The State Fair expressed hope Tuesday that there won't be back-to-back coronavirus-related cancellations of the Great Minnesota Get-Together come August.

Fair officials on Tuesday offered a deeper than usual discount on regular admission tickets. The usual pre-fair purchase price of $12 was $10 for the flash sale.

This was the largest discount on advance ticket sales ever, according to fair officials. The regular price is $15.

The fair did not disclose in its announcement what happens to the transaction if the 2021 fair is scrubbed because of COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings.

When the 12-day 2020 fair was called off in May, holders of more than 7,000 tickets were told to hang on and use them for the 2021 gathering.

"The same thing would happen if there wasn't a fair in 2021," fair spokeswoman Danielle Dullinger told the Star Tribune. However, she added, "We are hopeful that the 2021 Minnesota State Fair will happen."

The fair was last canceled in 1946 because of the polio epidemic. It has been canceled three other times for wars and once to avoid a conflict with the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.

The 2021 Minnesota State Fair is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 26 through Sept. 6. For the 2019 fair, admissions topped 2 million.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482