Be Prepared For Longer Lines at the Minnesota State Fair This Year

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With only a week before this year's Minnesota State Fair opens, a scramble for workers could cause some unintended consequences.

We were all excited when we heard the news this spring that, after having been canceled last year (let's say it all together now: "Due to the pandemic!"), the Minnesota State Fair would return again this year.

Then, mid-summer, we'd heard how both the Fair itself, and its many vendors, were looking to hire employees. In fact, back in early July, the Great Minnesota Get-Back-Together (as the Fair calls itself this year) said it was looking to hire about 2,300 employees for its 2021 run.

Well, here we are, a little over six weeks later with Opening Day of this year's State Fair knocking on the door, and both the Fair itself and its vendors are STILL looking for employees. CBS-Minnesota reported earlier this week that the Fair was still looking to fill 400 open positions.

Specifically, WCCO noted the Fair was hiring for park and ride lot attendants, ticket takers and sellers, sanitation workers and public safety officers for crowd control and crossing streets. Meanwhile, roughly 30 different vendors said they're looking to fill about 300 open positions, as well. (Click HERE for information on working for the Fair.)

So what does this possible lack of workers mean for visitors to the Great Minnesota Get-Back-Together this year? Well, it means we'll all have to be patient... because a lack of employees will no doubt translate into longer lines and longer wait times, whether you're waiting to buy a Pronto Pup or waiting to go through the metal detectors to get into the Fair at the front gates.

Plus, the ongoing employee shortage could even affect how you GET to the Fair in the first place, too, as WCCO noted that Metro Transit-- also facing a shortage of employees-- said they will be running fewer shuttles to the Fair because of a shortage of bus operators.

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