Minnesota State Fair reports 2021 operating loss, raises admission price and reduces hours for 2022
Jan. 17—Although Minnesotans had to go without their beloved State Fair in 2020, it returned despite numerous pandemic-related obstacles in 2021 to become one of the best-attended North American events of the year, according to Fair officials.
In spite of the comeback, the Fair reported an operating loss of $1.3 million last year, general manager Jerry Hammer told the governing body of the Great Minnesota Get-Together on Sunday. Attendance was 1.3 million, down from the record 2.1 million in 2019.
Still, when the 12-day State Fair was canceled outright in 2020, the loss was $16.5 million, Hammer said.
Despite the operating loss last year, Hammer said that pulling off the State Fair in 2021 amid the ongoing pandemic was "miraculous."
The Minnesota State Agricultural Society, which oversees the state's end-of-summer ritual, held its 163rd annual meeting in Bloomington over the weekend.
In light of the continuing financial and planning obstacles posed by the pandemic, the State Fair board has decided to raise full-price general admission by $1 and reduce operating hours for the 2022 State Fair, which will be held between Aug. 25 and Labor Day, Sept. 5.
The new admission price will be $17 for those 13-64 years old; people 5-12 and 65 and older will pay $15. Those under 4 are admitted for free. The increased price begins Feb. 1. Discount tickets will be on sale for $13 for all ages until Jan. 31 at mnstatefair.org/tickets.
Operating hours will be reduced by opening one hour later and closing one hour earlier.
The Falcon Heights fairgrounds will be open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, through Sunday, Sept. 4, and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Labor Day, Sept. 5. In 2021, the fairgrounds were open from 6 a.m. to midnight for the first 11 days of the Fair and 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Labor Day.
