Who Set The Record For The Largest Crowd Ever At The MN State Fair?

The Minnesota State Fair is set to start its 2025 run with another line-up of great acts in the grandstand, but do you know which artist drew the biggest crowd of all time?

While we're all familiar with the amazing food and beverages, entertainment is a big part of the Minnesota State Fair, too. According to its official website, the State Fair started offering entertainment in the grandstand way back in 1962. Dennis Day, Jane Russell, and Jimmy Dean were the headliners on the main stage back then.

Since that time, the State Fair has attracted some pretty big names. Classic country icons like Buck Owens, Dolly Parton, and Conway Twitty all played here back in the late 60s. In the 70s, Charlie Rich, Jerry Reed, Tanya Tucker, and the Brady Bunch kids were some of the big names on the main stage.

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In the 80s, Willie Nelson, Alabama, Barbara Mandrell, and the Oak Ridge Boys were marquee performers here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. And, in the 90s, you had big country stars like Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Travis Tritt, and Brooks & Dunn all sell tons of tickets.

But can you guess which performer sold the MOST tickets in Minnesota State Fair history? My guess was Garth Brooks, who played here in the North Star State right when his popularity was taking off, back in '91 and '92. But, nope, it wasn't him. And it wasn't Tim McGraw, who played here in '97, or even Brooks & Dunn, who played the Fair several times at the peak of their popularity in the late 90s.

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So, just which act had the biggest crowds in State Fair history? Well, that'd be... former 'The Voice' judge, Christina Aguilera, who, the site says, "broke the all-time record for the most tickets sold to a single Grandstand show in 2000, selling 22,117 tickets."

Could any of these artists challenge that record? Likely not, because the seating area has since been changed, and fewer available seats exist. But here's the full line-up of performers for the grandstand stage at this year's Minnesota State Fair:

• Thu, Aug 21 - Old Dominion with special guest Yam Haus
• Fri, Aug 22 - Meghan Trainor with special guest ellis
• Sat, Aug 23 - Atmosphere & Friends: Atmosphere, Cypress Hill, Lupe Fiasco, The
• Pharcyde, DJ Abilities (The Current’s Music On-A-Stick)
• Sun, Aug 24 - Melissa Etheridge and Indigo Girls – Yes We Are Tour
• Mon, Aug 25 - Happy Together Tour 2025 – The Turtles, Jay and the Americans,
• Little Anthony, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, The Vogues, The Cowsills
• Tue, Aug 26 - Def Leppard with special guest Brother Cane
• Wed, Aug 27 - Hank Williams Jr. with special guest Marty Stuart & The Fabulous Superlatives
• Thu, Aug 28 - Daryl Hall with special guest The Rascals
• Fri, Aug 29 - The Avett Brothers with special guest The Milk Carton Kids
• Sat, Aug 30 - Nelly with special guests Ja Rule, Mýa, Ying Yang Twins
• Sun, Aug 31 - Minnesota State Fair Amateur Talent Contest Finals – Free
• Mon, Sept 1 - The Rock and Roll Playhouse Plays Music of Taylor Swift & More for Kids (two shows: 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.) featuring Bri & The Anti-Heroes

Besides the entertainment in the Grandstand, there's always a TON of great FOOD ready for you to sink your teeth into at the Fair. Keep scrolling to check out all of the new offerings available this year-- and to see which vendors make the most money at the Fair too.

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