Family Events at the Minnesota State Fair – Day 2

Ultimate Dinosaurs with SMM

Date(s): 08/27/2026 - 09/07/2026 9:00 am - 8:00 pm
Location: Minnesota State Fair - North End Event Center, 1265 Snelling Avenue North, Falcon Heights, MN, 55108

Stop by the Science Museum of Minnesota’s Ultimate Dinosaurs exhibition to learn about the earliest known dinosaurs of the Triassic Period through millions of dinosaur worlds. View real fossils, full skeleton casts, and some touchable specimens. Free with fair admission.

Foci Glassblowing Demonstrations

Date(s): 08/27/2026 - 09/01/2026 10:00 am - 7:30 pm
Location: Minnesota State Fair West End Market, 1839 W Dan Patch Avenue, Falcon Heights, MN, 55113

Watch glassblowing and stained glass demonstrations by Foci Minnesota.

Fire Prevention Day at the Minnesota State Fair

Date(s): 08/28/2026 7:00 am - 11:00 pm
Location: Minnesota State Fair - Dan Patch Park, MN, MN

Special and hot, hot, hot today: learn all about fire prevention at the Minnesota State Fair today! A variety of fire education presentations, demos and activities will be offered around the fairgrounds. See our schedule of free Fire Prevention Day family-friendly events. These events take place August 28 only and are included with admission to the Minnesota State Fair.

Minnesota DNR Park Family Fun

Date(s): 08/28/2026 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
Location: Minnesota State Fair - DNR Park, MN, MN

Though popular with fairgoers of all ages, the DNR Park at the Minnesota State Fair manages to offer a space that feels (relatively) removed from the hubbub of the Midway rides, animal barns and mile-long lines for cookies and pronto pups. That might be owed to its focus on nature and outdoor recreation. It also might be the generous (in State Fair scope) patch of grass you might be able to find space to plunk your family down for a breather. Feet hopefully rested, there’s a bunch of fun, FREE stuff for kids to explore in the park.

Today’s Minnesota State Fair DNR Park family events

• Gawk at the giant fishpond | Open all day starting at 7am
• TODAY ONLY! Fire prevention activities | 9am-6pm
• Climb the DNR Fire Tower – get a birds-eye view of the State Fair from 65 feet up! | 9am-7pm
• Stroll through the indoor Wildlife Wing dioramas | 9am-9pm
• Meet with Smokey Bear | 11am & 1pm
• Dance to the awesome Ecuador Manta | 5pm

Visit with Bell Museum at U of M Central

Date(s): 08/28/2026 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
Location: Minnesota State Fair Crossroads Building, 1674 Dan Patch Avenue, Falcon Heights, MN, 55108

Visit with representatives from Bell Museum will be at University of Minnesota Central. Stop in to play a dice trivia game called Imagine Earth’s Garden, make and take your own zine and grab some Bell Museum giveaways.

• Friday, August 28; 9am – 9pm
• Tuesday, September 1; 9am – 9pm

State Fair Alphabet Forest Author Visit: Kayla Harren

Date(s): 08/28/2026 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Location: Minnesota State Fair - Alphabet Forest, Wright Ave & Cosgrove St, MN

Loving all things to do with letters, books and literacy in general, the Alphabet Forest at the Minnesota State Fair invites local “Blue Ribbon” authors to visit with families daily – in addition to offering delightful, free activities for kids such as “A Fabulous Fair Alphabet” scavenger hunt and an alphabet photo booth. See today’s special guest author on our schedule!

Family Fair Stage at Baldwin Park

Date(s): 08/28/2026 10:30 am - 7:00 pm
Location: Minnesota State Fair - Baldwin Park, MN, MN

The Family Fair Stage in Baldwin Park is the epicenter for kids and family entertainment at the Minnesota State Fair. Exciting and often hilarious free acts are presented throughout each day: juggling, magic, dance, comedy acts and more. See our complete lineup for the run of the 2026 State Fair. All entertainment at the Family Fair stage is free; an admission to the Minnesota State Fair is required to enter the fairgrounds.

2026 Family Fair Stage schedule: August 27-30

• • Billy Kidd Show | 10:30am & 11:30am
  • The Chipper Experience! Where Comedy & Magic Collide! | 12:30 & 3:30pm
  • Monster Shop Bump’n | 1:30, 4:30 & 6pm
  • County Fair Talent Contest | 7pm