25 Ways to Save at the Minnesota State Fair (2024)

Looking for ways to save money at the Minnesota State Fair? We’ve got ’em – you don’t have to break the bank to have a good time!

The Minnesota State Fair is just around the corner – hooray! Our state fair is incredibly popular, and for good reason! The 2023 Minnesota State Fair runs from Thursday, August 24 to Monday, September 4 (Labor Day) with twelve days of fantastic fun and food.

It’s easy to spend big bucks at the Minnesota State Fair with all of the treats, rides, vendors, and entertainment. And it’s totally OK to spend money if you want to! However, if you’re looking for some ways to save money at the Minnesota State Fair, we’ve got lots of different ideas for you!

1. Buy Discount Tickets

You’ll definitely want to get your tickets in advance if you can. Pre-fair discount admission tickets are $15 and are valid for any age guest (age 5+). Most people buy their discount MN State Fair tickets at Cub Foods (locations here), but they have been known to sell out so GET TO IT if you’re going this route.

Otherwise, you can buy discount tickets in advance online through 8/23/23, by swinging by the State Fairgrounds Ticket Office or call Etix at 800-514-3849. If you work for a large company (Target, the state government, 3M, etc.), you maybe be able to get discount tickets through them.

Regular price tickets are $18/adult (ages 13-64), $16/senior (ages 65+), $16/child (ages 5-12), and free for children 4 and under.

2. Visit on a Discount Day

If for whatever reason you don’t buy discount tickets, you can visit on a discount day instead. (It’s actually cheaper in some instances to visit on a discount day vs. buying discount tickets.) When adults are discounted they’ll pay $16 vs. the regular $18 fee. When seniors or children are discounted they’ll pay $13 vs. the regular $16 fee.

MN State Fair Discount Days for 2023 include:

• Opening Day (Thursday, August 24)
  • Adults, seniors, and children all receive discounted admission.
  • Deals on merchandise and food for all Fair guests.
  • All-day specials offered on Mighty Midway and Kidway rides and games.
• Seniors Day (Monday, August 28)
  • Seniors receive discounted admission.
  • Deals on merchandise and food for all Fair guests.
  • Early Bird specials offered on Mighty Midway and Kidway rides and games until 1 pm.
• Military Appreciation Day (Tuesday, August 29)
  • Discounted admission ($13) for active military, their spouses and kids, retired military and their spouses, and military veterans and their spouses.
  • Deals on merchandise and food for all Fair guests.
  • All-day specials offered on Mighty Midway and Kidway rides and games.
• Kids Day (Wednesday, August 30)
  • Children receive discounted admission ($13).
  • All-day specials offered on Mighty Midway and Kidway rides and games.
• Seniors Day (Thursday, August 31)
  • Seniors receive discounted admission.
  • Deals on merchandise and food for all Fair guests.
  • Early Bird specials offered on Mighty Midway and Kidway rides and games until 1 pm.
• Kids Day (Monday, September 4)
  • Children receive discounted admission ($13).
  • Deals on merchandise and food for all Fair guests.
  • All-day specials offered on Mighty Midway and Kidway rides and games.

3. Pick Up the Blue Ribbon Bargain Book

The Blue Ribbon Bargain Book costs just $5 and is chock full of coupons. Buy it along with your advance tickets, or pick one up at the State FairWear Gift Shops and Bargain Book & State Fair Poster Carts while supplies last. The first coupon is to save $9 on a sheet of Midway or Kidway Tickets, so you’ve already made back more than the $5 price of the book.

Some of my other favorite coupons in this year’s book include:

• Al’s Subs & Malt Shop: BOGO soft serve cone
• Leimon’s Pizzeria: BOGO slice of pizza
• The Sandwich Shop: $6 off one deep-fried Monte Cristo sandwich
• Strawberries N’ Creme: BOGO strawberry ice tea

PS – There are so many coupons in these books that you could just share with someone else who’s going. Sometimes people will just hand you their Bargain Book as they’re leaving the Fair as you’re entering.

4. Consult the Deals, Drawings & Giveaways Guide

The Deals, Drawings & Giveaways Guide is FREE and is found at any information booth. It lists the discount days, giveaway opportunities, and a list of all of the FREE stuff you can pick up at various locations. The 2023 entertainment preview brochure is found here. Check the site for updates as we get closer to the event.

5. Ride and Play on Discount Days

Discount days (as mentioned above) give discounted admission to select groups, plus special ride and game promotions are offered on many of those days, as well. Other ways to save on rides:

• Buy your ride/game tickets from Cub Foods at a discount ($20 for 25 tickets on your Fun Card).
• Use the coupon from the Blue Ribbon Bargain Book to pay $21 (regularly $30) for a Fun Card loaded with 33 ride and game tickets.

6. Check Out the Dairy Deals

Swing by the Dairy Building for some great deals on dairy products throughout the Fair! There’s the $2 all-you-can-drink milk, of course, and other deals that pop up during select days of the Fair.

7. Free Entertainment

Yes, there are big-name concerts at the Fair, but there is plenty of free entertainment, as well! Check out the full schedule on all ten stages HERE.

8. Free Parking and Shuttle

Many people choose to take the Metro Transit State Fair Express Bus, but at $5-$6 per person, that can add up. We typically choose to park at one of the 30 (!) free parking lots located around the State Fairgrounds and hop the shuttle that takes you directly to the front gate.

9. Bring Your Own Food and Drinks

OK, OK…I know that much of the draw of the State Fair is loading up on all of that delicious food. But let’s be real – that can really add up! Stash your cash for the real treats and keep your tummies satisfied in the meantime by bringing your own picnic lunch and/or snacks.

At the very least, bring your own refillable water bottle(s). Water fountains are located throughout the fairgrounds, and water bottle refill stations are offered at various locations, as well. For a list of all water locations, visit an information booth.

For those of you who need it, Twin Cities ROCK puts together a list of Gluten Free Foods at the Fair each year. Check their website for updates and/or stop by their booth to pick up your copy.

10. Pick Up Food for a Few Bucks

I mentioned the Deals, Drawings & Giveaways list before…it used to have a $1 and Under section. I didn’t see that list in this year’s brochure, but I did comb through the list to find the lowest-priced food deals:

• French Meadow Bakery & Cafe – $6 off a Heirloom tomato, turkey and bacon sandwich(Reg. $14) (8/30 only)
• Leimon’s Pizzeria – $6 slice of pizza and drink (8/25, 8/29, 8/31, and 9/5 only)
• Minnesota Cultivated Wild Rice – $1 ready-to-serve wild rice blend (8/25, 8/29, 8/30, 8/31, 9/1, and 9/5 only)
• Minnesota Honey Producers Association – $3 honey lemonade (8/30 only) and $3 scoop of honey ice cream (8/31 only)
• Pizza Wagon – 2 slices of pizza for $4 (8/25, 8/29, 8/30, 8/31, 9/1, and 9/5 only)

The last day of the Fair – Labor Day – is also a great time to pick up deals on food as well as merchandise. Look for the Last Chance Flier at any information booth on Labor Day.

11. Kemps Little Farm Hands Freebie

This free agricultural education exhibit is for kids ages 3-10 (but it’s probably best for ages 4-7). Children pretend to farm and at the end of it, they get fake money to buy a real item – all FREE!

12. Home Depot Kids Craft

The Home Depot tent has free kids’ crafts, similar to the ones your kids can complete in-store on Saturday mornings.

14. Free Horse Shows (and More!)

Visit the Warner Coliseum to witness judged and timed events featuring draft horses, horse jumping, English horse riding, and more. Check the schedule for what’s happening on which days.

15. Volunteer for a Free Ticket

Got some time on your hands? Many exhibits and attractions will give you FREE admission if you volunteer to help out with a two- to three-hour shift. Volunteer as an individual, or group. Check out the options listed here.

In addition to the options listed on the Minnesota State Fair website, you can also volunteer to help out with Clean Energy Resource Team or Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

16. Free ID Wristbands

If you have kiddos, you may want to stop by one of the information booths for free identification wristbands. Find the wristbands at an information booth or Care & Assistance. See the map of the Fair for location information.

17. Free Wi-Fi

Save on data by using the free Wi-Fi service available in a hotspot located at the west Grandstand plaza. It’s also available at the Xfinity booth located outside the FAN Central exhibit on Underwood Street.

18. Free Beer Samples

The Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co. offers free beer samples from 4 – 6 pm each day.

19. Free Climbing Rope Course/Archery Range

Boy Scouts of America offers a free inflatable archery range and knot tying lenticular card every day of the Fair.

20. Free History Walking Tour

Embark on this free, self-guided tour to discover State Fair history – just pick up a brochure at any of the twelve stops on the fairgrounds. The tour has five new stops!

21. Photos with the Mascots

Stop by Visitors Plaza at 11 am or 4 pm each day for free photo opportunities and autograph sessions with the State Fair gopher mascots, Fairchild and Fairborne.

22. Free Trolley

If your dogs are barkin’ and you can’t take another step, hop on one of the two free trolleys that service the area from 9 am – 8 pm daily (except from 2 – 3 pm due to the parade). Check out the trolley routes on the State Fair map, and stops are marked by signs along the route.

23. Free Parade

OK, so I don’t think there is such a thing as a “paid” parade, but you’ll definitely want to stop and see the free parade that begins at 2 pm each day. The 14-block parade route begins near the Haunted House, and goes north on Cosgrove Street, west on Randall Avenue, and south on Underwood Street.

24. Free Phone Charging

Phone out of juice? Visit these locations to recharge.

• Renewal by Andersen
• Bobby & Steve’s Auto World

In the past, additional charging stations have been located at:

• Ramberg Music Cafe
• KARE 11
• T-Mobile
• TPT | Twin Cities PBS
• and six locations powered by Device Pitstop

25. Pick Up Your Freebies!

Consult the Deals, Drawings & Giveaways guide as it gets updated for all of the FREEBIES!

Summary

Whether you’re looking to save on tickets, parking, food, or entertainment, there are plenty of ways to pinch your pennies and still have plenty of fun on a budget at the Minnesota State Fair.

What other ways do you save money at the Minnesota State Fair? Leave a comment and share your experience!

For more tips and tricks, check out Kristi’s post on Cheap and Free Fun at the Minnesota State Fair!