The Minnesota State Fair is famous for its rides, events, and vast array of foods and beverages. This year, however, drag shows are among the Minnesota State Fair’s lineup of events, and they are facing backlash.
According to the Minnesota State Fair’s schedule, POWER: Drag Revue will perform multiple times on Aug. 27 and 28 on state fair grounds.
The fair schedule says, “POWER: Drag Revue is a high-energy drag performance showcase celebrating the artistry, creativity and diversity of Minnesota’s drag community.”
Drag shows, which feature men dressed as women, have been continuously mainstreamed in recent years. Earlier this year, a drag performance was held inside Minneapolis City Hall which was reportedly the first time such an event had been held there.
According to Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, POWER: Drag Revue is a “BIPOC-focused musical sketch” formed after George Floyd’s death that has a “goal of expanding opportunities in the Twin Cities for historically underrepresented queer performers and artists.”
The Instagram page for POWER: Drag Revue depicts its performers in exaggerated, garish representations of women. Several images on that page show apparent drag performers in revealing, sexualized outfits.
“POWER delivers dynamic performances filled with music, dance, comedy, glamour and unforgettable audience engagement,” says the state fair schedule. “From seasoned icons to rising stars, each show highlights the power of self-expression and the vibrant spirit of the Twin Cities’ drag culture.”
Since news of the drag shows broke earlier this week, the planned performances have faced backlash. Republican state Rep. Mary Franson reacted to a news story about the drag shows, saying, “Gross.”
Former state Rep. Jeremy Munson, a current candidate for Minnesota Senate, mentioned the drag shows in a list of fair events and said, “The State Fair is no longer a place we look forward to attending and it continues in the direction of not being welcoming to families.”
Meanwhile, many others were critical of the event online, with one saying “yet another reason to avoid the state fair,” and another saying “this is disgusting.”
Alpha News contacted the Minnesota State Fair with questions about the scheduled drag shows. Among other things, the state fair was asked if there were any age restrictions or advisories related to the drag performances.
The state fair did not answer that question directly. Instead, the state fair told Alpha News, “We encourage everyone to use their own judgment in determining if a show is appropriate for them and their families.”
Additionally, the Minnesota State Fair said, “the artistic discipline of drag has a long history in theater and vaudeville and is an increasingly popular contemporary performing art form enjoyed by many.”
The Minnesota State Fair noted that the fair “strives to present programming that reflects a wide variety of styles and genres” and drag shows “have been presented at the fair previously, most recently as part of Mental Health Awareness in Dan Patch Park.”
Alpha News also contacted POWER with questions for this story. The group responded in an email, saying, “POWER: Drag Revue will present 15-minute performances in the afternoon of Aug. 27 and 28 in a single designated spot on the fairgrounds.”
“This is an all-ages production intended to be enjoyed by audiences of all ages, and the cast includes performers of various ages,” added the group. “Audience participation during the State Fair performances will include a dance contest to the Cha-Cha Slide.”
“While we believe we’ve created a fun and welcoming experience for fairgoers, we encourage individuals and families to use their own judgment when deciding which activities and performances are right for them,” the group added.
A previous version of this story included a quote from POWER in which they said their performances “will be presented as pop-up activations throughout the fairgrounds” and “will be announced shortly before each performance takes place.”
However, after publication, POWER informed Alpha News that the state fair requested that their quote be changed to: “POWER: Drag Revue will present 15-minute performances in the afternoon of Aug. 27 and 28 in a single designated spot on the fairgrounds.”
Rachael Van Rossum
Rachael Van Rossum is a journalist and author who studies political science in the Twin Cities. She previously interned with the Illinois House of Representatives and recently published her debut fantasy novel "The Hellburner of Sovi." Rachael is passionate about telling compelling stories and bringing to life the voices of political figures, athletes, and members of her community through engaging writing. She is the Alpha News journalism fellow for the summer of 2026.
