When Do State Fair Tickets Go On sale at Cub? (Don’t Miss Early Bird!)

Navigating early bird event ticketing often leads to frustration when store counters run out of inventory right before opening day, forcing families to pay full $20.00 MSRP gate prices. During past fair seasons, delaying a ticket run until 2 days before the event resulted in visiting 3 separate grocery locations just to find remaining pre-fair stock. Purchasing early bird passes through verified retail partners ensures maximum savings before discount windows close permanently on August 26.

Our deal tracking team monitors weekly retail circulars, state fair ticket office press bulletins, and physical service desk inventory cycles. We cross-reference historical pricing data against official outlet announcements to verify discount deadlines and eliminate reliance on unverified promotional rumors.

The Promotional Discount Cycle & Refresh Patterns

Understanding how event organizers structure ticket distribution reveals why purchasing through physical retail outlets like Cub yields distinct financial advantages. Agricultural societies partner with major grocery chains to distribute millions of physical admission passes, carnival ride cards, and vendor coupon books well before grounds open. This bulk consignment model allows supermarkets to drive foot traffic to customer service counters while providing event planners with guaranteed upfront revenue.

The pre-fair sales cycle follows 4 distinct promotional phases across the summer calendar:

1. Mid-Summer Outlets Rollout (July 12): Pre-fair discount tickets, Mighty Midway & Kidway Fun Cards, and Blue Ribbon Bargain Books arrive at customer service counters across participating metro-area Cub stores. Pricing drops to a flat $17.00 per ticket for all guests ages 5 and older.
2. Late-August Early Bird Sunset (August 26): The final 48 hours before opening day represent the hard deadline for early bird pricing. Online orders transition away from mail options, while physical inventory at high-volume Cub stores rapidly depletes.
3. Fair-Time Promotional Days (August 27 – September 7): On-site gate pricing transitions to standard $20.00 MSRP for adults aged 13 to 64. Specific promotional days offer $18.00 gate admission on Opening Day or $15.00 discounted rates for seniors (65+) and kids (5–12) on designated weekdays.
4. Standard Baseline Gate Rates: Purchasing tickets at entrance booths during non-discount fair days carries maximum costs. Families buying 4 adult tickets at the gate incur an immediate $12.00 price penalty compared to pre-fair early bird purchasing.

Buyers must distinguish authorized physical store inventory from third-party marketplace resellers. Authorized Cub tickets feature physical anti-counterfeit cardstock, scannable single-entry barcodes, and direct entry validity without voucher exchanges. Third-party resale platforms frequently list marked-up tickets above the $20.00 gate MSRP or sell duplicate digital barcodes that fail automated gate validation, leaving buyers without recourse due to non-refundable event policies.

Cub Early Bird General Admission Ticket: [$17.00 Target Price & Mid-July Window]

Purchasing general admission tickets in-store at Cub provides immediate physical entitlement without processing or fulfillment fees. Online pre-fair ticket purchases often charge $5.00 shipping fees for mail delivery or transaction processing fees via digital ticketing portals. Buying directly at a Cub customer service desk eliminates processing surcharges, securing the full $3.00 per-ticket savings.

Physical admission tickets purchased at Cub are valid for any single day of the 12-day fair run for guests aged 5 and older. Children aged 4 and under receive free entry at all times. State fair tickets are strictly non-refundable and non-exchangeable once purchased from retail customer service counters.

Blue Ribbon Bargain Book: [$5.00 Target Price & Mid-July Window]

The Blue Ribbon Bargain Book costs $5.00 flat at Cub Foods customer service desks. Containing 112 coupons for food, ride, and merchandise vendors across the fairgrounds, using just 1 or 2 coupons typically recoups the initial $5.00 investment. Purchasing this booklet during your early bird ticket run at Cub ensures you secure a copy before physical allotments sell out in stores.

Physical bargain books purchased at Cub require zero digital redemption. Coupon pages must remain attached within the official booklet until presented directly to participating vendors at the fairgrounds. Unused booklets or individual coupons are non-refundable.

Mighty Midway & Kidway Fun Card: [Pre-Fair Ride Ticket Savings]

Pre-fair Mighty Midway & Kidway Fun Cards purchased at Cub stores come pre-loaded with 50 advance discount ride and game tickets. Buying ride cards directly at Cub offers a major operational advantage over online purchases: Cub provides a physical Fun Card pre-loaded with 50 tickets, whereas online orders yield digital redemption vouchers that require waiting in line at fairground kiosks to exchange for physical cards.

During the fair, ride ticket prices increase; booth packages offer 44 tickets for $40.00 or 80 tickets for $70.00. Pre-fair Fun Cards purchased at Cub provide the highest per-ticket savings and can be reloaded at any carnival kiosk throughout the fair. Fun Card balances do not expire and remain valid across future fair seasons.

Stacking Payment Rewards & Authorized Storefront Savings

Maximizing ticket savings requires combining early bird retail pricing with credit card reward multipliers and loyalty structures. While state fair tickets bought at Cub customer service desks already carry a $3.00 per-ticket discount, strategic payment routing unlocks additional 3% to 6% effective savings.

Grocery Reward Category Multipliers

Purchasing state fair tickets at Cub customer service counters registers on payment terminals under standard Supermarket / Grocery Store Merchant Category Codes (MCC 5411). Utilizing credit cards that offer 3% to 6% cash-back on grocery purchases allows budget-conscious family planners to reduce out-of-pocket expenses further:

• 6% Cash-Back Grocery Cards: Purchasing 4 adult admission tickets ($68.00) plus 1 Bargain Book ($5.00) totals $73.00. Applying a 6% grocery cash-back card yields an additional $4.38 in rewards, bringing net total costs down to $68.62.

• 3% Cash-Back Grocery Cards: Yields $2.19 in net savings on a $73.00 transaction.

• Cub Rewards Points Integration: Presenting your My Cub Rewards account during ticket transactions earns standard loyalty program points. Loyalty members can redeem accumulated reward points for fuel discounts at partner gas stations.

Policy Rules for Third-Party Gift Cards & Wholesale Clubs

Shoppers attempting to stack discounts must account for strict retailer reward exclusions:

• Third-party gift card purchases at target retail chains (e.g., buying Cub gift cards at wholesale clubs) are strictly excluded from Costco Executive 2% Reward earnings and Target Circle 5% card discounts.

• Purchasing Cub gift cards at secondary gift card exchanges carries activation risk; unverified cards may feature zero balances or security holds at checkout counters.

• Cub customer service desks accept standard credit cards, debit cards, and cash for ticket purchases. Gift card balances must be verified prior to completing multi-ticket orders.

Operational Gate Logistics & Entry Rules

Understanding gate turnstile policies prevents costly entry mistakes on fairgrounds property:

• Barcode Scanning: Physical cardstock tickets purchased at Cub feature unique 1-time scannable barcodes. Scanning occurs directly at main admission turnstiles without requiring box office exchange.

• Same-Day Re-Entry: Guests leaving fairgrounds must receive a wrist hand-stamp at exit gates between 7:00 AM and 8:00 PM (6:00 PM on Labor Day) to maintain re-entry privileges on the same day without purchasing a second ticket.

• Parking Restrictions: Admission tickets do NOT cover on-site vehicle parking. Fairgrounds parking costs $25.00 per vehicle (cash or credit at gates). Utilizing free Park & Ride transit lots eliminates vehicle parking costs entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

When do State Fair tickets officially go on sale at Cub Foods?

Pre-fair discount tickets, ride cards, and coupon books go on sale at participating metro-area Cub Foods locations starting July 12 and remain available through August 26, subject to physical in-store availability.

What is the discount price for State Fair tickets at Cub compared to gate prices?

Pre-fair tickets cost $17.00 at Cub customer service desks for guests aged 5 and older. Standard gate prices during the fair are $20.00 for adults (13–64) and $18.00 for seniors (65+) and kids (5–12).

Can I buy Blue Ribbon Bargain Books and Ride Fun Cards at Cub?

Yes. Cub customer service desks sell physical Blue Ribbon Bargain Books for $5.00 (containing 112 coupons) and pre-loaded 50-ticket Mighty Midway & Kidway Fun Cards during the early bird window.

Do State Fair tickets purchased at Cub expire or have age restrictions?

Discount tickets bought at Cub are valid for any single day of the current fair season for any guest aged 5 and older. Children aged 4 and under are admitted free every day.

What happens if a Cub store runs out of pre-fair tickets before August 26?

In-store ticket sales depend on physical cardstock inventory. If your local Cub store runs out, you can buy $17.00 early bird tickets online through August 26 or visit the fairgrounds ticket office.

Can I use Cub Rewards or credit card grocery categories on ticket purchases?

Yes, purchasing tickets at Cub service desks codes as a grocery store transaction, qualifying for 3% to 6% cash-back credit card categories and earning standard My Cub Rewards loyalty points.

What is the refund policy for State Fair tickets purchased at Cub Foods?

State Fair admission tickets, ride cards, and bargain books purchased at Cub customer service counters are strictly non-refundable and non-exchangeable under all circumstances.

Are there better discounts available on promotional theme days at the fairgrounds?

Opening Day offers $18.00 adult admission, while Seniors Days and Kids Days offer $15.00 gate pricing for those specific age groups, making theme days slightly cheaper than $17.00 early bird tickets for eligible guests.

Final Verdict: Is Right Now the Best Time to Buy?

Securing State Fair tickets at Cub Foods between July 12 and August 26 represents the most reliable, cost-effective strategy for adult visitors and family groups. Saving $3.00 per adult ticket off the $20.00 gate price while bypassing online handling charges and $5.00 shipping fees provides maximum value. Pairing admission purchases with a $5.00 Bargain Book and pre-loaded 50-ticket Fun Card locks in full early bird savings before physical store inventories sell out ahead of opening day.

(This article was written by our staff writer, Richard Nail. Visit our Research & Editorial Team page to learn more.)