Family Events at the Minnesota State Fair - Day 6

Tuesday, September 1 - Military Appreciation Day

DISCOUNTS! Military families get a special discounted admission of $15/pp with valid documentation at the entrance gates. This deal is for active military personnel and their spouses and children. Retired military and veterans can receive discounted admission for themselves and their spouses. There will also be special deals on merch and food for everyone.

$20 for adults (13-64)
$15 for seniors (65+)
$18 for kids (5-12)
FREE (4 & under)

PLUS all-day ticket specials offered on Mighty Midway and Kidway rides & games.

Today’s family events at the Minnesota State Fair

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.

Military Appreciation Day at the Minnesota State Fair

Date(s): 09/01/2026 7:00 am - 11:00 pm
Location: Minnesota State Fair, 1265 Snelling Ave N, Saint Paul, MN, 55108

Stop by the Future Face of the Force today only at Dan Patch Park to visit educational booths that serve military families. Presented on Dan Patch Park Stage is special entertainment and guests. Discounts today only for both actively serving and retired members of the military along with their immediate family (see details). See our full list of Military Appreciation Day events! These events take place September 1 only and are included with admission to the Minnesota State Fair.

Minnesota DNR Park Family Fun

Date(s): 09/01/2026 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
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
Learn from the Raptor Center on the Garden Stage | 11am, 1 & 3pm
Meet Smokey Bear | 11am & 1pm
Dance to the awesome Ecuador Manta | 5-9pm

State Fair Alphabet Forest Author Visit: Nancy Loewen

Date(s): 09/01/2026 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Location: Alphabet Forest, Wright Avenue & Cosgrove Street, Falcon Heights, MN, 55108

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): 09/01/2026 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.