SouthWest Transit sets Minnesota State Fair ridership record

SouthWest Transit is celebrating a new record of riders who used its services for transportation to the Great Minnesota Get-Together.

According to SouthWest, it provided 120,158 rides to the fair, a 2.2% increase from 2025, which also saw a record 117,543 riders.

“We’re really proud to see State Fair ridership set a new record for the second year in a row,” said Erik Hansen, CEO of SouthWest Transit. “The Fair is a big operation for us, and it takes a lot of people working together to keep the buses moving and serve our riders. I’m grateful for the work our team puts in every year to make this service happen.”

According to numbers shared by SouthWest Transit, the bulk of riders showed up in the early days of the fair, providing 48,873 rides in the first four days, a 16% increase from the same time last year.

While rides are no longer heading to the State Fair, Southwest T...