The Legacy of the North Dakota State Fair
From its beginnings to today, the North Dakota State Fair has grown into the state’s largest annual event and a true celebration of community, agriculture, and entertainment. Explore our timeline, revisit legendary artists who have performed on our stages, and experience the Fair year by year through our annual highlight videos—preserving the memories that make the NDSF a tradition for generations.
Relive the Fair Year After Year
Each year, the North Dakota State Fair captures the excitement, memories, and traditions of the Fair in an official highlight video. In this section, you’ll find those annual recaps—showcasing the concerts, rides, agriculture, food, and family fun that make the Fair North Dakota’s biggest celebration.
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THE GRANDSTAND
In 1967, a captivating journey began at the North Dakota State Fair Grandstand, where talent transcended time, weaving a tapestry of performances that echoed through the years. As the grandstand stood witness to the passage of time, each annual show became a chapter in the rich history of excellence and entertainment. From the inaugural spectacle to the present day, a constellation of talented stars has graced the stage, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural legacy of North Dakota. Let this chronicle of talent serve as a testament to the enduring spirit of creativity that continues to illuminate the grandstand, year after remarkable year.
Decades of Talent: A Musical Journey Through Years at the North Dakota State Fair
2028
2027
2026
| TBA |
| TBA |
| TBA |
| TBA |
| Zach Top |
| TBA |
| TBA |
2025
| Bailey Zimmerman |
| Ian Munsick |
| Jelly Roll |
| Sawyer Brown |
| Fat Joe, Rick Ross, Bow Wow & Soulja Boy |
| Limp Bizkit |
| Luke Bryan |
2024
| Motley Crue |
| Lil Wayne |
| Turnpike Troubadours |
| Sawyer Brown |
| MGK |
| Thomas Rhett |
| Lainey Wilson |
2023
| Ludacris & T-Pain |
| Jelly Roll |
| Eric Church |
| Joe Nichols |
| Whiskey Myers |
| Five Finger Death Punch |
| Brad Paisley |
2022
| Kid Rock w/ Night Ranger – CANCELLED |
| Cody Johnson |
| Elvie Shane |
| Will Banister |
| Old Dominion |
| Koe Wetzel & Nelly |
| Sam Hunt |
2021
| Lynyrd Skynard |
| Dan & Shay |
| Ashley McBryde |
| Sawyer Brown |
| Casey Donahew |
| Billy Idol |
| Kane Brown |
2020
| Ashley McBryde-CANCELLED |
| Billy Idol-CANCELLED |
| Bobby Bones & The Raging Idiots-CANCELLED |
| Collective Soul, Better Than Ezra w/ Tonic-CANCELLED |
| Dan & Shay-CANCELLED |
| Eric Church-CANCELLED |
| Sawyer Brown-CANCELLED |
2019
| Justin Moore w/ Chase Rice |
| Midland |
| Ned Ledoux |
| Rascal Flatts |
| Rick Springfield w/ Eddie Money & Greg Kihn |
| Tim McGraw |
| Weezer |
2018
| Cheap Trick |
| Cole Swindell w/ Morgan Evans |
| Dierks Bentley w/ Travis Denning |
| Florida Georgia Line w/ Adam Doleac |
| Kip Moore |
| Michael Ray |
| Nickelback w/ Pop Evil |
2017
| Brothers Osborne |
| Fergie |
| Jason Aldean |
| Little Big Town |
| Lonestar |
| Paramore w/ Guest X Ambassadors |
| Thomas Rhett |
2016
| Kenny Chesney |
| KISS |
| Fall Out Boy |
| Jake Owen |
| Billy Currington |
| Old Dominion |
| Lo Cash |
2015
| Aerosmith |
| Chase Rice |
| Keith Urban |
| Kellie Pickler |
| Kip Moore |
| Miranda Lambert |
| Seether |
2014
| Brad Paisley |
| Florida Georgia Line |
| John Mellencamp |
| Lady Antebellum |
| Randy Houser |
| The Charlie Daniels Band |
| Three Days Grace |
2013
| Brantley Gilbert |
| Creedence Clearwater Revisited |
| Journey |
| Sawyer Brown |
| Scotty McCreery |
| Tim McGraw |
| Toby Keith |
2012
| Blake Shelton |
| Chris Young |
| Foreigner |
| Kid Rock |
| Luke Bryan |
| Zac Brown Band |
2011
| Charlie Daniels Band-CANCELLED |
| Kid Rock w/ Sheryl Crow-CANCELLED |
| Lady Antebellum-CANCELLED |
| Nitty Gritty Dirt Band-CANCELLED |
| Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo-CANCELLED |
| Toby Keith-CANCELLED |
| Tracy Lawrence-CANCELLED |
2010
| Brooks & Dunn |
| Buckcherry |
| Darius Rucker |
| Eric Church featuring The Band Perry |
| KISS |
| Sugarland |
2009
| Dierks Bentley |
| Gary Allan |
| Good Charlotte |
| Motley Crue |
| Rodney Atkins & Heidi Newfield |
| Taylor Swift |
2008
| Casting Crowns |
| Jason Aldean & Miranda Lambert |
| Joe Nichols |
| Matchbox Twenty |
| Sugarland |
| Trace Adkins & Clay Walker |
2007
| Big & Rich w/ Cowboy Troy |
| Daughtry |
| Def Leppard |
| Dierks Bentley |
| Randy Owen |
| Reba |
2006
| Carrie Underwood |
| Gretchen Wilson |
| Keith Urban |
| Mark Wills |
| Steve Miller Band |
| Teddy Geiger & Dirtie Blonde |
2005
| Big & Rich |
| Hoobastank |
| Montgomery Gentry |
| Rick Springfield & Night Ranger |
| Terri Clark |
| Tim McGraw |
2004
| Brad Paisley |
| Keith Urban |
| Lonestar |
| Reba McEntire |
| Sugar Ray |
| ZZ Top |
2003
| 3 Doors Down w/ Our Lady Peace |
| Alan Jackson w/ Joe Nichols |
| Diamond Rio |
| Neal McCoy |
| Staind |
| Ted Nugent & Alice Cooper |
2002
| Aaron Tippin |
| Huey Lewis |
| Kenny Chesney |
| Nickelback |
| Smash Mouth |
| The Guess Who |
2001
| 3 Doors Down & Lifehouse |
| Bryan Adams |
| Lila McCann |
| Lonestar |
| SHeDAISY |
| Toby Keith |
2000
| Christina Aguilera |
| Clint Black |
| Kenny Chesney |
| Sammy Kershaw |
1999
| Brooks & Dunn |
| Def Leppard |
| Dwight Yoakam |
| Loretta Lynn |
| Lorrie Morgan |
| The Beach Boys & Creedence Clearwater Revisited |
| Toby Keith |
1998
| Chris LeDoux |
| Clay Walker |
| Collin Raye |
| Faith Hill |
| Lynyrd Skynard |
| Sawyer Brown |
1997
| Alabama |
| Bryan White |
| John Michael Montgomery |
| Rick Trevino |
| The BoDeans |
| The Doobie Bros. |
| Tim McGraw |
1996
| Alabama |
| Brooks & Dunn |
| Clay Walker |
| Goo Goo Dolls |
| Highway 101 |
| Three Dog Night |
| John Berry |
| Tracy Byrd |
1995
| Firehouse |
| John Michael Montgomery |
| Martina McBride |
| Pam Tillis |
| Tim McGraw |
| Vince Gill |
1994
| Brooks & Dunn w/ Faith Hill |
| Chris LeDoux |
| Confederate Railroad |
| Eddie Money |
| Williams & Ree |
| Willie Nelson |
| Wynonna Judd |
1993
| Alabama |
| Billy Dean |
| Brooks & Dunn |
| Diamond Rio |
| Dwight Yoakam |
| Foreigner |
| Universal Wrestling Federation |
1992
| 38 Special |
| Alan Jackson |
| Charlie Daniels & Travis Tritt |
| Clint Black |
| Pirates of the Mississippi |
| Wynonna Judd |
1991
| Garth Brooks |
| Gary Puckett & the Union Gap |
| Kentuckey Headhunters w/ Opening Act: Whooz Playin’ |
| Nelson w/ Opening Act: Enuff Znuff |
| Pat Boone |
| Sawyer Brown w/ Opening Act: Black Velvet |
| Tanya Tucker w/ Opening Act: Wilder Days & Black Velvet |
1990
| Cristy Lane |
| Joan Jett and the Blackhearts |
| Lyle Lovett, Dan Seals and Michelle Wright |
| Nitty Gritty Dirt Band w/ Opening Act: Restless |
| Sawyer Brown |
| WWF Wrestling |
1989
| Alabama and Jo El Sonnier |
| Nitty Gritty Dirt Band w/ Opening Act: Restless |
| Reba McEntire and Sawyer Brown |
| Ricky Van Shelton and Highway 101 |
| Skip Ewing |
| The Escape Club |
1988
| Beach Boys |
| Cristy Lane |
| Hank Williams Jr. w/ Opening Act: The Bama Band |
| Nitty Gritty Dirt Band w/ Opening Act: New Hollywoods |
| Randy Travis w/ Opening Act: Dan Seals |
| REO Speedwagon |
| Toto |
1987
| Alabama |
| George Strait |
| Nitty Gritty Dirt Band |
| Reba McEntire |
| Survivor and Glass Tiger |
| Virgil Hill Fight |
1986
| Crystal Gayle w/ Opening Act: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band |
| Hulk Hogan |
| Ricky Skaggs |
| The Beach Boys-25th Anniversary Tour |
| The Judds w/ Opening Act: Williams and Ree |
| Willie Nelson |
1985
| Alabama |
| Kenny Rogers |
| Lee Greenwood |
| Night Ranger |
| Sawyer Brown |
| The Oak Ridge Boys |
| Willie Nelson |
1984
| Cheap Trick |
| Conway Twitty |
| Huey Lewis and the News |
| John Conlee and Jeannie Seely |
| Kenny Rogers |
| Willie Nelson |
1983
| Oak Ridge Boys |
| Waylon Jennings |
1982
| Barbara Mandrell |
| Beach Boys |
| Jerry Jeff Walker |
| Joan Jett and the Blackhearts |
| Waylon Jennings |
1981
| Air Supply |
| Charley Pride |
| Dr. Hook |
| Lacy J. Dalton |
| Pure Prairie League |
| The Oak Ridge Boys |
1980
| Head East |
| Johnny Cash & June Carter |
| Mac Davis |
| Pablo Cruise |
1979
1978
1977
| Barbara Fairchild & The Teddy Bears |
| Don Williams |
| George Lindsey and Minnie Pearl |
| The Mel Tillis Show |
| The Oak Ridge Boys |
1976
| Flash Cadillac and the Continental Kids |
| The Donna Fargo and Ronnie Milsap Shows |
| The Mel Tillis Show also starring Sherry Bryce |
1975
| Marty Robbins Show-Don Winters, Bobby Sykes and the Band |
| Tammy Wynette Show-James Hollie, Charles Carter, Johnny Matson and the Tennessee Gentlemen Band |
1974
| Conway Twitty Show featuring Karen Wheeler and The Stony Mt. Cloggers |
| Farron Young |
| O.B. McClinton |
1973
1972
| Carl Smith and David Rogers Show |
| Jack Greene and Jeannie Seely Show |
1971
| Blackwood Singers |
| Country Western – Wanda Jackson, Justin Tubb, Grover Ruwe with Louie and Sunshine |
1970
| Faron Young |
| Mexican Folklorico |
1969
| Hank Williams Jr. Show |
| Porter Wagoner Show |
1968
| Grand Ole Opry Spectacular – Curtis Potter |
| Grand Ole Opry Spectacular – Hank Thompson |
| Grand Ole Opry Spectacular – La Vonne Lear |
| Grand Ole Opry Spectacular – The Brazos Valley Boys |
| Grand Ole Opry Spectacular – The Cates Sisters |
| Grand Ole Opry Spectacular – The Plainsmen |
1967
| Variety Show |
