St. Paul
St. Paul, Minnesota’s capital and home of the Minnesota State Fair: twelve days ending on Labor Day, 26 August to 6 September 2027.
At a glance
- Home of the Minnesota State Fair, 26 August to 6 September 2027
- A 322-acre fairground, midway between Minneapolis and St. Paul
- 278 food and drink vendors in the 2026 Fair Finder
- Named the No. 1 State Fair worth traveling for in 2026 by Travel + Leisure
- 1food festival
Food festivals in St. Paul
Myotus, CC BY-SA
Map of St. Paul
What to taste in St. Paul
New Foods
Each year the State Fair announces its official new foods. In 2026 they included the Pickle Pie.
Food on-a-stick
The fair’s signature format, deep-fried skewers included, with its own filter in the Fair Finder.
Cheese curds
Fresh nuggets of cheese, battered and fried at the fair stands.
St. Paul is the capital of Minnesota and the official address of the Minnesota State Fair, at 1265 Snelling Avenue North. With Minneapolis, across the Mississippi, it forms the Twin Cities, and the 322-acre State Fairgrounds lie midway between the two.
Twelve days at the end of summer
The fair is the city’s great food event, from late August to Labor Day.
- 2026: 27 August to 7 September.
- Organiser: the Minnesota State Agricultural Society, which trades as the Minnesota State Fair.
The official Fair Finder lets you filter its food and drink vendors by food on-a-stick or by value items of $5 and under.
Minnesota’s longest-running farmers’ market
The St. Paul Farmers’ Market calls itself the longest-running farmers’ market in the state.
- 1853: Vital Guerin, a French-Canadian fur trapper, helped build Minnesota’s first public farmers’ market.
- 1854: the St. Paul Growers’ Association established the market, which it still runs, more than 170 years on.
- Today: several markets across five counties, open six days a week between them.
The market’s rule for “local” is 100 miles (about 160 km) from St. Paul: all the food on sale is grown or made within that radius.
Before you go
- When: the city is busiest during the State Fair, 26 August to 6 September 2027.
- Airport: Minneapolis-Saint Paul International (MSP) serves both cities.
- Fair tickets: sold at the gates from 7 am to 8:30 pm, online from 6 am to 8 pm, says the fair.
- Alcohol: the minimum legal age to buy alcohol is 21.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul?
Yes. Its address is 1265 Snelling Avenue North, St. Paul. The fairgrounds lie midway between Minneapolis and St. Paul.
When is the Minnesota State Fair 2027?
From 26 August to 6 September 2027, Labor Day.
How long is the Minnesota State Fair?
Twelve days, always ending on Labor Day.