Minnesota State Fair sees Frontier Saloon closure and major food donations

The Minnesota State Fair has concluded with significant developments regarding its long-standing vendors and community impact. The Frontier Saloon, a fixture of the fair for over 60 years, has announced it will not return for the 2027 fair. Owned by John Jameson following the passing of his father, Dick Werner, the saloon provided live country music and a Nashville-style atmosphere since 1963. Its final performances were held this past weekend.

In a separate community initiative, Second Harvest Heartland has collected over 10,000 pounds of leftover food and supplies from more than 200 fair vendors to support the Minnesota Hunger Relief Network. The donation includes frozen items such as hamburgers, egg rolls, grapes, and hot dog buns, as well as paper products. These items will be distributed to local food shelves to help families in need.