A Guide To Central Minnesota's Exciting County Fairs This Summer

County Fairs - they are like the guilty pleasure of most people here in Central Minnesota. They are fun, the people watching is amazing, there is all sorts of food that you probably only eat one time a year - at the fair. And usually there is some sort of live music, events and of course, a beer garden. And luckily, those beer gardens have now included hard seltzers, if you prefer those.

Of course - the Granddaddy of them all - the Minnesota State Fair basically wraps everything up at the end of August, but until then, there are several county fairs around the area that you might be interested in.

You can reference all of the fairs in the state by going to this website - Minnesota Federation of County Fairs. This will give you the dates, times, entertainment and how you can get involved, if that is something you would like to do.

Here is a quick rundown to some of the fairs coming to this area.

Morrison County Fair (Little Falls): June 25–28, 2026. Features a beer garden, auto-cross events, and live music.
Wright County Fair (Howard Lake): July 22–26, 2026. Includes carnival rides and grandstand events.
Sherburne County Fair (Big Lake): July 16–19, 2026. A great local option featuring 4-H shows and grandstand entertainment.
Stearns County Fair (Sauk Centre): July 29–August 2, 2026. Home to Crescent City Amusements, ranch rodeos, and the band IV PLAY.
Meeker County Fair (Litchfield): July 29–August 2, 2026. Highlights include an outdoor concert by Terri Clark and a demolition derby.
Isanti County Fair (Cambridge): July 15–19, 2026. Features motocross and live music events
Benton County Fair (Sauk Rapids): August 3–9, 2026. Known as one of the best in the area with extensive midway rides and grandstand entertainment.
Kandiyohi County Fair (Willmar): August 5–8, 2026. Features bull riding, tractor pulls, and exhibits.

Whatever you decide to do, remember, fairs can be fun. Go with fun people and make the most of what a Minnesota summer can bring. Beer and fried cheese! Well, there might be slightly more than just those two things.

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