The Biggest Fairs in Minnesota

Known as "The Great Minnesota Get-Together," the Minnesota State Fair is a genuine cultural institution — the second-most attended state fair in the country. Running 12 days in late August and early September at the State Fairgrounds in Falcon Heights (just north of Saint Paul), it's famous for its food-on-a-stick culture, beloved butter sculptures, and a competitive livestock program that reflects the state's deep agricultural roots.

The largest county fair in Minnesota, the Olmsted County Fair draws an estimated 175,000 visitors annually to the Olmsted County Fairgrounds in Rochester — with some years exceeding 200,000. Running since the late 1800s, it features a full midway, competitive livestock and 4-H shows, and grandstand entertainment that draws from across southeastern Minnesota.

The Crow Wing County Fair draws roughly 70,000 visitors to Brainerd annually, making it one of the more-attended county fairs in central Minnesota. 2024 marked its 150th anniversary — a milestone that speaks to how deeply embedded it is in the Brainerd Lakes area summer calendar.

The Anoka County Fair draws an estimated 70,000 visitors each summer to the Anoka County Fairgrounds, serving the Twin Cities' northern suburbs. A staple of the Anoka community for generations, it combines the livestock and 4-H programming of a traditional county fair with a midway and entertainment lineup that appeals to the broader metro area.

The Wright County Fair draws more than 55,000 visitors annually to Howard Lake, making it one of the better-attended county fairs in the Twin Cities exurban region. Consistent attendance figures from both the fair organizer and local press put it solidly in the top tier of Minnesota county fairs.