2026 Central St. Louis County Fair
2026 Central St. Louis County Fair – Aug 14-16
CENTRAL ST. LOUIS COUNTY FAIR IN MEADOWLANDS RETURNS AUGUST 14-16
Three fun-filled days with free fairgrounds, live music, contests, fireworks, and community spirit!
The Central St. Louis County Fair invites families and visitors to Meadowlands on Friday, August 14 through Sunday, August 16, 2026, for three days of wholesome fun, local flavor, and small-town charm. Enjoy vendors (including new and returning food vendors), activities, music, and lots of fun!
What’s Happening at the Fair
- Friday, August 14: Kick off the weekend with Bigger Better Bingo (6–8PM), followed by the 9th annual fireworks show at dark (approx. 9PM). After fireworks, enjoy free live music featuring Chill Harder at the Trailside Lounge (8:30PM–12:30AM).
- Saturday, August 15: Start early with the River to River 5K run/walk at 8:30AM and a kids’ fun run. At 10AM, clues begin for the BIG Button Hunt, leading to cash prizes! New this year – a Farmer and Flea Market from noon to 6pm. New this year a Cribbage Tournament (first come, first serve, $5 entry) and the Mulligan Machine Golf Simulator from 10am-3pm. Kids and teens can test their aim in the basketball shootout (11:15AM), followed by the Kids’ Farmer Olympics and a frozen t-shirt event. Show your strength in the Bohemian Tractor Pull at Noon. In the afternoon, join the Meadowlands Fire Department Bean Bag Tournament at 4PM ($10/person, teams of two, limited to 40 teams), then wrap up with live music—Loose Change (3–5PM) followed by Meadowlands’ Own: The Beat (5–7PM). End your night dancing at the street dance with Stranded at the Trailside (8:30PM–12:30AM) ($5 cover).
- Sunday, August 16: Parade day! The free community parade kicks off at 11:30AM (line-up at the County Garage at 11AM). At around 12:30PM, the Lahti Farm $200 Coin Dig delivers excitement in hay-based treasure hunts. Car lovers can enjoy the car show with crowd-voted awards and dash plaques for the first 50 entries. Later events include a youth pedal tractor pull at 1PM, Music Trivia Bingo in the park at 1pm, the Adult Farmer Olympics, and the pie-eating contest, followed by the fair’s big prize giveaway!
Something for Everyone
- Exhibit Hall: Showcase your baking, photography, gardening, fine arts and more. Drop off exhibits early in the morning and grab your free fair button for just $1.
- Live Music & Entertainment: From Friday night to Sunday afternoon, enjoy a mix of local acts on the Trailside Stage. (Saturday street dance has a $5 cover charge).
- For the Kids: Nearly all kid-friendly activities, including games, contests, and the coin dig, are free or low-cost, so families can relax and enjoy quality time together.
Support the Fireworks Show
Fair-goers and community members can help light up the sky by donating to the 8th Annual Fireworks Show. Donations can honor or memorialize loved ones—online or via mail to Meadowlands Fair PO Box 152, Meadowlands MN 55765. A banner at the fair will list the names of those honored. (Due to printing times, donations made after 7/25/2025 in honor or memory of a person will have their name included on the 2026 banner)
Contact & Media Inquiries:
Central St. Louis County Fair Board
General Inquiries: meadowlandsmnfair@gmail.com
Vendor/Inquiries: Angie Simonson at angie@meadowlandsmn.com
Visit meadowlandsfair.net for full details, vendor forms, and the premium book. Don’t forget to follow the fair’s Facebook and Instagram pages for updates leading up to the event.
Come join us this August in Meadowlands for a weekend filled with community, celebrations, and unforgettable memories—see you at the Fair!