Panic at Minnesota State Fair as emergency alert sparks chaos: Why did the protest happen? Cops share update

The main entrance to the Minnesota State Fair was closed for more than an hour Saturday afternoon while people protested near the intersection of Snelling Avenue and Midway Parkway, close to Gate 5. The entrance closure was confirmed by the officials at 1:08 pm "due to demonstration" and was re-opened at 2:32 p.m. St. Paul Police Sgt. Toy Vixayvong described the protest as peaceful and said it happened “without incident", according to The Star Tribune Outlet.

Attendees of the Minnesota State Fair can now again pass through the main gate on Saturday after a protest traveling on Snelling Avenue caused a temporary closure. According to a fair spokesperson, Gate 5, located at Snelling and Dan Patch avenues, closed shortly after 1 p.m. It reopened just before 3 p.m, reports CBS News.

Traffic cameras in the area showed a group of dozens of people holding signs, including one that said, "Boycott Target." The group didn't appear to be trying to enter the fairgrounds.


While the gate was closed, staffers encouraged fairgoers to use other entrances to get into the fair. Some buses that used the gate were temporarily halted. St. Paul police say they were closely monitoring the protest organized by Black Lives Matter, which started at Hamline Park and went to the front gate of the state fair.

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Why did the protest happen?

The protest was the 10th annual demonstration held at the State Fair to champion different causes. At least 10 groups signed onto a news release announcing the event and issuing a wide array of demands, including state divestiture from Israel, community oversight of police and stronger protections for LGBTQ people.

Monique Cullars-Doty, a Black Lives Matter activist, began the protest in memory of her nephew, Marcus Golden, who was fatally shot by St. Paul police in 2015. “I used to picture myself at the fair with my nephew, and now he’s gone,” she recalled. With St. Paul police regularly patrolling the area, she hoped the gathering would serve as a reminder of Golden’s life.

This year, Cullars-Doty said the event also featured a balloon release to honor the two children killed in Wednesday’s shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church.

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When is the Minnesota State Fair?

The Minnesota State Fair runs Aug. 21 through Labor Day on September 1. Gates open at 7 a.m., and the fairgrounds are open until 11 p.m. each night (except for Labor Day, when the grounds close at 9 p.m.). Guests can enter the fair until 9 p.m. each day (and until 7 p.m. on Labor Day). To see the hours for specific areas of the fair, visit the official fair's website.

What are the ticket prices?

You can purchase discount admission tickets for $17 online, by calling Etix at 1-800-514-3849 through August 20, at the fairgrounds ticket office, and at participating Cub stores and at various locations in greater Minnesota and Hudson, Wis. Advance tickets are available now through Aug. 20, subject to availability. You will be able to store your tickets on your phone, print them and even get them mailed to your home for an additional $5 fee per order.

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The day-of ticket price is generally $20 for people 13 through 64 years old, $18 for people 65 and older and kids 5 to 12 years old, and free for children 4 and under. You can also buy tickets online from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. (limited to 12 tickets per order). Pre-purchased tickets are not refundable.