The 2026 Dakota County Fair in partnership with the Dakota City Heritage Village will be celebrating America’ s 250th anniversary of the U. S. Declaration of Independence with fairgoers.

The county fair will be open Aug. 10-16 at at the fairgrounds, 4008 220th St. W., in Farmington.

To commemorate the nation’ s birthday, the village will be decked out in red, white and blue patriotic bunting hanging from the 1900s historic buildings, and U. S. flags will be prominently displayed across the outdoor museum.

Volunteers are busy sewing buntings and banners and planting red, white and blue floral planters across the fairgrounds.

Dakota City Ahlberg Hall Museum will serve as a quiet place for fairgoers to reflect on the hard work and agricultural roots that built Dakota County.

Displays will honor those

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To commemorate the nation’ s 250th birthday this year, Dakota County Heritage Village will be decked out in red, white and blue patriotic bunting hanging from the 1900s historic buildings, and U. S. flags will be prominently displayed across the outdoor museum.

Dakota County residents who are sharing artifacts and farm tools that tell their

story.“ The People of Minnesota” Dakota County Historical

Society display will be set up in the museum. The display explores the stories

from Minnesotans who have made America home for the past 250 years. The Dakota County Historical Society will be hosting a large copy of the U. S. Declaration of Independence that visitors can sign inside the village hall.

The museum will also house a special display celebrating Farmington Scout Troop 118, and the 100- year anniversary of Scouting. Past and present Scouts and their leaders will be honored with photographs, historical articles, old uniforms and camping gear and Scouting artifacts.

The Dakota City historic church will be home to display a special quilt created by the Dakota County Star Quilters group. These quilts were designed to celebrate the Declaration of Independence as a 250th Anniversary Challenge. The patriotic-colored quilts were also showcased at the March 2026 annual quilt show, and some will hang

inside the village church during the fair.

A special“ Quilt of Valor” is a“ beautiful, patriotic red, white and blue quilt” that will be on display in the church and will be raffled off,” according to Kris Akin, a leader with the Dakota City Heritage Village.

This year another special addition will be a refurbished Case steam engine tractor on display just north of the Fire Barn. The Machinery Men will be firing it up and blowing its bell during the fair. It will also be entertaining fairgoers at the daily 1 p. m. Tractor Parade through the village.

“ A Treasured 1922 Model T Doctor’ s Coupe will also make an appearance during the parades,” Akin said.

The popular Church Ladies String Band will perform at 4 p. m. Tuesday, Aug. 11. on the Harris House porch inside Dakota City during the fair.