When you pay full price for admission to the Minnesota State Fair, it’s $20. So when you go, you might as well take advantage of the hundreds of vendors giving away merchandise. I was challenged to scour the fairgrounds to find the best free stuff and presented my findings on KSTP-TV’s Minnesota Live.

5 best freebies at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair

1. Bucket hats from Bush’s Beans

Underwood near Great Giant Wheel

They start handing out these customizable bucket and trucker hats at 9 am, and their staff told me people start lining up as early as 8 am to get them. There is a limited supply each day. When I was at their booth with my family, they announced they were adding a few of the baked bean bucket hats to the prize wheel, so you might have a chance to win even if you don’t arrive there early. They also do free taste testing between 12 – 2 pm.

2. Spork from myTalk 107.1

Underwood

Right next door to Bush’s Beans is myTalk 107.1 FM. Their new and improved spork (spoon and fork combination) is dishwasher safe and even has a serrated edge on it. You may have to ask a staffer for one of these freebies.

3. Native seed packets from Minnesota Department of Transportation

Across from Education Building

At the MNDOT booth, you’ll spin a wheel, answer a trivia question, and go home with a packet of seeds you can plant in your yard and garden. They’re plants all native to Minnesota. In addition to the seed packets, they’re handing out Minnesota road maps.

4. Red pine seedlings from Minnesota Forest Industries

Education Building

At the Minnesota Forest Industries booth in the Education Building, you’ll answer a 3 question test about forests on a big monitor and then are able to take home Minnesota’s state tree, the red pine. These seedlings can go in your fridge as is until mid-October when it’s time to plant them. You could also pot them now and then plant them in the ground later.

5. Swedish dishcloth from Minnesota Grown

Agriculture-Horticulture Building

At the Minnesota Grown stand, you just have answer one question about famers markets and you’ll head home with a Swedish dishcloth. No need to fill out any registration form and the question takes all of seconds.

Honorable mentions

KSTP-TV

Near Carnes and Chambers

• Tote bags, handed out twice daily

Minnesota Beef Council

Dairy Building

• Wood spatulas

Minnesota Rusco

Grandstand, lower level

• Back scratchers

If you’re looking for more suggestions on navigating the Minnesota State Fair, check out Give Me The Mike’s entire Minnesota State Fair guide here.

While you’re here, take a moment to read how I adapted after losing both parents before I was 25 years old and my journey with epilepsy.