What the Anoka County Fair Is
The Anoka County Fair is a six-day fair at the Anoka County Fairgrounds with a carnival, a grandstand lineup, live music, animals and 4-H youth demonstrations. The most recent edition ran July 21 to 26, 2026, and drew 44,759 guests, the highest attendance in more than 15 years. The 2027 fair is scheduled for July 20 to 25.
Where and When
Anoka County Fairgrounds, 3200 St Francis Blvd NW, Anoka, MN 55303. Hours in 2026 were 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Buildings, barns and kids' activities opened at 11 a.m. (1 p.m. on Tuesday). Parking was free all week. The fair office phone is 763-427-4070.
Admission and Costs
- Regular gate: adults $15, children 6 to 12 $10.
- Kids Day (Tuesday): discounted gate of $10 for adults and $5 for children, or a $27 online bundle with fair entrance and an unlimited ride wristband for kids.
- Wristbands bought at the gate were $25 and did not include admission.
- Biking to the fair earned free admission on Tuesday and Wednesday.
- Rumriver Creative Corner craft workshops ran daily from noon to 2 p.m.; the $25 fee included gate admission and pre-registration was required.
Grandstand
Grandstand shows and grounds acts are included with gate admission. The 2026 lineup:
- Monster Truck Nitro Tour
- Great Frontier Bull Riding
- NTPA Tractor Pulls
- Colt Ford with Hayden Coffman
- The Annual Demolition Derby, which closed the fair
Agriculture and 4-H
The Compass Ag Education Building hosts daily demonstrations by 4-H youth on egg hatching, sheep wool, goats, rabbits, livestock care and heirloom tomatoes, along with live chick hatching, agriculture games and interactive animal education. Swifty Swine Racing Pigs and Southwest Dairy Milking Demonstrations ran several times a day, and a new Agri Bot agricultural transforming robot show debuted in Old Town. A Senior Day, Lions Club bingo and a renovated beer garden rounded out the week, and bands played until 11:30 p.m. or later.
Who Is It For
Anyone after a full day of rides, grandstand shows and animal exhibits, and 4-H youth who present in the Compass Ag Education Building. Exhibitor entry rules and deadlines are set each year, so contact the fair office at 763-427-4070 for the current exhibitor information.
Questions
How much is parking?
Free all fair week.
Can I get in free?
Anyone who biked to the fair on Tuesday and Wednesday got free admission, and bike riders also got free valet parking.
When is the next fair?
July 20 to 25, 2027.
Official Links
- Anoka County Fair
- Explore Minnesota listing
- Family Fun Twin Cities: hours and prices
- Kids Day details
- FOX 9: 2026 attendance and highlights
Minnesota County Fairs and the State Fair: The Essentials
Minnesota county fairs ran from Hennepin's June 11 to 13 fair to Lac qui Parle's September 10 to 13 fair in 2026, per a county fair list. Dates may change.
State Fair
The 2026 Minnesota State Fair ran August 27 to September 7, and the 2027 fair is August 26 to September 6, per the fair's recap.
Ownership and entries
Animals must be identified in 4-H Online by May 15, and market animals cannot be leased, per Extension's animal ID page. State Fair 4-H registration goes through users.mnstatefair.org.
Livestock
The State Fair 4-H livestock departments include beef and dairy cattle, goats, poultry, rabbits, sheep and swine, per the 4-H page.
Auction
The Purple Ribbon Auction raised more than $1.35 million for 115 4-H members in 2026.
Next steps
Ask your county Extension office for your fair book and deadlines.
Weights, residency and sale rules differ by fair.
Read the full guide: Minnesota County Fairs and the State Fair
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Anoka County 4-H Clover Dash 5K
A 4-H fundraising 5K and 2-mile walk scheduled for April 24, 2027 at Bunker Hills Regional Park, with a silent auction and a virtual option.
550 Bunker Lake Blvd NW, Andover, MN 55304 | 763-324-3495 | Organizer: Anoka County 4-H Official event details - Olmsted County 4-H Officer Training
Training for 2026-2027 Olmsted County 4-H club officers, 6-8 p.m., with a volunteer training held the same evening. Held each year; the most recent date was November 12, 2026.
Rochester, MN Official event details - Olmsted County Pesticide Safety Recertification
Private pesticide applicator A/E recertification day, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for Olmsted County farmers who must recertify every three years. Held each year; the most recent date was November 13, 2026.
Rochester, MN Official event details - Pope County 4-H Dairy Clinic
Dairy skills clinic for Pope County 4-H members at the University of Minnesota Morris West Central Research and Outreach Center. Held each year; the most recent date was November 15, 2026.
Morris, MN Official event details - Climate Resilience for Farmers - Northwest
Two-day University of Minnesota Extension workshop for northwest Minnesota farmers on climate resilience, November 18 (9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.) and November 19, 2026.
Crookston, MN Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.