Minnesota State Fair time again? Didn’t the last State Fair just end 300-some-odd days ago? Oh, right. Last year’s Fair was the sixth-best-attended of all time , with a total attendance of over 1.8 million across all 12 days.
And since then, Fair officials have been preparing for this year’s get-together. There are plenty of new attractions and foods to explore alongside our cherished traditions, and the Fair folks have also made some updates. From a redesigned crop art exhibition hall to deep-fried ranch dressing to a temporary no-go on live cow births at the CHS Miracle of Birth Center, here are the highlights of what’s changing, what’s new, and what’s gone at this year’s Fair: Not admission prices: OK, we admit we’re starting the “what’s changing” section with something that’s decidedly not changing.
Admission prices for the 2024 Fair will stay the same as last year: Regular admission for folks 13-64 years old is $18, and kids 5-12 and seniors 65+ get in for $16. Children under 4 get in free. Crop in closer: The Fair has redesigned the wing of the Agriculture Horticulture Building that houses the increasingly buzzy crop art exhibitions.
Also, audio descriptions will be available via QR code to make crop art more accessible. Officials did not describe the specific changes they’ve made to the space, but they promise “optimized viewing of these popular attractions.” We’ll see if this helps make the crop art line shorter than Sweet Martha’s on.