Advance discount tickets now on sale

“Kickoff to Summer at the Fair,” the popular slice-of-the-fair and spring-into-summer event running May 23-26, will return for the fourth year. Advance discount tickets are now on sale. This four-day event includes food, brews, music, shopping, free parking and family fun at the beautiful and iconic Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Attendance is limited each day so guests can have space to stroll and savor the experience. Visit mnstatefair.org/kickoff-to-summer/ for all the event details.

New to Kickoff this year will be the 2023 State Fair fan favorite Amish doughnuts from Peachey’s Baking Company. In addition, other brand-new offerings will include inflatable axe throwing by the Northern Star Council – Boy Scouts of America; The Arcade with dozens of coin-operated arcade games; Twin Cities’ food vendor Trickster Tacos; merchandise vendors such as Always Northern Permanent Jewelry and Roots, Shoots & Leaves mobile houseplant shop; and ASL interpretation during select Trivia Mafia and Stroll Through History guided tours on Saturday, May 25.

Back by popular demand will be nearly 40 popular State Fair food and beverage vendors, including pickle pizza from Rick’s Pizza, Sweet Martha’s chocolate chip cookies and State Fair specialty beers such as Mini Donut Beer, Chocolate Chip Cookie Beer and Key Lime Pie Beer; nonstop music and entertainment on three stages; ROCK-IT The Robot; the Giant Slide; mini golf by Can Can Wonderland; pickleball by Lucky Shots Pickleball Club; Trivia Mafia games; Stroll Through History guided tours; skateboard lessons & demos by 3rd Lair; board and yard games; door prizes; State Fair mascot appearances; photo ops; specialty Minnesota merchandise shopping at 20+ vendors; free parking; and more. (Some activities require an additional cost.)

Admission: Tickets are $13 each in advance online (fees and tax included); children 4 and under are free and do not require a ticket. Save $3 when you buy in advance. Tickets at the gate will be $16 each (via QR code; credit/debit only; fees and tax included). Each ticket is valid for a specific day. Choose the day when purchasing tickets. Attendance is limited per day. This event is rain or shine. Tickets are non-refundable.

• Thursday, May 23, 4-9 p.m.

• Friday, May 24, 4-9 p.m.

• Saturday, May 25, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sunday, May 26, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Tickets are available through Etix at etix.com (use this URL for the hyperlink – https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/16820/), by calling 800-514-3849, or can be purchased at event entrances on the day of the event (via QR code, credit/debit only) until attendance capacity is reached. For additional State Fair ticket information, call 651-288-4427.

Free parking is available (space is limited). For map and directions, visit mnstatefair.org/kickoff-to-summer/.

Participating food vendors serving fair food favorites and refreshing summer brews will include: Al’s Subs & Malt Shop, Andy’s Grille, Auntie M’s Gluten Free, Baba’s, Ball Park Cafe, 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 Sol Mexican Foods, Fresh French Fries, Giggles’ Campfire Grill (two locations), Hansen’s Foot Long Hot Dogs & Corn Dogs, Minnesnowii Shave Ice, Mouth Trap Cheese Curds, Nelson’s Foot Long Hot Dogs & Corn Dogs, Peachey’s Baking Company (new this year), The Perfect Pickle, Produce Exchange, Pronto Pups (two locations), Que Viet Concessions, RC’s BBQ, Richie’s Cheese Curd Tacos, Rick’s Pizza, Sambusa Express, Summer Lakes Beverage, Sweet Martha’s Cookie Jar, Sweets & Treats, Tiny Tim Donuts, Tot Boss, Trickster Tacos (new this year) and West Indies Soul Food. To view menus and vendor offerings visit mnstatefair.org/kickoff-to-summer/vendors/.

Three stages of free entertainment will include performances by: The Art of Dance Studio, Barley Jacks, Becky Kapell and The Fat 6, Dance and Entertainment Studios, Drums of Navarone, The Eclectic Barn Boys, Ecuador Manta, Kate Voss & The Hot Sauce, Line Dance Minnesota, Miss Shannon’s Sock Hop, O’Shea Irish Dance, The RLB Band, Rhino, Skitzo Fonik, The Summerbabies, Tyte Phitt, The Working Stiffs and Zumba® Fitness. In addition to the stages, DJ entertainment will be provided by Adagio Djay Entertainment, and select food and beverage vendors will also offer entertainment.

Specialty shopping and exhibit booths will include: 3rd Lair SkatePark & SkateShop, Always Northern Permanent Jewelry (new this year), Angry Minnow Vintage, Can Can Wonderland, Crystal Visions, Frankie’s Marine (new this year), Glitter Glamper, GoodThings, Gotta Go Gotta Throw (new this year), Hagen and Oats, LeafHome Water Solutions (new this year), LeafFilter Gutter Protection, Lucky Shots Pickleball Club, Mattress Firm, Minnesota Exteriors – Blue Flame Gas Association (new this year), Minnesota Rusco, Minnesota State Fair Foundation, Must be Ruff, Northern Pine Co. Boutique (new this year), Northern Star Council – Boy Scouts of America (new this year), Paddle North, Rainbow Midwest, Renewal by Andersen, Roots, Shoots & Leaves (new this year), Sota Clothing, Star Tribune, State FairWear, T-Mobile and Treasure Island Resort & Casino.

Sponsors for Kickoff to Summer at the Fair include: Mattress Firm (Mascots), Adagio Djay Entertainment (DJ Entertainment), Treasure Island Resort & Casino (Visitors Plaza Stage), Minnesota Rusco (Door Prizes), T-Mobile (Grandstand Building), Cal Spas (DNR Stage), Minnesota Corn (Christensen Farms Stage), Renewal by Andersen (Family Fun Zone) and DragNFly Wireless (Wi-Fi Hot Spot).

The Minnesota State Fair is one of the largest and best-attended expositions in the world. Showcasing Minnesota’s finest agriculture, art and industry, the Great Minnesota Get-Together is 12 Days of Fun Ending Labor Day. The State Fair is financially self-supporting and does not receive government appropriation. Follow along on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok @mnstatefair for year-round updates. The 2024 Minnesota State Fair will run Aug. 22 through Labor Day, Sept. 2. Visit mnstatefair.org for more information.