Vendors Now Banned From Selling These Items at Minnesota State Fair

While there are 6 new vendors and 33 new foods at the Minnesota State Fair this year, did you know that it's still illegal in 2024 for these businesses to sell their products?

The Great Minnesota Get-Together is one of the greatest state fairs in the country. In fact, it was just named THE best fair in the U.S. again by yet another national publication. But thanks to some archaic laws that are still on the books here in Minnesota, several vendors cannot legally sell you their products at the Fair.

Wait, what? How is that possible, you ask? I mean there are a TON of different vendors operating booths at the Fair this year. The Minnesota State Fair fact sheet says nearly 500 foods are available at 300 food concession stands. Hoo boy!

If you're so inclined, you can buy deep-fried candy bars, hot dish, spaghetti and meatballs, key lime pie, walleye, Pronto Pups and pork chops and more, all on a stick. They're just a handful of the 80+ foods on-a-stick available throughout the fairgrounds, the Fair says.

Meanwhile, there are also some great beverages to enjoy too. I'm a big fan of all of Minnesota's craft breweries, distilleries, wineries, and cideries. These small businesses (though some of the breweries are pretty big these days) all work tirelessly to come up with fantastic new brews, spirits, wines, and ciders for Minnesotans to enjoy.

ALSO INTERESTING: This Classic MN State Fair Booth Raising Its Prices 50% This Year

But just not at the State Fair. At least for Minnesota's distilleries, that is. While Minnesota craft brewers and wineries are now allowed to sell their products at the State Fair, Minnesota distilleries are still outside looking in.

Here's more, courtesy of the Minnesota House Research Department:

The State Fair is allowed to license the service of wine and beer for consumption on the State Fairgrounds. It cannot license the service of any other type of alcohol.

Again, you can blame Minnesota's strange, outdated laws on alcohol. While the 'ol Minnesota favorite, '3.2 beer,' had always been available at the Fair, it wasn't until the law changed in 2007 that allowed craft breweries to sell stronger brews at the Fair. Wine became legal at the Fair in 2003.

But how about an Old Fashioned featuring some Minnesota-distilled whiskey or brandy while you're at the Fair? Not so much. Even though many Minnesota distilleries now offer pre-mixed cocktails that contain roughly the same percentage of alcohol by volume as some craft beers, it's still not legal for them to sell them (or for you to drink them) at the State Fair.

Get our free mobile app

Why do Minnesota's alcohol laws remain so archaic and outdated? And why haven't they been changed to help out these hard-working distilleries?

Of course, the Minnesota Distillers Guild, the industry group that represents Minnesota's 26 producers of craft spirits, IS still at the Fair, once again selling their Microdistillery Passports. (Which is a GREAT deal, btw-- check it out below) But wouldn't it be great to be able to sip on one of their fine spirits while at the Fair too?

Keep scrolling to check it out, as well as a look at all the new foods making their debut at the State Fair this year as well.

Listen to Curt St. John & Samm Adams
weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. on Quick Country 96.5