2026 North Dakota State Fair – Celebrate the BIG 250, The Fair Way!
July 17–25, 2026
Daily hours vary by attraction and exhibit. Fairgrounds open daily with programming occurring throughout each day.
North Dakota State Fair
2005 Burdick Expressway East
Minot, ND 58701
The 2026 North Dakota State Fair proudly celebrates America 250 and ND250 with the theme, "Celebrate the BIG 250 — The Fair Way!" As North Dakota’s largest annual event, the Fair welcomes more than 350,000 guests and features special programming highlighting America’s semiquincentennial and North Dakota’s contributions to our nation.
Prairie Preservation
2-3 p.m.
Fort Abercrombie State Historic Site
935 Broadway N.
Abercrombie, ND 58001
Wyatt Atchley, education coordinator with the North Dakota State University Libraries’ Department of Special Collections, discusses the architectural styles used by Black Sea Germans in North Dakota. Discover how Germans from Russia built their homes on the vast prairies using earthen materials.
Theodore Roosevelt’s Life in Western North Dakota
2-3 p.m.
Fort Abercrombie State Historic Site
935 Broadway N.
Abercrombie, ND 58001
Explore how Roosevelt’s ranching life, challenges, and experiences on the prairie shaped his conservation ideals and future leadership.
Where Rivers Meet: A Walk Through History & Nature
Through 8/29
Saturdays, 10-11 a.m.
Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center
15349 39th Ln NW
Williston, ND 58801
Throwback Thursdays: Frontier & Indigenous Games at the Confluence
Through 8/29
Thursdays, 2-3 p.m.
Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center
15349 39th Ln NW
Williston, ND 58801
Discover the joy of historical play in this weekly drop-in program featuring a rotating lineup of games once played by Indigenous communities and frontier families. From hoop and dart and double ball to croquet, marbles, and classic parlor card games, this is hands-on fun for all ages. Registration is not required. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
From Atlatls to Arrows: Early Peoples Hunting Strategies
Through 8/29
Wednesdays and Fridays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center
15349 39th Ln NW
Williston, ND 58801
Learn how the region’s earliest hunters crafted and used tools made from stone, wood, and sinew at this interactive drop-in session. Test your aim with ancient weapons including the atlatl (a spear-throwing tool) and the traditional bow and arrow. Registration is not required. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
The Great Pet Trek’ at Fort Mandan State Historic Site
1-3:30 pm
Fort Mandan State Historic Site
838 28th Ave SW
Washburn, ND 58577
Bring your furry companions and join us for the Great Pet Trek at the Fort Mandan State Historic Site near Washburn on Saturday, June 20, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. This fun-filled free event celebrates Seaman, the Newfoundland dog who was in this area while accompanying the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1804-5.