Help us celebrate the 20th anniversary of Eco Experience in 2026! The Eco Experience is our huge exhibit at the Minnesota State Fair, filled with hands-on activities, demonstrations, and resources. Do you remember these Eco Experience classics? A tornado of plastic bags. The giant cardboard moose. Paul Bunyan. The record-setting world's largest ball of paper. The enormous monarch butterfly with wings that flap. The wall of 15,000 single-use plastic bottles. What will you 'eco experience' this year? See you at the fair!
Eco Experience 20th anniversary slide show
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2012: Five minutes’ worth of tossed recyclable bottles made up a 30-foot tunnel.
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2014: The world's largest wad of paper represented how much paper Minnesotans throw away every 30 seconds.
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2015: The 25-foot-tall Bagnado highlighted plastic pollution.
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2016-2019: Paul Bunyan called attention to textile and apparel recycling.
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2024-2025: A giant butterfly helped Minnesotans learn about pollinators.
What to see and do in 2026
- Dive under the surface of a healthy "river" to mark the 100th anniversary of the first major water quality study of the Mississippi River. See how it changed the Mississippi for good.
- Check out electric vehicles, e-bikes, and battery-powered tools and equipment on display.
- Learn easy ways to avoid building smoky fires.
- Level up your recycling skills! Prevent food from going to waste with fridge skills and organics recycling tips, find out how to prep recycling for the curb, and see where your recyclables go.
- Take a climate pollution quiz, learn about climate-smart food systems, and visit with community partners to get involved in climate solutions. Play our "Operation" game — can you pull out old coal, oil, and gas appliances without getting buzzed?
- Play Eco Bingo for a chance to win a splashy new prize!