Im extremely grateful for the opportunity to serve this amazing place for so long, Hammer said. The State Fairs board of managers conducted a search over the past several months and announced today that Alexander will take over for retiring CEO Jerry Hammer. On the second Saturday of 2018 the crowd was a record 270,000, perhaps in part driven by the appeal of that nights Grandstand headliner, Hairball: A Bombastic Celebration of Arena Rock. The coach was charged with fifth-degree assault in Blue Earth County. Copyright 2023 Minnesota State Agricultural Society, dba Minnesota State Fair. For more information about the Best Awards visit mnstatefair.org/competitions/best-awards, When you need to know that something good happened today, were here. Sweet Marthas tops this list by far, outselling the two cheese curd vendors on the Fairs top ten list combined. Attendance for the Fair on Thursday was 121,478. ", A crowd heads towards the exit of the Minnesota State Fair after police responded to incident in the Midway are on Saturday night . 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The fair was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19. Fletcher says many agencies have volunteered to send some extra law enforcement agents to. At that time, Deputy Alex Graham, who joined Sheriff Fletcher for the live stream, says there were 30 to 50 people "fighting, brawling, kicking, pushing, everything." The Great Minnesota Get-Together is upon us. She knows what it takes to keep the shine on our state treasure.. The Currents Music On-a-Stick: As usual, The Currents Music On-a-Stick features bands that are popular on the Minnesota Public Radio station. In the meantime, check out these other ways to stay in the know: Feb. 27, 2023: Renee Alexander, longtime Minnesota State Fair deputy general manager, will be the new CEO of the Minnesota State Fair. Todays theme is Hubbard Broadcasting Day: Catch Ladies Lunch with Twin Cities Live at 12 p.m.; belt out 90s classics at Hurricane Karaoke at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m; and stick around for a live recording of the Say Too Much podcast with Staci and Hutch from KS95 at 4 p.m. WATCH: World Records with Mike Marcotte: A Guinness Book of World Records judge will talk about his favorite record attempts and give away copies of the 2023 world records book. $37-$27. (Located on the south side of Judson Avenue betweenNelson and Underwood streets), Puzzle Twist Sells a variety of special-edition puzzles, including Minnesota-themed puzzles, plus a StateFair puzzle, puzzle accessories and more. No suspects have been identified in the incident. Given the final two days of the fair in the last two years saw attendances of more than 350,000, a new record should be announced come Tuesday. Her original interpretation of the Great Minnesota Get-Together will be unveiled at the State Fairgrounds in June. Two (other) groups of boys The Beach Boys and The Oak Ridge Boys are tied for fourth place with 10 appearances each. Alexander will assume her new duties later this spring when Hammer steps down after 53 years with the State Fair; hes currently in his 27th year as CEO. With 249,490 people in attendance on Saturday, a gunman endangered the lives of thousands on Saturday night, when he shot a gun inside the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. 7 more rock acts we may not see in concert again, Reader alert: Enter the 2023 Pioneer Press Peeps Diorama Contest, day-by-day guide to the 2022 Minnesota State Fair, St. Paul man dies after fall from Edina construction site, 'We all saw it coming': Harding teachers flagged violence long before fatal stabbing, Local chef and his cousin identified as St. Paul double homicide victims, WWII machine gun seized in Washington County now headed to Camp Ripley museum, Jessie Diggins adds another gold medal, and U.S. first, Special St. Paul school board meeting after fatal stabbing yields 63 speakers, $2M in federal funding granted to Rondo community land bridge project in St. Paul, Cirrus Aircraft engineer identified as victim of fatal Duluth plane crash, Minnesota GOP pitches tax rebate checks, Social Security tax cut, Derek Chauvin's ex-wife pleads guilty to tax evasion, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes defeat, Southern California home sales fall to all-time low, Denver just got a direct flight to this Caribbean island known for music history and vegetarian cooking, NYC Mayor Adams dismisses need to separate church and state, declares himself a servant of God, Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. The Minnesota State Fair saw its largest crowd so far this year with 153,953 visitors making it out on Saturday, a number that is still well below average. All Rights Reserved. And the fair has not wavered from its decision not to require masks or proof of a COVID-19 vaccine; however, individual buildings and vendors are able to put their own mask policies in place. The shooter took off in the crowd and was not arrested. If your questions havent been answered here, check out our Frequently Asked Questions pages or visit our Contact Us page. Minnesota State Fair wraps up as attendance, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Submit to Stumbleupon (Opens in new window), Minnesota State Fair wraps up as attendance bounces back, Rochester-born rapper Yung Gravy will headline the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand, Minnesota State Fair announces longtime fair entertainment leader as new CEO, The Chicks set to return to the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand, which they sold out twice in 2016, Duran Duran is the first act announced for the 2023 Minnesota State Fair Grandstand, Crop artist selected to create 2023 commemorative artwork for Minnesota State Fair, MN Transportation Museum exhibit focuses on experiences of African American railway workers, Hate your signature? According to a press release on Tuesday, the State Fair wrapped up Labor Day, Monday with an. Tilt-A-Whirl This ride is located at Kidway. They even have a countdown clock. You were there for the most rainy day of the fair, at least for the pat 12 years. Read, enjoy, share. Fair officials announced Sunday that 270,426 people passed through the gates on Saturday, beating the previous single-day . Make a gift of any amount today to support this resource for everyone. Daily Schedules | Minnesota State Fair Daily Schedules Use the following links to view PDF versions of the 2023 daily schedules. The State Fair has announced that 260,374 people passed through the fairground gates on the last Saturday of this year's fair, and in doing so set an all-time record. This is the fifth-most attended fair in its . The Minnesota State Fair posted its highest single-day attendance of 2021 on Saturday, moving the fair's total visitor count past 1 million in the process. In terms of heat, the 12-year high was on the first Monday of the 2013 State Fair, when the temperature reached 97 degrees Fahrenheit. Sheriff Fletcher also pointed on some weak points with security, including failures with metal detectors, and how easy it might be for someone to toss a weapon over the fence if not just climbing over the fence themselves. He joined the full-time staff in 1977 and served in a variety of positions in events, media, marketing, public relations and senior management before being appointed CEO in 1997. The news, analysis and community conversation found here is funded by donations from individuals. Again deputies used chemical irritants to break up the fight. There, a community gathers to read about things that can be hard to talk about like mental health. (Located on Clough Street between Carnes and Judson avenues), Minneapple Pie Sells the Official New Food Minneapple Blueberry Pie as well as other deep-fried pies,plus assorted beverages including apple lemonade. While Fletcher only saw one shot being fired, there are other reports of at least three shots being fired. Crowds at the Minnesota State Fair flee the Midway area after witnesses reported hearing a gunshot during a brawl. Hammers State Fair career spans 53 years including the last 26 as CEO. FAIR ATTENDANCE Attendance at the Minnesota State Fair Saturday was 171,633, down from last year's third-day attendance figure of 182,277 The record for attendance on the third day is 202,126 . (Located in the Veranda onthe upper level of the Grandstand), Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Showcases educational information on the Siouxcommunitys history, culture, language and values, as well as the many ways they give back to thecommunity. That's. "I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to serve this amazing place for so long," Hammer said. Fletcher says he and his deputies were within 40 feet of the shooter when shots were fired echoing what Governor Walz said earlier in the day. The distinctive DQ opens on March 1 every year. About 20 minutes later, the shooting victim walked up to firefighters at the fair, seeking help. After Saturday's record attendance, this year's State Fair has had 1,554,389 visitors, putting it just 270,441 visitors away. One fairgoer who declined to be interviewed on the record told FOX 9 she heard three gunshots. Note: 1962-2021Source: Minnesota State Fair. Alexander has more than 20 years of experience with the Great Minnesota Get-Together, including 13 years as deputy general manager, playing a key role on the State Fairs senior management team. Links will go live as information becomes available. The fair said attendance on the fourth day was 149,247, a step up from numbers seen over a rainy first three days of this year's get-together: Saturday (129,984), Friday (77,406) and Thursday (61,983). The second weekend was the busiest time for the Fair this year. Last year attendance was down by one-third from the previous fair, 1.3 million attended compared to the record 2.1 million in 2019. Through the first three days, there have been 269,373 visitors to the state fair in 2021. All information subject to change. Sheriff Fletcher said there was a large fight near the French fries stand in the Midway about 20 minutes before the shooting. 2014 94,256. "If a person doesn't care about the consequences of their actions, it's very, very difficult to stop them from using a gun on someone," said Fletcher. Heres our day-by-day guide to the 2022 Minnesota State Fair. 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. @ Dan Patch Park Stage, DO: King or Queen of String Cheese: This string cheese artistry contest is open to the public, and yes, prizes are up for grabs. (Located in the Education Building), Soul Bowl This new food vendor sells the Official New Food Soulsicle, plus the Donut Peach Cobbler andQueen B Lemonade. Friday beat attendance numbers for the second Friday in 2021 but failed to surpass the 2019 attendance at . Just in: yesterday's opening day saw 121,478 people pass through the gates. Over 1.6 inches fell that day, contributing to the nearly four inches total over the course of the fair also a recent record. There were just shy of 500,000 in the same time frame in 2019. X close News Weather Watch Live Traffic . The 2019 fair also set the record for overall attendance for the 12-day Great Minnesota Get-Together, at 2,126,551. "The entire fair is extremely safe. Saturday saw 249,490 visitors and Sunday saw 222,202. Sponsorships and Touring Promotional Exhibits. If Minnesota follows their lead, the fair will see around 1.6 million visitors this year. To share some Good News, please contact us at Stories@GoodNewsMinnesota.com. Law enforcement will be doubled at the fair on Sunday and Monday, officials said during the press conference. If you were one of the 62,00 people who attended day one of last years Minnesota State Fair, congratulations! Hammer has spent all his working life at the State Fair, starting in 1970 at the fairs greenhouse as a 15-year-old high school student. Alexander is a former board chair of the International Entertainment Buyers Association, an active participant with the International Association of Fairs and Expositions and is a graduate of the Leadership Music and Leadership St. Paul programs. Garrison Keillor is second with 13 appearances, 11 branded as Prairie Home Companion followed by two Minnesota Show acts. The MINNESOTA STATE FAIR & Logos, MIGHTY MIDWAY, KIDWAY, THE GREAT MINNESOTA GET-TOGETHER, TWELVE DAYS OF FUN ENDING LABOR DAY, BLUE RIBBON BARGAIN BOOK, Fairscape Logo, and Fairchild Mascot are trademarks of Minnesota State Agricultural Society, dba Minnesota State Fair, and are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. That is nearly double the 61,983 on opening day last year. Feb. 6, 2023: Hiring for seasonal positions is now open! The State Fairs board of managers is initiating a search process to name Hammers successor. If you are looking for a smaller dose of humanity with your state fair experience, the opening day is your best bet, averaging 112,000 in recent years, but really any weekday is far less attended than the two Saturdays and Sundays of the fair. Hammer said that he is most proud of the fairs professional staff, and their high level of expertise. There is nothing more to confirm at this time. It is the third attendance record set at this year's fair, with daily records set for the first Friday (141,023) and the second Friday (182,926). One person was hurt in a shooting at the Minnesota State Fair, leaving many wondering how they got the weapon past the metal detectors. The attendance record for the Fair on opening day was 133,326, set in 2019. 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The driver was allegedly traveling at least 85 miles-per-hour on a 30 miles-per-hour road. This year, it's headed for the 2 million mark again, with . Jan. 25, 2023: The third annual Kickoff to Summer at the Fair will return May 25-28, 2023! Day of the Week Aug. 25 to Sept. 5, 2022 Aug. 26 to Sept. 6, 2021 Aug. 22 to Sept. 2, 2019 Record Daily Attendance (Year) Thursday: 121,478: 61,983: 133,326* The ruling found the Minnesotan had her civil rights violated by being denied the opportunity to compete. Also, there are almost 300 food vendors (including plenty of new offerings in both food and beverage departments), concerts galore both at the Grandstand and at free stages around the Fair, more than 3,300 included-with-admission events, and plenty of exciting merchants and people-watching moments to pack into your day. Sign up at 4 p.m. Check back for more information in the coming months. The fair is in exceptionally strong hands.. Witnesses described seeing a fight involving multiple people near the area, with police moving quickly to break it up. The man was reportedly armed with a knife. Saturdays mark was a 38% decline from the same day in 2019, when 209,105 people congregated at the fairgrounds. Were looking forward to Renees vision of maintaining that tradition and building on the State Fairs amazing legacy., My commitment to the Minnesota State Fair extends well beyond this merely being a job, Alexander said. View our employment page to explore openings for the summer of 2023. But, shortly after, the groups got back together. Only one casing was recovered, from the shooting deputies witnessed. "They defended real well," Warroad coach David Marvin said. Hammer will stay on as CEO into the spring to help with the leadership transition. Also during his tenure, the 322-acre State Fairgrounds have undergone nearly $180 million in major improvements and upgrades including renovation of historic facilities, significant new construction and large expansion of fairgrounds landscape, amenities and infrastructure all with no public funding. On four out of six days so far, attendance has been below 100,000. The official attendance was 153,367 people. This year attendance to the just-completed Iowa and Wisconsin state fairs were up by 22 percent and 19 percent, respectively, to 1.1 million and 1.0 million over the course of the 11 day fairs. One of the teenagers suffered life-threatening injuries in the incident. The Great Minnesota Get-Together is world-famous for its tradition of excellence. KSTP-TV, LLC Attendance at the Minnesota State Fair climbed above 100,000 on Saturday but it remained just a fraction of attendance levels seen at the previous fair in 2019. They even have a countdown clock. 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