get some fair-time benefits too. Find it all on Nelson Street across from the Giant Slide.

DJ Entertainment
Dance, sing and tap your toes to summertime tunes sponsored by Adagio Djay Entertainment. Don’t miss an endless string of fun, favorite hits – the perfect way to kick off summer!

Roving Entertainment
ROCK-IT The Robot (Thursday-Sunday) and The Bubbler (Saturday & Sunday) will make their way throughout the fairgrounds each day. Keep an eye out for these interactive, engaging entertainers!

Skateboard Lessons
Pick up some sweet skateboard skills with lessons from 3rd Lair SkatePark. 30-minute group lessons cost $20 per rider, up to five riders per lesson. Equipment provided. Plus checkout skateboards, gear, apparel and other items for sale. Find them south of Judson Avenue.

Learn Life-Saving Skills
Just a few minutes is all it takes to learn the two steps of Hands-Only CPR. If performed immediately, this can double or triple a person’s chance of surviving cardiac arrest.

Stop by and gain the knowledge and skill to take action in an emergency. The Hands-Only CPR tent is located on Carnes Avenue, east of the Grandstand Ramp. National CPR and AED Awareness Week is June 1-7. This is a Minnesota State Fair Community Gives Together initiative.

Trivia Mafia
Put your thinking caps on and play live trivia challenges led by the folks of Trivia Mafia, known for their popular games at local pubs, breweries and special events. Yes, there are prizes! Trivia Mafia is located in the Grandstand Building, sponsored by T-Mobile, lower level. Each session is approximately 45 minutes. It’s free to play! (ASL interpretation available upon request by May 7.)

  • Thursday & Friday: Games starting at 5, 6:30 & 8 p.m.
  • Saturday & Sunday: Games starting at 11:30 a.m., 1, 2:30, 4:30 & 6 p.m.

Family Fun Zone
From yard games like beanbag toss, giant Connect 4, chess and jenga to sidewalk chalk and more, we’ll have a wide assortment of things to try with your friends and family in Dan Patch Park at the Family Fun Zone, proudly sponsored by Renewal by Andersen. Free to play!

Snap Selfies at Photo Ops
Capture your Kickoff to Summer at the Fair memories at four selfie spots, sponsored by State Farm – the historic Streetcar Arch, the stunning Welcome Wall near Gate 9, the iconic Grandstand Ramp, and the famous Giant Slide. Don’t forget to tag @mnstatefair!

Pop-up Math Play with Public Math
Visit DNR Park for a creative math play space for all ages brought to you by Public Math! Free!

Win Door Prizes!
Winners from each day will be randomly drawn from all who purchased Kickoff to Summer at the Fair tickets through Etix and opted in to enter. Winners of fabulous prizes will be notified the week of June 1, sponsored by Human Touch!

Cheer on Milk Runners
The annual Milk Run 5K Race takes place Saturday, May 23, at 9 a.m. Come support our 2,000 runners as they race through the fairgrounds. A valid admission ticket must be presented to enter the fairgrounds as a runner or spectator. This race is sold out; registration closed March 6. Rain or shine.

Guest Services

Family & Baby Care, formerly known as Care & Assistance, will be open with nursing stations, an adult-size changing table and wheelchair charging. Located on West Dan Patch Avenue.

ASL interpreting is available upon request for any performance, Trivia Mafia session and Early Encounters Guided Walking Tour. To request ASL services, contact accessibility@mnstatefair.org or 651-288-4448 by May 7.

First Aid, staffed by Regions Hospital, is open during event hours. Located on West Dan Patch Avenue.

Event programs and detailed event maps are available online (coming soon), or pick up a copy at a fairgrounds information booth, all sponsored by Re-Bath.

Electric scooter and wheelchair rental is available at Gate 9 – Loop Gate (on Como) and at Gate 16 (near West Blue Lot). For easiest access to the HomeTown Mobility rental tents, enter the fairgrounds at either of these two gates. (Parking & Entrance Map)

Adult-size changing tables are available in Family & Baby Care, located on West Dan Patch Avenue, and in the newly renovated Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum in the family restrooms in the northeast corner of the building.

Prerecorded audio descriptions of crop art are available by scanning the QR codes next to select works in the Second Glance Crop Art Exhibit located in the lower Grandstand. Hear detailed audio descriptions of select works using your smartphone.

Wi-Fi event hotspot is sponsored by DragNFly Wireless. Check out the location in our detailed event map. (coming soon)

Lost & Found is housed at the on-site information booths during the event. Questions: 651-288-4555; lostandfound@mnstatefair.org

Aira provides on-demand remote visual assistance within the digital perimeter of the fairgrounds during Kickoff to Summer for guests who are blind, have low vision or would like visual assistance. Use of this mobile app service is free to Kickoff guests. Guests download the Aira Explorer app and use their smartphone camera to show their surroundings or images to a professional visual interpreter. Visual interpreters can help guests with anything from navigating the fairgrounds to reading aloud menus and signs.

To get started:

  1. Download Aira Explorer in either the Google Play Store or App Store.
  2. Open the app and click “Call Aira for Free with Five Minutes Free” to get your first five-minute call free each day.
  3. After your free five-minute call has been used that day, click “Browse Access Offers” to make another free call using Aira at the fair.
  4. Select “Minnesota State Fair” in the “Search” bar or in “Locations.”
  5. Select “Call an Aira agent” to request free assistance while at Kickoff to Summer.

Kickoff to Summer guests can also leverage Aira’s Access AI feature to take or upload an image, receive a description of it, and then use their phone to magnify the image or have it read audibly. This could be used, for example, to take a picture of a menu at a food vendor or sign at an exhibit.

Free usage at Kickoff to Summer beyond the first five-minute call each day is only available within the designated digital perimeter of the fairgrounds May 21-24, 2026. Beyond the fairgrounds, Aira is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and no advance reservations are needed; rates may apply. For questions on using Aira, contact support@aira.io or call 1-800-835-1934. Learn more about Aira

Specialty Shopping and Exhibit Booths

Unique finds from artisans and merchants! Visit our Menu & Vendor Offerings page and view our downloadable program and detailed event map (coming soon) for additional details.

  • 3rd Lair SkatePark & SkateShop
  • Airbrushed Caricatures
  • Alohana Creations – new this year!
  • Always Northern Permanent Jewelry
  • Angry Minnow Vintage
  • Automotive Restyling Concepts – new this year!
  • Breehart Pillows – new this year!
  • Butter Luv Aromatics – new this year!
  • Cal Spas – new this year! 
  • The Chalk Blok – new this year! 
  • Charming Farm Creations – new this year! 
  • Crystal Visions
  • Cultural Destinations Boutique
  • Deena’s Pottery – new this year!
  • Every Third Saturday
  • The Fair Documentary – new this year!
  • Fish Lake Dock and Lift – new this year!
  • From the East – new this year!
  • Gifts Made by Hand
  • Glitter Glamper
  • GoodThings
  • Gray Duck Candle Co. – new this year!
  • Hagen and Oats
  • Human Touch
  • Invisible Wounds Project
  • Kelly’s Candles
  • Linh T Vo Art and Illustration
  • Loons Nest Coffee – new this year!
  • Mattress Firm
  • Mich’s Markets – new this year!
  • Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans
  • Minnesota Marshmallow – new this year!
  • Minnesota Star Tribune
  • Minnesota Vixen, TC Gemini & Minnesota Strike – new this year!
  • Must be Ruff
  • Namaste Boutique
  • Nikkolette’s Macarons
  • Northern Pine Co. Boutique
  • Origami by Kannika
  • Paddle North
  • Plow World Power Equipment
  • Rainbow Midwest
  • Re-Bath
  • Renewal by Andersen
  • Roots, Shoots & Leaves
  • Ruby’s Pebble Art
  • Rustic Metalz – new this year!
  • Set Adrift Art
  • Simple Trends – new this year!
  • Sota Clothing
  • State FairWear
  • State Farm – new this year!
  • T-Mobile
  • Uneek Tie-Dye Apparel – new this year!
  • Von Lucy Mobile Boutique – new this year!

Know Before You Go

Need tickets? Buy in advance online and save $3 when you buy through May 20. For an even bigger deal, buy the Weekday Bundle (4 Kickoff to Summer tickets for Thursday or Friday) and get 1 free 2026 State Fair admission ticket! Advance discount and Weekday Ticket Bundle deal are good through May 20 only.

Below is the information you need to know before you go:

  • Tickets: Tickets must be printed with the barcode visible, or they may be scanned off your mobile device via the link included in your purchase confirmation email. This email with your tickets was sent from Etix shortly after you completed your online purchase. If you need your confirmation email resent, please contact Etix at 1-800-514-3849.
  • Your day: Check your ticket and arrive anytime during the day you purchased. Only those with tickets for the designated day will be admitted during that time.
  • Entrances & parking: There will be two public entrances: At Snelling and Hoyt avenues, north of the water tower (free parking available in the West Blue Lot off Randall Avenue); and at Gate 9 – Loop Gate (on Como Avenue) just east of the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum with a large amount of free parking available in the South Red Lot. Whether arriving by car, pick-up or drop-off, bike, bus or as a pedestrian, all guests will need to make their way to one of these entrances. Space is limited. Please note: Free self-serve bike parking is available near Gate 9 – Loop Gate (on Como Avenue); bike lots are not staffed for this event. (Parking & Entrance Map.)
  • Health & safety: The Minnesota State Fair’s security program includes walk-through metal detectors at entry gates. Bags, purses, coolers and packages will be subject to search at each of the event entrances. Prohibited items include:
      • Weapons of any kind, including but not limited to: firearms, knives, objects that appear to be weapons, pepper spray, mace, tasers or other self-defense items
      • Pets, including emotional support animals (service animals allowed)
      • Fireworks or other explosive and flammable objects
      • Outside alcoholic beverages or any illegal substance
      • Drones or any remote-controlled toys
      • Bikes, skateboards, skates, hoverboards
      • Face coverings intended to conceal wearer’s identity (religious and health reasons permitted)
      • Outside food and drink with the exception of sealed plastic water bottles or an empty reusable water bottle
      • Other items may be refused at the discretion of State Fair management or law enforcement
  • Rain or shine! In case of inclement weather, please bring umbrellas, ponchos or other rain gear.
  • What to bring: Your ticket; board games or a deck of cards if you’d like to kick back and play with friends and family while you’re at the event; cash and credit card if you plan to buy food or merch or participate in ticketed activities. Plus, we’re pretty sure you’ll want to take home fair food to share or save for later, so bring an empty cooler, storage containers and maybe even some foil or plastic wrap!
  • Entertainment and happenings: See the downloadable event program (coming soon). Printed copies will also be available at the on-site information booths.
  • Pets: Fido and friends, including emotional support animals, will need to stay home. Service dogs that have been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability are permitted.
  • Designated smoking areas: For the comfort and safety of all, two designated smoking areas are available. Smoking (including the use of e-cigarettes and vape pens) is permitted only in these areas. Marijuana smoking is prohibited throughout the fairgrounds. See the detailed event map (coming soon).
  • Cash or credit: For a list of which food vendors accept cash and/or credit, please check out the menus. Merchandise vendors accept cash or credit. The Giant Slide accepts cash only. ATMs are available on-site. Admission tickets at the gate are available via QR code with credit/debit card only. Check out the detailed event map (coming soon).
  • Souvenir drink bottles: Vendors are not able to refill State Fair souvenir drink bottles at this event.

Electric Mobility Scooters, Strollers, Wagons and Wheelchairs

Rental is available at Gate 9 – Loop Gate (on Como) and at Gate 16 (near West Blue Lot). For easiest access to the HomeTown Mobility rental tents, enter the fairgrounds at either of these two gates.

HomeTown Mobility is accepting reservations for wheelchairs and electric mobility scooters. Reserve online (select “Kickoff to Summer on the MNSF grounds” from the list) or call HomeTown Mobility at 712-938-2029 Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central time. (Note: Reservations made by phone are subject to a $10 call-in fee.) Reservations must be made 24 hours in advance. Cancellation must be made 48 hours in advance to receive a refund, less a $5 cancellation fee per rental unit. A valid driver’s license or state ID is required when picking up your rental.

Fees

  • Electric mobility scooter: $80
  • Wheelchair: $30
  • Double stroller: $25
  • Single stroller or wagon: $20

If rented on-site (without a reservation), all equipment is available on a first-come basis with no guarantee of availability. Cash or credit accepted. Battery charging for personal scooters is not available at the HomeTown Mobility sites.

 

All information subject to change.

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Kickoff to Summer at the Fair
is proudly sponsored by

Mattress Firm

Adiago Djay Entertainment

cal spas logo

Human Touch

ReBath

state farm logo

T Mobile logo

renewal by anderson logo

cal spas logo