Ramsey County Fair

10/24/2025

To All Those Who Love and Miss the Ramsey County Fair……

There are reasons to be optimistic that the Ramsey County Fair will be back in 2026.

On Sunday, Sept. 28. The Pioneer Press ran a rather extensive front-page article examining the reasons for the lack of a county fair for the past several years (see attached link). |

After reading the article, District 7 Ramsey County Commissioner Kelly Miller reached out to Ron Suiter, Ramsey County Fair President, to set up a meeting. They met on Oct. 2, along with Miller’s assistant, Kathleen Murphy and county fair board members Joe Fox, Gary Unger and Dennis Larson to discuss the situation and the fair board’s needs and concerns.

Following that meeting, Commissioner Kelly, who is very supportive of the County Fair, met with county staff and other Commissioners. On Oct. 10, she met again with Ron to offer some suggestions and options that will, hopefully, result in a new contract for the return of the County Fair to the Ramsey County Poor Farm site in the future.

While returning to that location is preferable, another Maplewood site has become a possibility as well. Toua Xiong, with the Pan Asian Center at the Mall (Maplewood Mall) has offered use of the southern parking lot for the fair.

Right now, however, time is of the essence. A decision must be made, and a contract signed prior to the end of the year to be able to secure contracts for a 2026 fair. Especially with a carnival.

If you miss the Ramsey County Fair, and would love to see it back in 2026, contact your county commissioner, and encourage them to work with Commissioner Miller to make it happen. To find out who your commissioner is, and how to contact them, go to ramseycomn.gov.

Pioneer Press article from Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025
https://www.twincities.com/2025/09/28/county-un-fair-inside-the-long-running-disputes-that-derailed-the-ramsey-county-fair/

This county has not held its own county fair since 2019 largely due to a long-running dispute with Ramsey County leaders over some $30,000 in land use fees.

05/15/2025

2025 Ramsey County Fair Canceled

The Ramsey County Agricultural Society regrets to announce that the County Fair has been canceled for the sixth straight year.

Originally canceled by Governor proclamation due to the pandemic in 2021 and 2022, demands by the county board of commissioners, including an unprecedented $25,000 upfront fee for use of the site, led to cancellations over the next several years. While exploring other options during that time, the Agricultural Society board of directors continued negotiations with the county staff while unable to meet directly with the board of commissioners, hoping to return to the Maplewood site.

This spring, however, county staff took a different approach to the issue.

In a letter written to Ramsey County Agricultural Society board members on April 9, 2025, Ling Becker, Ramsey County Manager, wrote “effective immediately Ramsey County will no longer host outside events at 2020 White Bear Ave. Maplewood, MN 55109 due to deteriorating property conditions and lack of accessibility.” Even though, it appears that county staff is still allowing drone racing at the site.

At their May board meeting, members of the Agricultural Society agreed to start a dialog with the county about the use of the property without the buildings. At the same time, however, they will continue to search for an alternate location.

To host a successful event, the County Fair needs a minimum of 12 acres with areas for a carnival, entertainment stage and fenced in beer tent. Plus a minimal amount of electricity and water.

Send a message to learn more

04/11/2024

2024 Ramsey County Fair Canceled

Citing the lack of progress on issues related to returning to the Maplewood location and time to find a new location and plan an event, the Ramsey County Agricultural Society board of directors canceled the 2024 county fair.
In 2020 and 2021, the event was canceled due to the pandemic. Set to resume in 2022, the fair was canceled again that year, and in 2023, due to demands by the Ramsey County board of commissioners for use of the Maplewood site. While some of the minor issues have been resolved, the main barrier is a $25,000 event fee the board of commissioners is requiring the agricultural society to pay.
The agricultural society board is hoping to meet with the commissioners soon to discuss the situation and work out an agreement. While resuming the fair at the Maplewood site, where it has been since 1954, is the most ideal solution, the fair board will continue to explore other options for 2025.

02/22/2024

Negotiations with the Ramsey County Commissioners, to resume the County Fair at the Maplewood site, remain at an impasse. While that remains the primary objective, however, the Ramsey County Agricultural Society Board of Directors, continues to explore other options including a new location or merging with another fair. Hopefully as early as this year.

While the pandemic caused the cancellation of the fair in 2020 and 2021; it was the unreasonable conditions and demands by the current county commissioners that forced the fair board to cancel in 2022 and 2023. Originally, in the early 1950s, past commissioners offered the use of the Maplewood location in exchange for the original Fairgrounds in White Bear Lake; and then over the years spent a great deal of money on improvements to keep the fair there.

Since its inception in 1913, the Ramsey County Fair has been an annual tradition attracting thousands with free admission combined with agricultural and 4H displays, food, entertainment, events, and rides. The Agricultural Society board of directors is dedicated to keeping that tradition alive in Ramsey County.

If you would like to see County Fair continue at its current site, contact the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners and let them know. Contact Customer Contact Center at 651-266-8500 or the website https://www.ramseycounty.us/ or https://www.ramseycounty.us/your-government/contacts-locations

Thank you.

The official website for Ramsey County government. Find information for residents and business, online services, county structure and job postings.

04/19/2023

The Agricultural Society of Ramsey County is sad to announce the cancellation of the 2023 Ramsey County Fair. After working on an agreement with Ramsey County for more than 3 years, we can not operate a Fair under the conditions and demands from Ramsey County Commissioners. It is very clear that they do not want a County Fair. We are considering our options for the future. Possibly a new name and location. Possibly merging with another County Fair.

Ramsey County voluntarily spent a great amount of money on improvements to keep us on that property over the last many decades. They offered us the property to use in exchange for our Fairgrounds in White Bear Lake. Now they have reversed the arrangement with impossible demands. Furthermore, this may have a cascading effect on other County Fairs in the State. Ramsey County will be the only County in Minnesota without a County Fair. Until there is a change in the management of Ramsey County Commissioners, we will see more of this kind of closed mindedness.

We have always been a great, free family Fair managed totally by volunteers. Our mission is to support agricultural education and awareness and continue to fully support Competitive Exhibits and 4H programs.

Ramsey County Agricultural Society Board of Directors

06/08/2022

03/08/2022

The Ramsey County Fair will be back for 2022. The dates of the fair are July 14-17, 2022.

The Commercial Booth Space application is available now. Click on the link to download the application.http://www.ramseycountyfair.com/pdf/BoothAppl2022.pdf

Go to http://www.ramseycountyfair.com/ for more updates on the Ramsey County Fair.

Official Ramsey County Fair Website

05/14/2021

It is with mixed emotions the Ramsey County Fair Board announces there will be no Ramsey County Fair for 2021.

We know the state of Minnesota is beginning to open up after a long shutdown due to Covid-19, but this announcement came too late for us to plan a safe and effective Ramsey County Fair.

Enjoy your summer!

05/07/2020

Due to the continued restrictions on mass gatherings implemented in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Minnesota “Stay At Home” order, the board of directors for the Ramsey County Agricultural Society voted to cancel the 2020 Ramsey County Fair which was to be held July 15 – 19.

Cancelling the 2020 Ramsey County Fair was made in the best interest of all involved and was based upon information gained from the input of our fair stakeholders over the past thirty days. The decision was very difficult but will allow the fair to present in its 108th year in 2021.

The decision was made based upon the potential impossibility of monitoring and enforcing social distancing requirements, the health and safety of the community, the fair’s vendors, carnival, staff, and exhibitors, as well as to preserve the financial ability of the Ramsey County Agricultural Society to present future fairs.

To the extent that the Minnesota State Fair will be held the board voted to support the 4-H program in presenting and judging 4-H exhibits to allow participating youth to secure a trip to exhibit at the state fair. Presently 4-H programming has been suspended until June 30th.

The Ramsey County Fair board is looking forward to the 2021 fair and encourages you to check back with our website for ongoing information. Please email [email protected] with questions.

04/11/2020

COVID-19, commonly known as novel coronavirus, has become a more widespread concern. Our thoughts are with those affected, and we are watching the evolving situation closely.

At this time we are making plans for this summer's Ramsey County Fair. We are carefully monitoring what is happening locally, as well as recommendations from the CDC, and we will adjust our plans accordingly as needed.

Our top priority is to keep our guests and community safe and healthy. Updates will be posted on our website and social media.

03/08/2020

2020 Commercial Vendors Application Form

http://www.ramseycountyfair.com/pdf/BoothAppl2020.pdf

07/15/2019

That's a wrap!
The Ramsey County Fair is all packed up for another year. Thank you to the community for coming out and enjoying a great family outing and making the fair such a success.

We do have some items that were left behind - are they yours? Message us to claim them...we also have a Driver's license and debit card.