The Minnesota State Fair, which is Aug. 26 – Sept. 6 in Falcon Heights, offers many accommodations for visitors.
General admission tickets to fairgrounds at the gate are $11 (ages 13-64), $9 (65 & over), $8 (ages 5-12), free under 5.
Special Days at the Minnesota State Fair include:
-Thrifty Thurs.: Aug. 26.
-Seniors & Kids Day: Aug. 30.
-Ticket Deal Tues.: Aug. 31.
-Read & Ride Day: Sept. 1.
-Seniors Day: Sept. 2.
-Kids Day: Sept. 6.
Pre-fair discount admission tickets are available online thru Aug. 17 and at Cub Foods July 25 – Aug. 25.
Accessible parking is offered in several lots for vehicles with a valid placard. Cost is $11 or use your pre-fair admission ticket. Access points for parking are at Larpenteur and Underwood; Snelling at Hoyt; or Cleveland and Commonwealth. Additional accessible parking is available south of Como Ave.
There is also a free park and ride lot for wheelchair-accessible bus service on the south side of Oscar Johnson Arena, 1039 deCourcy Circle. Exit Snelling and Energy Park Drive and travel east on Energy Park Drive. Buses run every 20 minutes.
Be aware that limited wheelchair accessible buses operate from park and ride lots at Rose-ville Area High School, Nova Classical Academy and the U of M Minneapolis campus every day. Weekday service is at St. Rose of Lima, Gloria Dei and Grace churches.
Drop-off for passengers is at Como Loop Gate Nine. Metro Transit also provides several wheelchair accessible buses on routes to the fair.
For visitors who use wheelchairs, wheelchair battery charging is available at the Care and Assistance Center across from Heritage Square on Dan Patch Avenue. The center is open daily 9 a.m.-11 p.m.
Vista Mobility offers wheelchair and electric scooter rental; reservations are recommended. It is near Como Avenue Loop Gate Nine.
Visitors may request ASL interpreters or Audio Describers for Grandstand Shows at least two weeks in advance.
ASL Grandstand shows with interpreting include:
• Tues., Aug. 31, 7:30 p.m.: Carrie Underwood with Sons of Sylvia, $39, 49, 59.
• Fri., Sept. 3, 7:45 p.m.: A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor, $23, 28.
• Sat., Sept. 4, 8:00 p.m.: KISS, $40, 60, 70.
ASL interpreters are available to assist guests from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Inquire at the guest services office in Visitors Plaza. Assistive Listening Devices are available during Grandstand events at Visitors Plaza. For those who want to visit the Midway, accessibility guides are available.
The 2010 State Fair Accessibility Guide will be in downloadable format in August. It will include more info. Phone: 651-288-4448 or TTY 651-642-2372, or E-mail: tick [email protected], accessi [email protected] or [email protected].
Tix: Minnesota State Fair box office, 651-288-4427; TTY 651-642-2372; Ticket-master, 800-745-3000 (subject to convenience charge). Web: www.mnstatefair.org or www. ticketmaster.com n
