A guide to the 2024 Minnesota State Fair

The gates to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds open this morning to the first wave of the roughly 2 million people who will eat, drink, and be amused over the next 12 days.

Going to the fair this year? Here's what you need to know.

⏱ Hours: 7am to 11pm, except on Labor Day, when it closes at 9pm.

💵 Cost: $18 for adults, $16 for seniors (65+), $16 for kids (ages 5-12), and free for kids 4 and under.

Pro tip: Bring cash. While some vendors take credit cards, plenty of others don't.

🎶 Music: There are more than 900 free performances this year, including Semisonic on Sept. 1 and 2.

• The paid-ticket Grandstand lineup includes Chance the Rapper, Blake Shelton, Ludacris & T-Pain, Mötley Crüe, and Matchbox Twenty.

🌯 New food: There are six new vendors and 33 new foods to try this year, including El Burrito Mercado, Kosharina Egyptian Cuisine, and Chan's Eatery.

🍺 There are also 63 new specialty drinks , from the Grumpy Old Manhattan to the Mudslide Slushie.

🚨Be sure to follow the Axios Twin Cities Instagram for photos and reviews of the new food and beverages today. We will have a recap in Friday's newsletter.

🚍 How to get there: Yes, there are parking spots, but they're limited and you might find yourself circling traffic-choked streets.

• Consider one of the 30+ park-and-rides , Metro Transit , or one of three secured bike corrals.

🦽 Getting around: Electric mobility scooters, strollers, wagons, and wheelchairs are available for rent.

📆 When to go: Attendance for last year's fair was 1.84 million, still a bit below the 2019 record of 2.13 million. With good weather, 2 million could be in sight again.

• To avoid the longest lines, consider going today, tomorrow, or Monday through Thursday of next week. Those days have the lowest average attendance, according to MPR News .
• The two busiest days — by far — are the final Saturday and Sunday.

What we're watching: If and when Gov. Tim Walz will take a campaign break to make a visit. He told WCCO Radio he was unsure, before saying, "The State Fair I'll be at."

Check out the Axios Twin Cities Instagram coverage

Editor's note: This story has been updated with the correct daily closing times at the State Fair.