When you ask Minnesotans, “What is their favorite fair or festival?” they almost always say the Minnesota State Fair.
But did you know you don’t have to wait until Labor Day to enjoy all the fun? There are county fairs going on all summer long.
As much as I love the MN State Fair, I love getting to the county fairs in MN even more. Their size and location make it so easy to visit and it’s affordable for the whole family.
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Why visit the County Fairs over the State Fair?
The County Fairs have many of the same components that the MN State Fair has, like the great food, animals, competitions, and rides.
But everything is closer together, so you don’t have to walk as far to see everything. This makes it family-friendly, especially for the little ones. The crowds are smaller every day. This makes it especially nice when you have young kids and strollers.
You also don’t have to take a day off work to visit a county fair to avoid the horrible weekend crowds that plague the MN State Fair. There are a bunch of other benefits of attending a county fair.
Entertainment
The MN county fairs have fun events like tractor pulls, pig races, and demolition derbies that you won’t see at the State Fair. The family activities are great.
The Carver County Fair even has a Rock-Paper-Scissors competition.
A lot of the County Fairs in MN are bringing in some big names in entertainment too.
Rides
The rides at the county fair are on a much smaller scale. This is great when you have indecisive riders.
This enables you to get closer to the artists at a fraction of the cost of the State Fair. Depending on the fair, it may be a standing-room-only concert, lawn chair event, or a stadium event.
I also feel that my money stretches a little further on their rides vs those at the State Fair. I’m not sure why. The lines for rides are next to nothing compared to the big fairs.
But have you checked out the local food scene? The County Fairs have the same mini donuts, cotton candy, and cheese curds too.
They are also bringing in the fancy stuff like gourmet Apple Pies, corn dogs, pork chops, smoked meats, s’mores and so much more. Fin d a food truck and come hungry.
Animals
The County Fairs have all the same animals in a condensed down version. While the state fair has a large number of animals, do you really need to see 100 different types of the same animal?
In most cases, I’m fine seeing a couple of each type of cows, or chickens, or pigs, or lamas. It’s also a great opportunity to speak with the owners to get more information on different animals.
And remember to always ask before you go up to pet animals. Some may be friendlier than others.
Competition
Have you ever wanted to compete at a Fair? The Minnesota County Fairs have a ton of different categories you can enter, similar to the State Fair.
But only a fraction of the competition compared to the State Fair making it a perfect opportunity to take home a ribbon. The cost to enter and prize money are often the same.
And if you enter a piece in the county fair, there is nothing stopping you from entering it in the State Fair too, hint hint… In some cases, in order to get it into the MN State Fair, you need to have it placed in your county fair.
Check out the County Fairs website to get full details on the rules for each category.
List of County Fairs in Minnesota
The Lake of the Woods (LOW) County Fair is a cherished 4-day event held annually in mid-June at the fairgrounds in Baudette, MN. LOW offers a mix of agricultural exhibits, thrilling entertainment, and family fun. You’ll find everything from livestock shows and craft competitions to demolition derbies and lumberjack displays. With its carnival rides, live music, and mouthwatering fair food, LOW County Fair exemplifies the quintessential Minnesotan summer experience.
The Hennepin County Fair, one of Minnesota’s oldest and most beloved agricultural celebrations, has been delighting visitors since 1853. Held annually in mid-June at the Hennepin County Fairgrounds in Corcoran, this 3-day extravaganza draws over 15,000 people from across the region. Like many great county fairs, Hennepin offers a rich tapestry of experiences – from agricultural exhibits and livestock shows to thrilling demolition derbies and lumberjack displays. Families can enjoy carnival rides, live music, and comedy shows, while food enthusiasts savor local culinary delights. With its blend of educational events, competitions, and entertainment, the Hennepin County Fair embodies the spirit of Minnesota summers, providing fun for all ages year after year.
The Crow Wing County Fair, a beloved tradition since 1872, offers a rich tapestry of rural Minnesota culture. Highlights include agricultural exhibits, thrilling carnival rides, and entertaining concerts. Unique features are the Baja Rally and diverse talent shows. With free admission and ample $5 parking, this five-day event in Brainerd promises fun for all ages.
The 111th Benton County Fair in Sauk Rapids offers a six-day extravaganza of rural Minnesota charm. Highlights include agricultural exhibits, arts and crafts displays, and exciting competitions. This family-friendly event features unique children’s activities and a variety of commercial vendors. With free admission and an array of fair food options, it’s a must-visit summer destination.
The historic Freeborn County Fair in Albert Lea, celebrating over 140 years, offers a perfect blend of tradition and modern entertainment. Highlights include live music, livestock exhibitions, and a lively beer garden. Unique features are the Kiddie Farm Zone and Machinery Hill. With free admission, this six-day event promises fun for all ages, from carnival rides to antique tractor shows.
The Pipestone County Fair offers a vibrant four-day celebration of rural culture in southwestern Minnesota. Highlights include thrilling tractor pulls, engaging 4H exhibits, and a variety of live music performances. The fair’s unique Rib Cook Off adds a flavorful twist to traditional fair cuisine. With free admission and a lively carnival atmosphere, it’s a perfect summer outing for all ages.
The Pope County Fair in Glenwood offers a diverse four-day experience of rural Minnesota culture. Highlights include youth livestock shows, thrilling tractor pulls, and an exciting demolition derby. Unique features are the rodeo and various 4-H events. With live music performances and a wide array of fair food, this event promises entertainment for visitors of all ages.
The historic Chippewa County Fair in Montevideo, dating back to 1879, attracts 10,000 visitors annually. Highlights include diverse agricultural exhibits, engaging children’s activities, and various competitions. Unique features are the arts and crafts displays and extensive livestock exhibits. With a reasonable $10 admission fee, this five-day event offers a rich showcase of local culture and rural traditions.
The Clearwater County Fair in Bagley, established in 1907, draws 25,000 visitors annually. Highlights include diverse livestock shows, thrilling motorsports events, and a unique Llama Show. Distinctive features range from dog agility competitions to a Power Wheels Derby. With free admission and parking, this five-day extravaganza offers an impressive array of entertainment, from carnival rides to live concerts.
The Meeker County Fair in Litchfield offers a dynamic five-day celebration of rural Minnesota culture. Highlights include thrilling motorsports events like tractor pulls and demolition derbies, alongside creative competitions such as Lego and hay bale contests. Unique features include MotoKazie shows and pedal pulls. With an $8 admission fee, visitors can enjoy diverse entertainment from live music to 4H exhibits.
The Pine County Fair in Pine City offers a vibrant five-day celebration of rural Minnesota traditions. Highlights include exhilarating tractor pulls, a thrilling demolition derby, and engaging 4-H exhibits. Unique features include a fun run and talent show. With free admission, visitors can enjoy a diverse array of entertainment, from carnival rides to live music performances, making it an accessible summer destination for all.
The Sibley County Fair in Arlington, running from July 31 to August 4, 2024, celebrates with an exciting mix of events. Highlights include the Kids Pedal Pull, Wild Things Zoo, live music, and thrilling tractor pulls. Unique features include the Night of Destruction. Admission and parking are free, ensuring a budget-friendly outing.
The St. Louis County Fair in Chisholm, from July 31 to August 4, 2024, promises five days of summer fun. Enjoy the lively Midway, engaging 4-H exhibits, and equestrian events. Unique highlights include a variety of family-friendly activities. Admission is $10, with parking available for $4.
The Stearns County Fair in Sauk Centre, from July 31 to August 4, 2024, marks 122 years of summer excitement. Highlights include thrilling rodeo events, lively 4-H exhibits, carnival rides, and a demolition derby. Unique features are axe throwing and draft horse wagon rides. Admission is free, with camping spots available on-site.
The Washington County Fair in Lake Elmo, from July 31 to August 4, 2024, offers a lively summer experience. Enjoy spectacular fireworks, thrilling horse and tractor pulls, and diverse concerts. Unique events include pig and duck races, llama showmanship, and a rooster crowing contest. Admission is $15, with free parking available.
The Dakota County Fair in Farmington, from August 5 to 11, 2024, is a historic celebration dating back to 1858, attracting 150,000 visitors. Enjoy a wide array of events including agricultural exhibits, an ATV rodeo, bull riding, and a car show. Unique features include mutton busting and a lively beer garden. Admission is free, with parking available for $10.
The Goodhue County Fair in Zumbrota, from August 6 to 10, 2024, offers a charming small-town experience with exciting attractions. Highlights include engaging 4-H exhibits, a vibrant carnival, and thrilling bull riding. Unique features are mutton busting and an autocross event. Admission is $7, making it an affordable and fun outing.
The Mower County Free Fair in Austin, from August 6 to 11, 2024, is a vibrant gathering where friends come together. Enjoy a lively carnival, livestock shows, and fair food. Unique events include the Jurassic Kingdom Dinosaur Show and the Masters of Disaster Demolition Derby. Admission is free, ensuring a fun and accessible experience.
The Stevens County Fair in Morris, MN, from August 6-11, 2024, is a must-see event with free admission and parking. Highlights include engaging 4-H exhibits, live music, a lively beer garden, thrilling grandstand shows, a demolition derby, and a rodeo. Unique features like the enduro race and medallion hunt add to the excitement, making it an unmissable summer celebration.
The Renville County Fair in Bird Island, MN, from August 7-9, 2024, offers fun for all ages with a $7 admission and free parking. Enjoy exciting events like the Lumber Jack Show, demo derby, ATV/MX rodeo, and pig races. Unique activities include a jigsaw puzzle contest, Ag Olympics, and the Farm Zone, ensuring a memorable visit.
The Becker County Fair in Detroit Lakes, MN, from August 7-10, 2024, celebrates its 130th edition with free admission and $5 parking. This historic fair features agricultural exhibits, arts and crafts, children’s activities, and livestock displays. With over 30,000 visitors, it offers diverse competitions, delicious local food, and family-friendly entertainment, making it a cherished community event.
The Cottonwood County Fair in Windom, MN, from August 7-10, 2024, has delighted visitors since 1881. With free admission and $1.50 parking, the fair attracts around 15,000 attendees. Highlights include agricultural exhibits, arts and crafts, children’s activities, commercial vendors, and livestock displays. Enjoy various competitions and tasty fair food for a fun, family-friendly experience.
The Kandiyohi County Fair in Willmar, MN, from August 7-10, 2024, promises excitement with livestock shows, bull riding, semi-tractor and truck pulls, and NTPA events. With a $5 admission fee, visitors can also enjoy a vibrant carnival and delicious fair food, making it a thrilling and enjoyable summer destination for all ages.
The Beltrami County Fair in Bemidji, MN, from August 7-11, 2024, celebrates its long-standing tradition since 1906. With free admission and $5 parking, this 5-day fair attracts over 30,000 visitors. Highlights include agricultural and educational events, arts and crafts, children’s activities, livestock exhibits, and various competitions. Enjoy exceptional local food and family-friendly entertainment, making it a cherished regional event.
The Brown County Free Fair in New Ulm, MN, from August 7-11, 2024, offers a variety of attractions with free admission and parking. Enjoy arts and crafts, agricultural exhibits, carnival rides, children’s activities, a demolition derby, live music, and livestock displays. Unique events like the pedal pull and tractor pull, along with delicious fair food, provide fun for the whole family.
The Carver County Fair in Waconia, MN, from August 7-11, 2024, offers diverse entertainment with a $9 admission fee and free parking. Highlights include 4-H exhibits, a demolition derby, horse show, and tractor pull. Unique attractions such as the Talen Contest, motoKazie, and UTV races, along with a bustling midway an delicious food vendors, ensure a fun-filled experience for all ages. Enjoy the convenience of a free shuttle bus to the event.
The Mille Lacs County Fair in Princeton, MN, from August 7-11, 2024, features a variety of exciting events with a $5 admission fee. Enjoy the lawn and garden tractor pull, truck and tractor pull, Seedway races, demolition derby, and redneck races. Additional attractions include the midway, 4-H exhibits, bingo, ROR Riding, a grandstand, and a talent show, ensuring fun and entertainment for all ages.
The Nicollet County Fair in St. Peter, MN, from August 7-11, 2024, has been creating memories for over 150 years. With free admission and $5 parking, this fair features harness racing, truck and tractor pulls, demolition derbies, kids’ power wheel demos, and car races. Enjoy the carnival, beer garden, midway, 4-H exhibits, chainsaw carving contest, bingo, and more, making it a fun-filled event for all ages.
The Nobles County Fair is a five-day celebration showcases the rich agricultural heritage and vibrant community spirit of the region. Visitors can look forward to 4-H exhibits, delectable local cuisine, thrilling speedway races, captivating live music performances, the exciting Cowboy Mounted Shooting competition, a spirited bean bag tournament, and the ever-popular barrel racing event.
The Lake County Fair boasts a unique blend of traditional county fair attractions and thrilling events. Highlights include MWA Pro Wrestling, Human Tractor Pull, Hay Bale Toss, Frying Pan Toss, Blindfolded Lawnmower Race, and a Watermelon Eating Contest. Admission is $5, with free parking available.
The Koochiching County Fair offers a classic county fair experience with a variety of family-friendly attractions. Highlights include a parade, delicious food, fireworks, a petting zoo, a kids tractor pull, and more. Admission and parking are both free, making it an accessible event for all.
The Martin County Fair offers a truly impressive lineup of entertainment and attractions. Highlights include quality musical acts like Fool House, Drake Milligan, and Tracy Lawrence, a thrilling midway with games and rides, livestock shows, 4-H and FFA exhibits, auto racing, delicious fair food, and much more. Admission is $10, with free parking available.
The Steele County Free Fair is Minnesota’s biggest county fair, welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. This free admission event offers an impressive array of entertainment and attractions, including live music, grandstand events, delicious fair food, exciting rides, livestock shows, stunt dog performances, and more. As the largest county fair in the state, the Steele County Free Fair is a must-visit destination for all.
The Douglas County Fair has been a beloved annual tradition since 1875, attracting over 50,000 visitors each year. This classic county fair experience offers a wide variety of family-friendly attractions and events, including agricultural exhibits, arts and crafts, commercial vendors, delicious fair food, and livestock shows. Admission is $8.50, with free parking available on-site. As one of Minnesota’s long-standing county fairs, the Douglas County Fair is a must-visit destination for those seeking a quintessential fairgrounds experience.
The Houston County Fair offers a diverse lineup of exciting events. Highlights include 4H exhibits, an escape room, live music performances, tractor pulls, a rodeo, tuff truck competitions, demolition derbies, concerts, and a teen dance. One of the most unique features is the Kid Powered Pedal Tractor Pull, where young fairgoers can showcase their pedal-powered skills. Admission to the Houston County Fair is free, with free parking available as well.
This fair offers thrills, amazing food, and community engagement. Featured events include a Kid’s Pedal Tractor Pull, Strong Man competition, Irish dancers, carnival, and high-octane mayhem with a demo derby and autocross. Admission is $10, with free parking available.
This annual event offers a diverse range of entertainment and activities for the whole family. Highlights include a PRCA Rodeo, thrilling Demolition Derby, free live music performances, classic carnival rides, the Steamers Thrill Show, and a showcase of 4H projects. Admission is free, and parking is also complimentary.
This annual community celebration features a diverse lineup of events and activities. Attendees can enjoy live music performances, 4-H exhibits, face painting, a medallion hunt, farm demonstrations, stained glass displays, horse races, a Ribfest and craft beer tasting, a rodeo, RC car racing, classic carnival rides, and much more. Admission to the fair is $3 per person.
This long-running annual event, founded in 1891 and organized by the Carlton County Agricultural and Industrial Society, attracts over 30,000 visitors each year. The fair features a diverse array of attractions, including agricultural exhibits, arts and crafts displays, children’s activities, commercial vendors, delicious fair food, livestock exhibits, and various competitions. Admission for adults is $10, while entry is free for children.
This annual fair offers a wide range of exciting events and activities for attendees. Highlights include live music performances, a truck and tractor pull, a demolition derby, and a classic car show. Admission to the fair is free, and there is free parking available on Saturday. The Le Sueur County Fair is a beloved community event that celebrates the region’s agricultural heritage and provides entertainment for all ages.
The McLeod County Fair in Hutchinson, Minnesota offers a jam-packed schedule of exciting events and activities for visitors of all ages. Attendees can enjoy the thrilling midway rides, a Frisbee dog show, live music performances, an autocross competition, 4-H exhibits, an Xtreme Demo Derby, grandstand events, and a wide variety of delicious fair food. Admission to the McLeod County Fair is completely free, making it an accessible and affordable summer event for the community.
The Traverse County Fair in Wheaton, Minnesota offers a diverse lineup of exciting events and activities for attendees. Highlights include a smoked rib contest, wrestling matches, a supercross competition, a car/truck/tractor show, a midway with rides and games, live music performances, and 4-H exhibits. Admission to the fair is $5 per person. Parking information is not provided, so visitors should plan accordingly.
The Wilkin County Fair in Breckenridge, Minnesota features an exciting schedule of events and attractions for visitors. Highlights include a talent show, a pageant, live music performances, a tractor show, a demolition derby, and 4-H exhibits. Admission to the Wilkin County Fair is $5 per person. Parking at the event is free for attendees. Visitors can check the fair’s Facebook page for the latest updates and information.
The Lac qui Parle County Fair in Madison, MN from September 5-8, 2024 is a must-visit event dubbed the “Little Minnesota State Fair”. Featuring a rodeo, bingo, live music, midway rides, a demolition derby, and delicious fair food, this $7 admission county fair offers an exciting lineup of activities in an intimate setting.
Have I convinced you yet to visit a county fair in MN? I’m already dreaming about the different foods I want to eat. This year alone, I’m hoping to make it to at least two Fairs, including the Hennepin County Fair.
If you haven’t already been to a county fair yet, what are you waiting for? Make sure to share this Ultimate List of County Fairs in MN so you can start enjoying some of the fun.
Jennifer A Singer
Minnesota native and Midwest travel expert Jennifer provides insider tips and budget-friendly trip ideas for families looking to explore the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Through her travel blog DayTripper28, she draws on first-hand experience to recommend the best hidden gems, outdoor adventures, road trips, and weekend getaways around Minnesota and the Midwest. With her passion for uncovering local flavors and culture along the backroads, Jennifer shares affordable itineraries for creating memorable experiences across the region.
