Minnesota State Fair admission price jumps to $20 per person; increase to fund improvements

The Great Minnesota Get Together is getting pretty spendy.

The board that oversees the Minnesota State Fair announced Sunday that at-the-gate admission prices are rising to $20 this year. That’s up from $18 last year.

The price increase will help pay for $20.1 million in capital improvements, including a major renovation of the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum. Other improvements include replacing the roof of the 4-H Building, replacing and repairing sidewalks, installing and replacing water bottle refill stations and drinking fountains, and adding more misting machines.

The state fair also says public safety costs have doubled since 2019 and include “additional on-site officers, enhanced gate security and other measures.”

The state fair is financially self-supporting.

The 12-day fair, which occurs in August and September, sells discounted admission tickets. Tickets purchased between on or before Jan. 26 are $15. Tickets purchased from Jan. 27 to Aug. 20 are $17.