2017 Minnesota State Fair: Bargains, Ways To Save, Discounts

TWIN CITIES, MN — The 2017 Great Minnesota Get-Together begins Thursday. This year’s 12 days of fun feature a variety of discounts, special deal days and money-saving tools. Before-the-Fair Savings Pre-fair discount admission tickets are $11 (a $3 discount off regular adult admission price and a $1 discount off the regular seniors and kids admission prices) and are valid any day of the fair for any age.

Also prior to the fair, Mighty Midway and Kidway ride & game tickets are $15 for a sheet of 25 (a $10 savings).

Discounted State Fair admission tickets, discount Mighty Midway and Kidway ride & game tickets, and Blue Ribbon Bargain Books are available through Aug. 23 at the State Fairgrounds Ticket Office off Como Avenue (Loop Gate #9),

For more state fair info: Minnesota State Fair 2017: Tickets, Parking, Bus, Lineup

Minneapolis Visitor Information, participating Cub stores and numerous locations in greater Minnesota and Hudson, Wis. (while supplies last). Discount tickets may also be purchased online at mnstatefair.org. A complete list of sales outlets is available online or by calling (651) 288-4427.

During the fair, regular admission is $14 for adults (13-64); $12 for seniors (65+); and $12 for kids (5-12). Children (under 5) are always admitted free. Mighty Midway and Kidway tickets purchased at the fair are $1 per ticket, $25 per sheet of 30 tickets or $40 per sheet of 54 tickets.

Throughout the fair, Blue Ribbon Bargain Books are $5 and available at State FairWear Gift Shops and Bargain Book & State Fair Poster Carts, accordnig to a news release.

(For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Minnesota Patch, click here to find your local Minnesota Patch . Also, follow us on Facebook , and if you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Free Entertainment and Attractions

This year’s Minnesota State Fair features many free attractions and exhibits, including:

• Nightly fireworks spectacular
• Live music and entertainment all day and night at stages throughout the fairgrounds
• The daily parade at 2 p.m. featuring the High School Marching Band Competition
• The Giant Sing Along
• Music and fun just for kids at Family Fair
• 3rd Lair SkatePark BMX and skateboarding demos at The X-Zone
• Dog agility and police K-9 demonstrations outside the Pet Center
• FAN Central, which features local sports teams and hometown heroes
• The CHS Miracle of Birth Center, where nearly 200 baby calves, lambs and piglets will be born during the fair’s 12-day run
• The finest needlework, handcrafts, baking and canning that Minnesota has to offer presented in the Creative
Activities Building
• Fruit, wine, Christmas tree, crop art, flower, vegetable, potato, bee & honey contests along with the Giant Pumpkin Contest in the Agriculture Horticulture Building
• The Great Big Sandbox where kids can dig, scoop, pour and burrow their
toes in a sandbox made just for them east of the Family Fair Stage at Baldwin Park
• Thank a Farmer Magic Show on the Christensen Farms Stage, where children of all ages learn about the role
agriculture plays in our daily lives
• The 4-H Poultry Prince & Princess Competition, which recognizes young leaders in
Minnesota’s poultry industry
• Insight, ideas and products for fair guests planning to update or remodel their homes in the Home Improvement Building
• The Timberworks Lumberjack and All-Star Stunt Dogs Splash shows at The North Woods
• The Kemps Little Farm Hands agricultural education experience
• Karaoke and live music in The Garden
• And much, much more - use the Fun Finder or daily schedules available at any information booth for a complete list of activities.

Special Deal Days

The State Fair kicks off with savings on Thrifty Thursday, Aug. 24. Discounted admission is $12 for adults
(13-64) and $9 for kids (5-12) when purchased at the gate. Monday, Aug. 28 is Seniors & Kids Day. Seniors (65+) and kids (5-12) are admitted for $9 when tickets are purchased
at the gate.

Military Appreciation Day is Tuesday, Aug. 29, when active military and their families, as well as retired and veteran military and their spouses, are admitted for $9 when they purchase admission at the gate with documentation of U.S. military service.

Wednesday, Aug. 30 is Read & Ride Day. Guests presenting valid public library cards when purchasing admission at the gate are admitted for the following discounted prices: Adults (13-64) $12; seniors (65+) $9; and kids (5-12) $9. (One discount per card)

Seniors Day is Thursday, Aug. 31. Seniors (65+) are admitted at the gate for $9.
Labor Day, Sept. 4, is Kids & Last Chance Day when kids (5-12) are admitted at the gate for $9.
In addition, many vendors feature special day deals for all State Fair guests on Thrifty Thursday, Aug. 24; Seniors & Kids Day, Aug. 28; Military Appreciation Day, Aug. 29; Seniors Day, Aug. 31; and Kids & Last Chance Day, Sept. 4.

Participating vendors will display a special day deal sign and are listed in the Deals, Drawings & Giveaways. Select vendors also feature closeout prices on Kids & Last Chance Day, Sept. 4.

More Fun for Less at Mighty Midway & Kidway

Specials are offered every weekday on rides and games at Mighty Midway and Kidway. All-day specials run Thursday, Aug. 24; Monday, Aug. 28; Wednesday, Aug. 30; and Monday, Sept. 4. Early Bird specials are offered until 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25; Tuesday, Aug. 29; Thursday, Aug. 31; and Friday, Sept. 1.

Blue Ribbon Bargain Book

The 2017 Blue Ribbon Bargain Book offers 150 coupons with huge savings on food, merchandise and attractions throughout the fairgrounds. Coupons are valid all 12 days of the fair, and a preview of the bargains is available here.

Bargain Books are $5 and available at the State Fair ticket office, Minneapolis Visitor Information and participating Cub stores and at many locations in great Minnesota and Hudson, Wis. before the fair (while supplies last), and during the fair at State FairWear Gift Shops and Bargain Book & State Fair Poster Carts on the fairgrounds. Books purchased during the fair support the Minnesota State Fair

Foundation’s mission to preserve and improve fair buildings, grounds and educational programs.
Deals, Drawings & Giveaways Guide

Available to view and print now at mnstatefair.org or for pick up at any information booth, the Deals, Drawings & Giveaways Guide details special day deals, items available for $1 or less, freebies and places to sign up and win prizes.

Free Minnesota State Fair App

The free Minnesota State Fair App is the official smartphone user’s guide to navigating the Great Minnesota GetTogether. This special technology created just for Minnesota State Fair fans uses the popular Food Finder, Merch & More Search and Fun Finder tools to help guests locate their favorites. The app is free and is available for download through iTunes or Google Play.

Image via Minnesota State Fair (The 2017 Minnesota State Fair runs Aug. 24-Labor Day, Sept. 4.)