Stats on a Stick
A collaboration between Catalystics LLC, Zessman Research LLC, and Super Deluxe Design Studio LLC.
Stats on a Stick takes a deep look at the numbers and trends of the Minnesota State Fair.Forecast Disclaimer
The attendance estimates provided by this site are generated solely for demonstration, educational, and entertainment purposes. This project is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representative of the Minnesota State Fair. The calculations rely on hypothetical or generalized data models and do not constitute professional or official forecasting. Users should not rely on this information for event planning, staffing, vendor supply, or commercial decision-making.
Data Sources
Daily and Annual Attendance
Minnesota State Agricultural Society
2000 - 2025 Annual Reports, Minnesota State Fair Minnesota Legislative Reference Library https://www.lrl.mn.gov/mndocs/mandates_detail?orderid=199 Date Accessed: July - August 2026
Minnesota State Fair Archives
1887 - 2025 Annual Reports, Minnesota State Fair https://corp.arcasearch.com/usmnmsfcd Date Accessed: July - August 2026
State Fair Weather, Daily
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
2000 - 2025 State Fair Dates along with Minneapolis/St. Paul Area Weather Data https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/natural_resources/climate/summaries_and_publications/Minnesota_state_fair_dates_with_weather_data.txt Date Accessed: July - August 2026
Weather.gov
Aug 27 - Sept 7, 2026 Daily Forecast for Falcon Heights, MN https://forecast.weather.gov Date Accessed: Aug 26 - Sept 7, 2026
State Fair Attendee Demographics
Minnesota State Senate
2014 - 2025 Minnesota State Senate's State Fair Opinion Poll Minnesota Legislative Reference Library https://www.lrl.mn.gov/edocs/edocs?oclcnumber=768863014 Date Accessed: July - August 2026
State Fair Ticket Prices
Minnesota State Agricultural Society
2000 - 2025 Annual Reports, Minnesota State Fair Minnesota Legislative Reference Library https://www.lrl.mn.gov/mndocs/mandates_detail?orderid=199 Date Accessed: July - August 2026
Consumer Price Index
2000-2025 Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) Bureau of Labor Statistics https://data.bls.gov/pdq/SurveyOutputServlet Date Accessed: July - August 2026
Minnesota Population
Minnesota State Demographic Center
2000-2025 MN, EDR, & County Data Minnesota Department of Administration https://mn.gov/admin/assets/mn_county_edr_historical_estimates_sdc_1990-2025_tcm36-760413.xlsx Date Accessed: July - August 2026
School District Calendars
Minnesota School District Calendars
2026 Minnesota School District Calendars https://minnesotaschools.us/calendars/ Date Accessed: August 2026
About Our Blue Ribbon State Fair Weather Index
If there's one thing Minnesotans have strong opinions on, it's the weather.
| Score | Description |
|---|---|
| Blue Ribbon | Pretty great, though we're reluctant to brag. |
| Fine | Not flawless, but plenty good. |
| Interesting | Less than ideal conditions for the passive aggressive. |
| Uff Da | Stories will be told about this day all winter. (Probably longer.) |
Calculating Our Scores
Temperature
Our index favors a day between 68 and 83 degrees Fahrenheit, the US Standard measurement unit for outdoor temperatures.
Precipitation
Though it might mean someting less than 'Blue Ribbon' perfect, a little mist or a light sprinkle is no big deal. The index favors under 0.10 inches of preciptation, with penalties going up as the raindrops fall harder.
Day of Fair Urgency
As the best twelve days of summer approach their end, you'll tend to find fairgoer's tolerance of less than perfect weather (and FOMO) inches upwards. We adjust the score accordingly for these can't miss days.