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Community Corner

Guide: Grab Your Shades, Mendota Heights—It's Minnesota State Fair Time

Heading out to the Great Minnesota Get-Together? Here's what you need to know.

One of the best resources for information about the Minnesota State Fair is their website, which lists everything from your favorite food stand (in the Food Finder tool) to maps, exhibit information, performance schedules and much more. 

There is even a new Minnesota State Fair app for smart phones.

Hop on the Metro Transit Bus

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Express bus service is offered every half hour from Signal Hills Shopping Center in West St. Paul, from 8 a.m. to midnight every day of the Fair. Park your car in the Signal Hills lot and ride the bus directly to the State Fair grounds. 

The express bus has drop-off and pick-up points at two locations: Gate #9 (Como Loop) and Gate #16 (West Red Pedestrian Bridge). A round trip ticket is $5 (cash only) and the ride is free for kids four and under. MTC State Fair bus schedules can be downloaded directly from the State Fair website.

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Admission Prices

Regular daily admission prices are as follows: Adults 13-64, $12; Seniors 65 and over, $10; Kids 5-12, $10 and kids under five are free.

Pre-Fair discount admission tickets are available through Wednesday, Aug. 24 at all Cub Foods locations. Admission tickets are $9; there are also Pre-Fair discount tickets available for rides and games at $10 for a sheet of 20 tickets, a $5 savings.

There are also several special discounted admission days at the State Fair (changes listed and other prices remain the same) :

Thrifty Thursday, Aug. 25: Adults, $10 and Kids, $7

Senior and Kids Day, Aug. 29: Seniors and Kids, $7

Read and Ride Day, August 31: Purchase an admission ticket at the gate, show your library card and receive a discount. Adults, $10; Seniors and Kids, $7.

Senior Day, Sept. 1: Seniors, $7

Kids Day, Sept. 5 (last day of the Fair): Kids, $7

Some Special Deals

You can also buy a Blue Ribbon Bargain Book for $4 (a $1 savings) at Cub.  (Andy's Grille, owned by the family of Mendota Heights resident Michelle Hickey, has a coupon in the book for $1.75 off a hot ham and cheese sandwich and the same discount for a breakfast egg croissant). Blue Ribbon Bargain Books are also available at the State Fair.

Catch A Parade

Every day at 2 p.m., the State Fair Mall Parade travels 14 blocks along Como Avenue. This year, the Simley High School marching band from Inver Grove Heights will be participating in the parade on Tuesday, Aug. 30.

That's Entertainment

There is plenty of free entertainment on several stages at the Minnesota State Fair (check the website for information). The only free show at the Grandstand is the Minnesota State Fair Amateur Talent Contest Finals which will be held Sunday, Sep. 4 at 8 p.m.  

If you're feeling nostalgic, you can check out the Happy Together Tour 2011 at the Grandstand on Monday, Aug. 29 at 8 p.m. At $18 per ticket, this is the most affordable Grandstand show and features the Grass Roots, the Buckinghams, the Turtles with Flo & Eddie and more.

What about...?

Parking—$12 per day, information on parking lots available on the website.

ATM machines—located throughout the State Fairgrounds. Visit the Information Booths or go online for specific locations.

Diapers, pacifiers, ibuprofen, antacid— Steichen's Market, located on Commissary Way behind the Poultry barn, is a full service convenience store.

Strollers and wheelchairs—Both, along with electric scooters and wagons, can be rented at four different locations. Wheelchairs, $15 per day; wagons, $13 per day and strollers, $9 per day. Scooters are $50 per day—$35 after 6 p.m.

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