The Ultimate List of County Fairs in MN

Discover the Top County Fairs in Minnesota You Can’t Miss

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.

DayTripper is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small commission. I never promote things I haven’t vetted myself.

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.

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.

Rides

The rides at the county fair are on a much smaller scale. This is great when you have indecisive riders.

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.

Fair Food

The big draw to any fair is always the food. It’s why I’ve always given you the rundown before of the latest and greatest that the MN State Fair has to offer.

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.

Giant Corn Dog Eating

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 MN

June County Fairs

Hennepin county Fair

June 12-14

19101 County Road 10, Hamel, MN 55340

Rides, food, concerts, animals, exhibitions, and live entertainment.

Norman County Fair

June 18-21

503 West Thorpe Ave, Ada, MN 56510

4-H exhibits, carnival, bingo, demo derby, music.*Free Admissions

Wadena County Fair

June 19-22

400 Ash Ave SW, Wadena, MN 56482

Carnival rides, live music, demolition derby, and exhibit hall.

Lake of the Woods

June 25-28

09 3rd Ave SW Baudette, MN 56623

4-H exhibits, live music, carnival rides, and food vendors. 

Mahnomen County Fair

June 26-28

W Park Ave Mahnomen, MN 56557

Demo derby, carnival, livestock, music. *Free Admissions

Todd County Fair

June 26-29

Long Prairie, MN 56347

Demolition derby, carnival rides, live entertainment, and food vendors. 

Morrison County Fair

June 26-29

15575 Hawthorn Rd, Little Falls, MN 56345

Live music, food vendors, & beer garden. *Free Admissions

July County Fairs

Cannon Valley County Fair

July 3-6

800 N 9th St, Cannon Falls, MN 55009

All-ages entertainment and carnival rides.

Aitkin County Fair

July 9-12

632 Minnesota Ave N, Aitkin, MN 56431

Demo derby, carnival rides, and live entertainment. *Free Admission

Polk County Fair

July 9-13

Fertile, MN 56540

Agriculture exhibits and live entertainment.

Winona County Fair

July 9-13

506 W 6th St, St Charles, MN 55972

Grandstand, carnival rides, animal exhibits, & live entertainment. *Free Admission

Waseca County Fair

July 9-13

PO Box 227 Waseca, MN 56093

Carnival, animals music, 4-H activities. *Free Admission

Chisago County Fair

July 10-13

905 W 4th St, Rush City, MN 55069

Carnival rides, live music, and agricultural exhibits. *Free Admission

Hubbard County Fair

July 15-20

201 Fair Ave, Park Rapids, MN

Livestock shows, carnival rides, and live entertainment. *Free Admission

Dodge County Fair

July 16-20

Dodge County, Minnesota 55944

Livestock shows, carnival rides, live music, & food vendors. *Free Admission

Isanti County Fair

July 16-20

3101 MN-95, Cambridge, MN 55008

Livestock shows, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

Rice County Fair

July 16-20

1814 2nd Ave NW, Faribault, MN 55021

Demolition derby, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

West Otter Tail County Fair

July 16-19

1812 Pebble Lake Rd, Fergus Falls, MN 56537

Carnival rides, animal exhibits, live entertainment, and food vendors. 

Grant County Fair

July 17-20

605 Vienna Ave, Herman, MN 56248

Rodeo, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

Sherburne County Fair

July 17-20

18335 Joplin St, Elk River, MN 55330

Grandstand events, carnival rides, and agricultural exhibits. 

Redwood County Fair

July 17-20

201 N Dekalb St, Redwood Falls, MN 56283

Carnival rides, animal exhibits, live entertainment, and food vendors. 

Roseau County Fair

July 20-25

505 5th Ave NW, Roseau, MN 56751

Livestock shows, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

Olmsted County Fair

July 21-27

Rochester, MN 55902

Grandstand events, carnival rides, and agricultural exhibits. *Free Admission

Fillmore County Fair

July 21-26

101 Fillmore St E, Preston, MN 55965

Livestock shows, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

Anoka County Fair

July 22-27

3200 St Francis Blvd NW, Anoka, MN 55303

Grandstand events, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

Faribault County Fair

July 23-26

235 Midway Rd, Blue Earth, MN 56013

Demo derby, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

Rock County Fair

July 23-26

500 S Freeman St, Luverne, MN 56156

Grandstand events, carnival rides, and agricultural exhibits. 

Yellow Medicine County Fair

July 24-26

Fairgrounds Rd Canby, MN 56220

Livestock shows, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

Blue Earth County Fair

July 24-27

340 Fairgrounds St, Garden City, MN

Grandstand events, carnival rides, and 4-H exhibits. *Free Admission

East Otter Tail County Fair

July 24-27

455 4th St SE, Perham, MN 56573

Demo derby, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

Becker County Fair

July 23-27

1310 Rossman Ave, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501

Demo derby, carnival, live music, and food. *Free Admission

Scott County Fair

July 23-27

7151 190th St W #145, Jordan, MN 55352

Grandstand events, carnival rides, and agricultural exhibits. *Free Admission

Marshall County Fair

July 23-27

423 N Main St, Warren, MN 56762

Demo derby, carnival rides, live music, and food vendors. 

Kanabec County Fair

July 23-27

701 S Union St, Mora, MN 55051

Livestock shows, carnival rides, and live entertainment. Demo Derby, Motor Cross Racing, Rides and more

Wright County Fair

July 23-27

5912 County Rd 6 SW, Howard Lake, MN 55349

Grandstand events, carnival rides, and agricultural exhibits. 

Morrison County Fair

July 26-29

15575 Hawthorn Rd, Little Falls, MN 56345

Live music, food vendors, & beer garden. 

Freeborn County Fair

July 29 – Aug 3

1105 Bridge Ave. Albert Lea, MN 56007

Demo derby, carnival rides, live music, and food vendors. 

Benton County Fair

July 29 – Aug 3

1410 3rd Ave S, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379

Grandstand events, carnival rides, and agricultural exhibits. 

Crow Wing County Fair

July 29 – Aug 2

2000 SE 13th St, Brainerd, MN 56401

Grandstand events, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

Jackson County Fair

July 29 – Aug 2

78748 550th Ave, Jackson, MN 56143

Demo derby, carnival rides, live music, and food vendors. 

Wabasha County Fair

July 30 – Aug 2

99 Coulee Way, Wabasha, MN, 55981

Demo derby, carnival rides, live music, and food vendors. *Free Admission

Pipestone County Fair

July 30 – Aug 2

10th Ave SE, Pipestone, MN 56164

Demo derby, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

Pope County Fair

July 30 – Aug 2

230 Minnesota Ave W, Glenwood, MN 56334

Livestock shows, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

So St Louis County Fair

July 30- Aug 3

800 N Boundary Ave, Duluth, MN 55810

Carnival rides, food vendors, live entertainment, and 4-H exhibits. 

Clearwater County Fair

July 30 – Aug 3

36283 Fairground Rd, Bagley, MN 56621

Demo derby, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

Sibley County Fair

July 30 – Aug 3

801 W Chandler St, Arlington, MN 55307

Demo derby, carnival rides, and live entertainment. *Free Admission

Chippewa County Fair

July 30 – Aug 3

529 S 1st St, Montevideo, MN 56265

Livestock shows, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

Meeker County Fair

July 30 – Aug 3

1230 N Armstrong Ave, Litchfield, MN 55355

Demo derby, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

Washington County Fair

July 30- Aug 3

12300 North 40th Street, Stillwater, MN 55082

Grandstand events, carnival rides, and agricultural exhibits. 

St Louis County Fair

July 30 – Aug 3

1100 E 25th St, Hibbing, MN 55746

Carnival rides, food vendors, live entertainment, and 4-H exhibits. 

Pine County Fair

July 30 – Aug 3

707 1st Ave NW, Pine City, MN 55063

Grandstand events, carnival rides, and live entertainment. *Free Admission

August County Fairs

Dakota County Fair

Aug 4-10

4008 220th St W, Farmington, MN 55024

Grandstand events, carnival rides, and agricultural exhibits. 

Mower County Fair

Aug 5-10

700 12th St SW, Austin, MN 55912

Demo derby, carnival rides, and live entertainment. *Free Admission

Stevens County Fair

Aug 5-10

177 County Road 22, Morris, MN 56267

Grandstand events, carnival rides, and agricultural exhibits. *Free Admission

Goodhue County Fair

Aug 5-9

44279 County 6 Blvd, Zumbrota, MN 55992

Livestock shows, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

Nobles County Fair

Aug 6-10

942 Worthington, MN 56187

Grandstand events, carnival rides, and agricultural exhibits. 

Stearns County Fair

Aug 6-10

1105 Ash St S, Sauk Centre, MN 56378

Grandstand events, carnival rides, and agricultural exhibits. 

Renville County Fair

Aug 6-8

Bird Island, MN 55310

Grandstand events, carnival rides, and agricultural exhibits. 

Cottonwood County Fair

Aug 6-9

1480 8th Ave, Windom, MN 56101

Demo derby, carnival rides, and live entertainment. *Free Admission

Kandiyohi County Fair

Aug 6-9

Willmar, MN 56201

Grandstand events, carnival rides, and agricultural exhibits. 

Carver County Fair

Aug 6-10

501 W. 3rd St. Waconia, MN 55387

Grandstand events, carnival rides, and agricultural exhibits. 

Mille Lacs County Fair

Aug 6-10

1400 3rd Street North, Princeton, MN

Demo derby, carnival rides, and live entertainment. *Free Admission

Beltrami County Fair

Aug 6-10

7223 Fairgrounds Rd NW, Bemidji, MN 56601

Livestock shows, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

Brown County Fair

Aug 6-10

1201 N. State St. New Ulm

Livestock shows, carnival rides, and live entertainment. *Free Admission

Lake County Fair

Aug 7-10

1381 Fair Grounds Rd, Two Harbors, MN 55616

Livestock shows, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

Koochiching County Fair

Aug 8-10

12099 US-71, Northome, MN 56661

Demo derby, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

Martin County Fair

Aug 11-17

1300 North Bixby Road, Fairmont, MN

Demo derby, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

Steele County Fair

Aug 12-17

1525 South Cedar Avenue, Owatonna, MN 55060

Grandstand events, carnival rides, and live entertainment. *Free Admission

Lyon County Fair

Aug 13-17

504 Fairgrounds Rd, Marshall, MN 56258

Demo derby, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

Murray County Fair

Aug 13-16

Slayton, MN 56172

Livestock shows, carnival rides, and live entertainment. *Free Admission

Douglas County Fair

Aug 13-16

300 Fairgrounds Road, Alexandria, MN, 56308

Demo derby, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

Itasca County Fair

Aug 13-18

1336 Fairgrounds Rd, Grand Rapids, MN 55744

Livestock shows, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

Houston County Fair

Aug 13-17

203 South History Lane, Caledonia, MN

Demo derby, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

Swift County Fair

Aug 14-17

500 W Reuss Ave, Appleton, MN 56208

Demo derby, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

Carlton County Fair

Aug 14-17

3770 Front Street, Barnum, MN 55707

Grandstand events, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

McLeod County Fair

Aug 14-17

840 Century Avenue Southwest, Hutchinson

Grandstand events, carnival rides, and agricultural exhibits. 

Le Sueur County Fair

Aug 14-17

320 S Plut Ave, Le Center, MN 56057

Demo derby, carnival rides, and live entertainment. *Free Admission

Wilkin County Fair

Aug 21-24

Breckenridge, MN 56520

Demo derby, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

Traverse County Fair

Aug 22-25

407 7th Street South, Wheaton, MN

Livestock shows, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

September County Fairs

Lac qui Parle County Fair

Sept 4-7

Hwy 75, Madison, MN 56256

Livestock shows, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

*Denotes Free Gate Admission During the 2025 year. Sometimes, you may be asked to pay a small fee for parking per car when there is free fair admission. Some locations offer free parking and gate fair admission. See the County Fairs Website for details.

Dates not confirmed for 2025

Red Lake County Fair

June

201 Governor Street, Oklee, MN 56742

Carnival rides, live music, farm animals, and 4-H exhibits.

Big Stone County Fair

June

220 Fair St, Clinton, MN

Tractor pulls, horse shows, grandstand and more

Watonwan County Fair

July

53 11th St S, St James, MN 56081

Livestock shows, carnival rides, live music, and food vendors. 

Pennington County Fair

July

Thief River Falls, MN 56701

Rodeo, demo derby, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

Cass County -Pillager Fair

July

207 East Second St S, Pillager, Minnesota 56473

Midway rides, music, demolition derby, and agricultural displays. 

Kittson County Fair

July

205 N 4th St, Hallock, MN 56728

Livestock shows, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 

Clay County Fair

July

Main Ave E & 6th St NE Barnesville, MN 56514

Rodeo, carnival rides, live music, and agricultural displays. 

Lincoln County Fair

July

Tyler, Minnesota

Demo derby, carnival rides, live music, and food vendors. *Free Admission

Ramsey County Fair

Canceled 2024

2020 White Bear Ave, Maplewood, MN 55109

Livestock shows, carnival rides, and live entertainment. *Free Admission

Nicollet County Fair

August

400 W Union St, Saint Peter, MN 56082

Demo derby, carnival rides, and live entertainment. *Free Admission

Are you ready for summer fun?

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.

Similar Posts