Minnesota State Fair to increase ticket prices and reduce hours

The big picture: The fair recorded an operating loss of $1.3 million for 2021, as the pandemic and labor shortages led to vendor troubles and plummeting attendance.

• For context, the fair lost $16.5 million in 2020, when it was fully canceled.

What they're saying: Jerry Hammer, the fair's general manager, cited "myriad hurdles" faced by planners last year, including supply chain back-ups and security concerns.

• "Uncertainty about whether there would even be a fair in '21 lingered into May, creating a significantly compressed time frame in which to produce what is normally one of the largest and best-attended events in the world," Hammer said in a statement.

Be smart: You can lock in discounted tickets for $13 through Jan. 31.

Save the dates: The fair is set to run Aug. 25 through Sept. 5.