The Carver County Fair runs five days each August at the Carver County Fairgrounds, 501 W 3rd St in Waconia. The 2026 fair, the 114th, ran August 12 to 16. The 2027 fair is August 11 to 15.
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What to See at the Fair
It is a county fair built around agriculture and 4-H, with exhibits and livestock, a midway, food vendors and grandstand events. In 2026 the demolition derby was the Sunday-evening grandstand show. The fair publishes the daily schedule and grandstand lineup on carvercountyfair.com each summer.
Admission & Tickets
In 2026, gate admission was $9 for ages 7 and older and free for ages 6 and under. Gates opened at 8am each day, and admission was free after 6pm on Sunday. Thursday was Senior Citizen Day (half price for 60 and older until 6pm) and Friday was Military Appreciation Day (free for veterans and current military with ID). Midway ride tickets were sold only on site, at $1.50 each or 40 for $50. Check the fair website for 2027 prices.
Official Fair Site
The Carver County Agriculture Society publishes the schedule, grandstand lineup and ticket information.
carvercountyfair.com →Tips
Grandstand events draw the biggest crowds, so arrive early for seats. Afternoons in August are hot; evenings are cooler. Parking fills on derby night, so build in extra time.
Make a Day of It in Waconia
The fairgrounds are a short drive from downtown Waconia and Lake Waconia, so the fair pairs easily with a morning on the lake or lunch downtown. From Minneapolis it is about 35 miles, roughly 45 minutes off-peak via Highway 5.
Plan the Rest of Your Visit
Pair the fair with the lake, downtown dining, and everything else worth doing in Waconia.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- When is the Carver County Fair in 2027?
- August 11–15, 2027, at the Carver County Fairgrounds in Waconia. The 2026 fair, the 114th, ran August 12–16.
- Where is the Carver County Fair held?
- At the Carver County Fairgrounds, 501 W 3rd St, Waconia, MN 55387, about 35 miles west of Minneapolis.
- How much does the Carver County Fair cost?
- In 2026, gate admission was $9 for ages 7 and older and free for 6 and under, with free admission after 6pm on Sunday. Midway ride tickets were $1.50 each or 40 for $50. Check carvercountyfair.com for 2027 prices.
- What is there to do at the Carver County Fair?
- 4-H and livestock exhibits, a midway, food vendors and grandstand events, including the Sunday demolition derby in 2026. The fair posts its full schedule on carvercountyfair.com.