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

The Minnesota State Fair is set to start its 2024 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.

ALSO INTERESTING: This Classic MN State Fair Booth Just Raised Its Prices by 50% For 2024

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.

Minnesota State Fair

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So just WHO 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:

Thursday, Aug. 22: Becky G with special guest Los Aptos
Friday, Aug. 23: Chance the Rapper
Saturday, Aug 24: Nate Bargatze: The Be Funny Tour
Sunday, Aug. 25: Blake Shelton with special guest Emily Ann Roberts
Monday, Aug. 26: Happy Together Tour 2024 featuring The Turtles, Jay and the Americans, The Association, Badfinger, The Vogues and The Cowsills
Tuesday, Aug 27: Ludacris & T-Pain
Wednesday, Aug. 28: Jon Pardi with special guest Dillon Carmichael
Thursday, Aug. 29: Mötley Crüe with special guest White Reaper
Friday, Aug. 30: Matchbox Twenty with special guest Beauty School Dropout
Saturday, Aug. 31: Stephen Sanchez
Sunday, Sept. 1: Minnesota State Fair Amateur Talent Contest Finals - FREE
Monday, Sept. 2: Kidz Bop Live 2024

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.