Two million people. Twelve days. 322 acres of cheese curds, butter sculptures, Grandstand concerts, and — if you know where to look — some of the most enthusiastic hemp beverage commerce in the country.
The Minnesota State Fair (August 27 through Labor Day, September 7, 2026) is the largest state fair in the U.S. by average daily attendance, and it happens to take place in the state that invented the modern hemp-derived THC beverage market. So it's no surprise that one of the most-searched questions every August is some version of: can you buy THC drinks at the Minnesota State Fair?
The short answer is a very Minnesotan "well, sort of." You can't buy them inside the gates — but you can absolutely buy them on the walk to the gates, and thousands of fairgoers do exactly that every year. Here's everything you need to know about hemp beverages and the Great Minnesota Get-Together, from where the vendors actually set up to how to plan a fair day around a 10 mg can instead of a $12 plastic cup.
Our Fair History: The MN Grown Booth We'll Miss This Year
That education exception is how 23rd State got to be part of the fair itself. In past years, we were proud to be featured at the MN Grown booth, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's beloved showcase of local farmers, makers, and producers — standing shoulder to shoulder with the orchards, dairies, and growers who define this state's food culture. We spent our fair days introducing fairgoers to SHAKE drops and Fresh Press, answering questions about dosing and onset, and showing a whole lot of curious Minnesotans that a hemp beverage company belongs in a conversation about local agriculture — because hemp is local agriculture.
So it genuinely stings to share that the booth won't be part of our 2026 fair plans. Due to budget cutbacks, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture cut the program this year. We understand the reality — state agricultural promotion dollars have tightened considerably, with the MDA's AGRI program funding dropping from roughly $23.3 million awarded in fiscal year 2025 to an $18.3 million appropriation in fiscal year 2026 — but we're sad all the same. The MN Grown booth was one of the few places where hemp producers could stand inside the gates as what we are: Minnesota farmers and makers. We're grateful to the MN Grown team for welcoming us when it mattered, and we'll be first in line if the program returns in 2027.
In the meantime, you know where to find us: on shelves at retailers across the state, at events and tastings all fair season long — and in spirit, on the path to the gates.
Can You Buy THC Drinks Inside the Minnesota State Fair?
No — at least not yet. The Minnesota State Fair has declined to permit the sale of THC or hemp-derived cannabinoid products inside the fairgrounds every year since Minnesota legalized low-dose hemp edibles and beverages in July 2022.
The fair's original reasoning, announced just weeks after the 2022 law took effect, was straightforward: the legislation passed less than two months before opening day, and fair officials said they needed time to study how other venues around the state handled the new product category before writing their own policies. In the seasons since, that "wait and see" posture has quietly become the status quo. Alcohol flows freely at dozens of stands across the fairgrounds — the fair's Specialty Sips list debuts dozens of new beers, cocktails, and seltzers every summer — but hemp-derived THC beverages remain on the outside looking in.
That's struck many vendors and fairgoers as inconsistent, and hemp businesses have publicly pushed for inclusion since year one. Their argument is hard to dismiss: if the fair can responsibly serve alcohol at scale — with age checks, trained staff, and designated vendors — the same infrastructure works for a regulated, lab-tested, 21+ hemp beverage capped at 10 mg of THC per container. In the largest real-world study of infused beverages to date, 77.4% of adults said THC drinks carried fewer negative social consequences than alcohol — a data point that gets more relevant every year the fair pours another million cups of beer.
What the fair has allowed inside the gates is education. Hemp industry groups and cannabis educators have hosted informational booths on the fairgrounds since 2022 — they just can't sell or sample product. So you can learn about hemp at the fair; you just have to shop for it on the sidewalk.
The Path to the Gates: Where Hemp Beverages Are Actually Sold
Here's where it gets delightfully Minnesotan. The moment you step off the fairgrounds proper, you're in the city of St. Paul — and St. Paul issues temporary vending permits that let entrepreneurs set up shop in the front yards of houses lining the walk to the fair.
Every year, tents and stands selling hemp-derived THC drinks, gummies, and edibles pop up along Snelling Avenue and Midway Parkway, literally steps from the main gates. These aren't rogue operations: vendors rent yard space from homeowners who apply for city vending permits in advance (a process that even requires written consent from the neighbors — very Midwest). The result is a legal, licensed, ID-checking gauntlet of hemp beverage commerce that hundreds of thousands of fairgoers stream past every day of the fair.
Vendors who've worked the perimeter describe the reception as overwhelmingly positive. Fairgoers are curious, enthusiastic, and — increasingly — already familiar with the category, because THC beverages have gone from novelty to grocery-store staple across Minnesota. The state now has more than 5,300 retailers licensed to sell hemp-derived edibles and beverages, according to the Office of Cannabis Management, and industry reporting has pegged THC drinks as a $200+ million market in Minnesota alone.
So while the fair itself stays officially dry (on the hemp side, anyway), the surrounding blocks have become an unofficial extension of the fair experience — the same way parking-spot entrepreneurs and lawn-chair ticket scalpers have always been part of the ritual. Grab your can on Snelling, and you're two minutes from the gate.
One important note: you cannot bring your THC drink inside the fairgrounds. The fair prohibits outside cannabis and hemp products just as it prohibits outside alcohol, and bags are subject to inspection. Enjoy your beverage before you enter, or save it for the walk back to the car (with a sober driver — more on that below).
Why THC Drinks and the Fair Are a Natural Pairing
Set aside policy for a second and think about what a fair day actually is: eight-plus hours on your feet, in late-August heat, surrounded by crowds, rich food, overstimulated kids, and at least one relative who wants to see every single animal in the barn.
It's exactly the kind of marathon social occasion where a lot of Minnesotans have started swapping alcohol for low-dose THC:
No hangover on day two. Plenty of families do multiple fair trips in twelve days. A 5–10 mg hemp beverage the night before doesn't cost you the next morning the way four beers do. Fairgoers who've made the switch consistently describe waking up clear instead of foggy.
Fewer calories to compete with the food. Let's be honest: the food is the fair. A typical craft beer runs 200+ calories; most THC beverages land between 25 and 100. When you're saving room for Sweet Martha's, that math matters.
Better hydration profile. Alcohol is a diuretic, which is a genuinely bad trait to carry into a 90-degree afternoon on blacktop. THC beverages are mostly sparkling water or juice, and pairing one with regular water is a far friendlier heat-day strategy.
A gentler social buzz. Low-dose THC delivers relaxation and a light mood lift without the volume creep, sloppiness, or confrontation risk that can come with an all-day drinking session. In the MoreBetter real-world infused beverage study, the most commonly reported effects were relaxation, calm, and sociability — pretty much the ideal fair-day headspace.
It fits the "damp" moment. The sober-curious and Cali-sober movements aren't coastal trends anymore; they're fully mainstream in Minnesota, where THC beverages now sit next to craft beer at Lunds & Byerlys and move hundreds of units a month at neighborhood gas stations. The fair crowd reflects the state — and a growing share of the state has a THC seltzer in the cooler instead of a hard one.
If you're new to the category entirely, start with our step-by-step beginner's guide to building a cannabis routine before your fair trip — it covers product selection, dosing, and pacing in plain English.
Minnesota's Hemp Beverage Rules, in 60 Seconds
If you're buying from a tent on Snelling Avenue (or anywhere else in Minnesota), here's the regulatory picture that keeps those products legal and safe:
- 10 mg THC maximum per beverage container — structured as two 5 mg servings per can or bottle under Minnesota Statute 151.72.
- 21+ only, with mandatory ID verification at purchase. Legitimate vendors card everyone; if a stand isn't checking IDs, walk away.
- Hemp-derived Delta-9 THC, compliant with the 2018 federal Farm Bill's 0.3% dry-weight threshold — which is why these products can be sold at general retail rather than dispensaries.
- Third-party lab testing for potency and contaminants, with certificates of analysis (COAs) available. (You can view 23rd State's COAs here anytime.)
- State oversight by Minnesota's Office of Cannabis Management, which handles licensing, product testing standards, labeling, and retail compliance across those 5,300+ licensed retailers.
For the full deep-dive on how Minnesota built the nation's most mature hemp beverage market — and why a 12-ounce can stays federally compliant even at 10 mg — read our complete guide to THC drinks in Minnesota: laws, effects, and where to buy. And if you're still fuzzy on where hemp-derived THC ends and "recreational cannabis" begins, we break down the distinction in Recreational Cannabis Defined: What Adults Need to Know.
How to Plan Your Fair Day Around THC Drinks
A little logistics goes a long way. Here's the playbook seasoned fairgoers use:
Stock up before fair day
The tents outside the gates are fun, but selection is whatever fits in a folding table. If you want your preferred brand and flavor, hit a liquor store, co-op, or find a retailer near you in the days before your trip. Pre-fair shopping also means you're not carrying cans around all day — leave them in a cooler for post-fair, or enjoy one at home before you head out.
Respect the onset window
This is the big one for anyone coming from alcohol. Even fast-acting, nano-emulsified THC beverages typically take 15 to 45 minutes to fully arrive — dramatically faster than traditional edibles, but slower than a beer. The cardinal rule: finish one, wait, and see how you feel before opening another. The classic rookie mistake is treating THC seltzers like light beer and stacking three in an hour. Don't be that person at the Miracle of Birth Center.
Hydrate like it's your job
August in St. Paul is hot, the fairgrounds are mostly pavement, and you're going to walk 15,000 steps. Alternate every THC beverage with a full water. Your feet, head, and mood will thank you at hour six.
Never drive impaired — period
THC affects reaction time and judgment, and driving under the influence of THC is illegal in Minnesota, full stop. If beverages are part of your fair plan, so is a sober driver, a Metro Transit ride (the State Fair express buses are genuinely great), or a rideshare. Plan it before your first sip, not after.
Keep it sealed and stored right
Minnesota's open-container principles and the fair's own policies both apply. Keep purchased products sealed in transit, out of reach of kids, and out of a hot car — heat degrades cannabinoids and carbonation alike. (Curious how long an unopened can keeps? Shelf life is longer than you'd think when stored cool and dark.)
Know your dose, know your day
A 10 mg can is two servings. If you're new or it's a long, hot, high-stimulation day, half a can (5 mg) is a genuinely great fair dose — sociable, relaxed, still fully present for the Grandstand show. Our beginner's routine guide covers finding your personal dose before a big event, which is always smarter than experimenting on fair day itself.
What to Look for in a Fair-Season THC Beverage
Not all cans on that Snelling Avenue folding table are created equal. Fair-season shopping checklist:
Nano-emulsified, water-soluble THC. This is the technology difference between a drink that arrives in 15–20 minutes and one that behaves like a slow, unpredictable brownie. Nano-emulsification breaks THC oil into microscopic, water-compatible droplets your body absorbs quickly and consistently — essential when you're pacing a long social day.
A real COA you can find. Every legitimate Minnesota product carries a scannable QR code or listed batch number linking to third-party lab results. No COA, no sale.
Honest, clearly labeled dosing. Look for exact milligrams of THC (and any companion cannabinoids like CBG or CBD) per serving and per container. If you're curious how cannabinoid blends change the experience, our explainer on broad spectrum vs. full spectrum formulations is a good primer.
Flavor you'd drink anyway. The best alcohol alternative is one that doesn't feel like a compromise. If it tastes like a supplement, you'll abandon it by Labor Day.
Minnesota-made. This market was born here. Buying local supports the growers, brewers, and small manufacturers who built the category — many of them the same craft-beverage folks who make the fair's beer scene great.
Our Fair-Season Lineup: What We're Drinking
We're biased, but we're also Minnesotans who take fair season seriously. Here's how the 23rd State lineup maps to a fair day:
Fresh Press — Our sparkling pear cider with 10 mg THC and 10 mg CBG per can. Crisp, orchard-forward, and dangerously refreshing after a hot afternoon of walking the Midway. The CBG rounds out the THC for a balanced, clear-headed calm — the ideal "back at the cooler after the fireworks" beverage.
Blush Crush — Sparkling infused bubbly (10 mg THC / 10 mg CBG) in a 750 mL bottle made for sharing. This is the one for the pre-fair brunch or the post-fair porch debrief where everyone compares food rankings. Pour it in flutes; you've earned the ceremony.
SHAKE — Edible glitter drink drops (30 mg THC / 90 mg CBG per bottle) that turn any beverage into a shimmering, precisely dosed infused drink. Fair-season pro move: SHAKE in a lemonade at your backyard "we survived the fair" gathering. New to the concept? Here's how edible glitter drink drops actually work.
You'll find all three at retailers across the metro — check the store locator — and you might just spot us at events and tastings around fair season, too.
A Note on Timing: Enjoy This Fair Season
One more reason 2026 is a fair season worth savoring: federal hemp policy is changing. Provisions passed by Congress (Section 781) take effect November 12, 2026, shifting the federal framework to a total-THC-per-container cap that's dramatically stricter than today's rules. The 2026 fair falls comfortably before that date, and Minnesota's industry, advocates, and congressional allies are fighting hard for fixes that preserve the regulated, tested, adult-only market this state pioneered. But if you've been THC-drink-curious, this is the summer to explore the category as it exists today — and to tell your representatives you'd like to keep it. The fair has always been Minnesota's biggest civic gathering; there are worse places to have that conversation.
Minnesota State Fair THC Drinks: FAQ
Can you buy THC drinks inside the Minnesota State Fair? No. The fair has not permitted the sale of THC or hemp-derived cannabinoid products inside the fairgrounds since Minnesota's 2022 legalization. Alcohol is sold at dozens of stands; hemp beverages are not.
Where can you buy THC drinks near the fairgrounds? Licensed vendors set up permitted stands along Snelling Avenue and Midway Parkway, directly on the walking routes to the main gates, throughout the fair's 12-day run. All sales are 21+ with ID.
Can I bring a THC drink into the fair? No. Outside cannabis and hemp products are prohibited on the fairgrounds, same as outside alcohol.
How strong are Minnesota THC drinks? Beverages are capped at 10 mg of hemp-derived THC per container (two 5 mg servings). Most people feel a light, social effect from 2.5–5 mg and a more pronounced relaxation at 10 mg.
How long until a THC drink kicks in? Nano-emulsified beverages typically take effect in 15–45 minutes — much faster than traditional edibles. Always wait for the full onset before having more.
Can I drive after a THC drink? No. Driving under the influence of THC is illegal and dangerous. Use the State Fair express buses, transit, rideshare, or a sober driver.
When is the 2026 Minnesota State Fair? Thursday, August 27 through Labor Day, Monday, September 7, 2026, at the fairgrounds in St. Paul (1265 Snelling Ave. N).
The Bottom Line
The Minnesota State Fair may not sell THC drinks inside the gates yet — but the Great Minnesota Get-Together and the state's hemp beverage scene are already deeply intertwined. The tents on Snelling Avenue, the cans in two million coolers, the fairgoers choosing a clear head over a hangover between corn-dog runs: that's Minnesota's beverage culture evolving in real time, right where the whole state gathers to celebrate itself.
Stock the cooler before fair day, pace yourself, hydrate, plan your ride home, and save room for the cookies. We'll see you on the path to the gates.
21+ only. Please enjoy responsibly. Never drive under the influence of THC. Keep all hemp-derived products away from children and pets. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.
