The Minnesota State Fair is 12 days of near-constant live music entertainment. Between the nightly Grandstand shows and free stages spread across the fairgrounds, music fans can fill their days with quality and quantity. To unlock peak enjoyment and minimize aimless wandering, here’s a guide for the best food and beverage options near the performance you’re checking out.

For the fifth year running – here’s what we said in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 – The Current has set you up with menu suggestions near the fair’s live music stages. It’ll keep the energy high for all the belt-out singing and dancing to come.

Summit Stage at the Bazaar

Located at the corner of Judson Avenue and Underwood Street, the Summit Stage at the Bazaar resembles the open-air souks and markets found around the world, and the stage is centered right at its entrance. This stage offers serious rock covers courtesy of acts Good For Gary (Aug. 29-30), Free and Easy, (Aug. 27-28), and the Fabulous Armadillos (Aug. 31-Sept. 1); and global sounds from the Ukrainian Village Band (Aug. 31-Sept. 1) Cedar Cultural Center’s Global Get Together (Sept. 2-3), Salsa Del Soul (Sept. 4-5), and Prestigio Del Norte (Sept. 6-7). The sounds alone will draw you in.

Appetizer: Fair food that almost always travels well is anything on a stick, in a cone, or in a waxed paper bag. A Hmong Corndog from Union Hmong Kitchen pays homage to, and is a slightly elevated update of, a staple favorite of the fair.

Entree: Several selections that are easily transportable and within the bazaar confines include El Burrito Mercado’s Tacos De Mole, the Longanisa Cheese Curd Lumpia from Lumpia City, or for something new: the Jamaican Jerk Chicken Loaded Fries from Midtown Global Market’s Irie Jamaican Express (Aug. 27-Sept. 1 only).

Dessert: For a sweet retreat, acquire the Tanghulu (fruit on a stick, covered in a hard candy shell) from Iemochi Japanese Confections.

Beverage: To cool down on those scorcher days, or calm one’s mouth after especially flavorful items, procure a slushie from Holy Land available in three refreshing flavors: Pink Guava, Mediterranean Lemonade, and Mango.

Luther Auto Bandshell

On the fairgrounds’ southeast end, the Bandshell sits where Cooper and Cosgrove Streets meet, just north of the Space Tower. The outdoor stage has hosted countless local and national acts, and 2026 delivers a deep mix of musical styles. The Bandshell has a range of evening headliners, including Vertical Horizon (Aug. 27-28), Margo Price (Aug. 29-30), the Sugarhill Gang + Melle Mel & Scorpio of the Furious 5 (Aug. 31-Sept.1), the Yacht Rock Revue (Sept. 2-3), and Minnesota’s brother/sister songwriting tour de force of Durry (Sept. 6-7), while the daytime acts boast a spectrum of genres including the MPLS Women of Motown (Aug. 29-30), Thomasina Petrus & The King’s Quartet (Sept. 4-5), and more. It also boasts close proximity to the Food Building for grabbing bites to eat.

Appetizer/Beverage: Set things off properly inside the Food Building with Soul Bowl’s Crab Boil Wings, or the Chicken-Fried Bacon Fries.

Entree: The Peri-Peri Bowl at Afro Deli & Grill is a spicy idea to awaken one’s taste buds, or the selection of tortas from Manny’s Tortas will quell those hunger pangs.

Dessert: Swing by The Dairy Bar for your choice of dairy- or oat-based soft serve ice cream, or get some lefse at Lynn’s Lefse.

Pryes Stage at Schilling Amphitheater At The West End

On West Dan Patch Avenue, not far from the Grandstand, Schilling Amphitheater is home to the indie pop, folk, and country acts that play the Great Minnesota Get-Together. Not only is it near the handmade goods and quirks at the West End Market, but it also has countless food options. Performers include local favorite Nur-D (Aug. 27-28), the Cactus Blossoms (Sept. 2-3), and the First Avenue Goes to the Fair shows featuring house band Al Church and the Congregation, playing on Sept. 4 (Adam Bohanan, Annie Sparrows, Erik Koskinen, Obadiah Gamble and Thomas Sticha) and Sept. 5 (Clayton Ryan, GR3G, LASALLE, Mike Kota and Sophie Hiroko).

Beverage: For a refreshing libation of choice, visit West End Brews.

Appetizer: Fresh French Fries from the Fresh French Fries stand. So nice that it has got to be said twice. If the queues aren’t a thing while waiting for a fave to perform at the amphitheater, mosey on over to The Blue Barn for their Cracklin’ Corn Ribs.

Entree: For a best-of-both-worlds burger option, the Surf & Turf Burger at Cafe Caribe is an excellent way to feast. Can’t stomach more bread or breaded items? Visit Mancini’s Al Fresco for their Walking Chopped Italian Grinder.

Dessert: Stop by the Minnesota Farmers Union Coffee Shop for the Banana Butterscotch Barnraiser, a delectably drooling dessert sure to invite intense stares, and then equally intense scarfing.

Grandstand Stage

With a max capacity of about 17,000 people, the Grandstand is the sports-arena-sized State Fair music venue, and home to the biggest shows. Considering a diverse array of worthy headliner acts, that range from country and Americana’s shining icons to R&B/hip-hop royalty, there’s a little something for everyone. The shows take place during the evening, it feels right to pair highlight shows with either a dinner or dessert of choice.

Thursday, Aug. 27: Bonnie Raitt with special guest Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen

In a 1994 Q & A with Rolling Stone, Raitt mentioned Thai food as her choice for a last meal, but has held a vegetarian diet since the 1990s. “When I got sober seven years ago, I also changed my diet, and it really affected my energy. I’ve been healthy and less than healthy, and healthy’s much better.”

In the spirit of Raitt’s vegetarian diet, Raitt could give a try to Baba’s Dill + Curd hummus bowl, made with Baba’s own dill pickle hummus, topped with dill pickles, cheese curds, and crispy onions. It’s a fantastic way to get a taste of Minnesota, with a SWANA (South West Asia/North Africa) touch.

Friday, Aug. 28: “Weird Al” Yankovic: Bigger & Weirder 2026 Tour with special guest Puddles Pity Party

The profoundly inspirational parody songmaker known for his satirical twist on tons of food-centric hits, such as “Eat It,” “I Love Rocky Road,” and “Lasagna,” has practiced a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle since the early ’90s. He told PETA “A friend gave me Diet for a New America, and at that point, I’d mostly stopped eating red meat, but the book made such valid points about why eliminating all meat made sense, so at the end, I thought, “I’ve got to do this.” It’s become much easier.”

Given the affinity for pasta, Al can stop over to Kosharina Egyptian Cuisine for their veggie koshari, consisting of rice, pasta, lentils, chickpeas, tomato & vinegar “dakkah” sauce, and fried onions. The carb load might hit hard, so Al might need to follow his own advice prior to performing.

Saturday, Aug. 29: Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Homecoming: A Celebration of the Minneapolis Sound

Jimmy Jam told the Star Tribune’s Jon Bream recently about his favorite food traditions for the fair, and one of them, corn on the cob at the Corn Roast also has another loyal fan. “The corn-on-the-cob place [Corn Roast] is amazing. The year we went to the fair, Janet [Jackson] took a bunch home with her,” he said. “And every time I mention the State Fair, she goes ‘Oh my God, the corn!”

His production partner Terry Lewis also has a top favorite: turkey legs. One of the new food vendors this year, Jive Turkey BBQ will stuff said turkey legs with any of turkey day’s hall-of-fame side dishes, such as mac-n-cheese, collard greens, stuffing, gravy, or with cajun shrimp alfredo, even. However, for portability purposes, Lewis could opt for the Crack-N-Cheese bowl, made with mac-n-cheese, hickory smoked BBQ turkey, turkey cracklins, and a signature sauce.

Sunday, Aug. 30: The Current's Music On-A-Stick Show: Sierra Ferrell: Heavy Petal Tour with special guest Tanya Tucker

In an interview with the Zach Sang Show, Grammy-Award-winning artist Ferrell talked about the bevy of snacks that were on deck as she collaborated with Zach Bryan on the song “Holy Roller,” from Bryan’s 2023 album. While a myriad of snacks were present, dinner came courtesy of fast food chain Wendy’s. “Spicy Chicken Sandwich it is,” she mentioned.

For more of a slightly southern twist with midwestern flair, Ferrell can pay a visit to Lulu’s Public House for the Southern Chicken Biscuit Sandwich, because a good chicken sandwich is all about two things: density and simplicity.

Wednesday, Sept. 2: AJR with special guests Quinn XCII and Avery Cochrane

One might think that AJR is yet another complex band acronym, but members Adam, Jack, and Ryan met while attending Columbia University and started out busking as street performers. Now five albums deep, they are some regular homies who make music. In a 2019 piece for the New York Times, AJR embraced sushi. “We go to the same sushi place, this place called Nikko right around the corner from our apartment. It’s just regular New York sushi, and Adam comes up and mooches off us,” mentions Jack.

While the Great Minnesota Get-Together has yet to feature a sushi or poke vendor, AJR might want to give a try to The Herbivorous Butcher’s Crunchy Rice, Hidden Tuna, a fish-sticks-like concoction using seasoned sushi rice wrapped around savory gochujang “tuna,” made with shredded jackfruit, deep fried, and served with bright jalapeño citrus dipping sauce.

Saturday, Sept. 5: TLC and Salt-N-Pepa with En Vogue - IT’S ICONIC

About four years ago, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Salt-N-Pepa appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show to make one of their favorites: Jamaican curry chicken. Back in 2015, both hosted a show for the Cooking Channel, called Cookin’ With Salt-N-Pepa. With their affinity for Jamaican cuisine in mind, a stop by West Indies Soul Food for all the patties and jerk proteins their hearts desire.

For both TLC and En Vogue, in a 2020 interview with People magazine, Chilli highlighted her affinity for healthy soul food, such as tempeh. T-Boz follows a slightly more regimented diet, due to living with sickle cell anemia, even though both have their faves when it comes to soul food. Additionally En Vogue in a 2020 interview with Essence also emphasised how the group follows a clean-eating lifestyle. “Clean eating means eating as organic as possible and as farm-to-table as possible," Cindy Herron says. "We don't do much processed foods."

With health top of mind, a visit to Nautical Bowls or Minnesota Farmers Union Coffee Shop has bowls to meet those essential nutritional goals, but if they’re creepin’ on the down low dietarily speaking, a visit to Soul Bowl for their Donut Peach Cobbler is never wrong, because they got the right to lose control sometimes, too.