"Since its inception in 1859, the Minnesota State Fair has only been canceled six times, due to wars, national health crises, and one scheduling conflict. Most years, Great Minnesota Get Together is second to none in daily attendance numbers. In 2019, more than 2 million visitors gorged themselves on five dollar strips of fat bacon and overflowing buckets of cookies. The nonprofit fair, which does not receive any state funding, relies on tickets sales, non-fair events, licensing of commercial exhibit spaces and funding from the Minnesota State Fair Foundation to cover operating costs and keep the beloved fair going. According to State Fair General Manager Jerry Hammer, the cancelation in 2020 due to COVID 19 resulted in an operating loss of $16.2 million. While two State Fair Food Parades held on the fairgrounds last summer helped financially and allowed fair fanatics to get a truncated fried food fix, the 2021 season, nicknamed the Great Minnesota Get-Back Together, will be crucial to the fair’s survival. To get everyone psyched for this year’s fair, a preview was held on Memorial Day Weekend, aptly named Kickoff to Summer at the Fair. The event featured food, entertainment, and shopping. Over the five-day, sold-out event 70,000 fair fans happy-danced their way through the center of the grounds. It wasn’t two million visitors, but every little bit helps vendors who have suffered great losses from last year’s cancellation." - Alex Lodner
