Minnesota State Fair sees ticket prices go up in 2023

The Minnesota State Honest is climbing its ticket costs once more 2023 after the Minnesota State Agriculture voted in favor at its annual assembly this previous weekend.

Adults (ages 13 to 64) and seniors and youngsters ticket costs will enhance by $1, costing $18 for adults and $16 for seniors and youngsters. The ticket enhance additionally impacts parking close to the fairgrounds, growing $3 to $20. Bike parking additionally jumps from $11 to $15.

Pre-fair discounted tickets will likely be priced at $15 – or $14 in the event you ebook earlier than Jan. 31. Admission for kids underneath the age of 5 stays free.

Ticket costs have greater than doubled over the previous 20 years, and has elevated by $1 yearly since 2016 – when it was $13 – aside from 2020, when no occasion was held because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has risen by 38.4% prior to now seven years. 

Minnesota State Honest CEO Jerry Hammer mentioned the will increase are attributable to inflation, public security, amenities needing updating and different providers such because the free Park & Journey system with Metro Transit.

“We work arduous to supply a tremendous expertise for everybody, and it takes plenty of effort and bills to do this,” Hammer mentioned.

In addition to approving the ticket worth hike, the board additionally handed a $9.4 million capital funding in upkeep upgrades and enhancements, which it says have been mothballed since 2019.

The state truthful final 12 months had over 60 regulation enforcement companies working the occasion, a rise in safety attributable to rising issues about weapons and violent incidents close to the fairgrounds in earlier years.

A gun was fired on the pageant in 2022, with one particular person struggling a non-threatening wound within the incident. It stays to be seen what sort of safety strategy the 2023 occasion takes.

Whereas the State Honest suffered losses through the top of the COVID-19 pandemic – with 2020 canceled and 2021 downsized – it noticed attendance return to close its pre-pandemic highs in 2022, which was the fifth-best attended within the truthful’s historical past.

“The success of the 2022 State Honest, and the wonderful workforce of elite professionals who produce the Nice Minnesota Get-Collectively, level us to a brilliant future,” mentioned Hammer. “Final 12 months’s truthful lays the muse for us to current one other world-class occasion, plus we’re now again on monitor with taking good care of our lovely fairgrounds.”

Iowa State Honest officers in December introduced a $2 hike in costs, the Des Moines Register reported. 

To see a full record of up to date pricing for the 2023 occasion, click on right here.