Contest Alerts in Saint Paul, MN: Updated 2026 List for Local Winners
Photo: Korie Jenkins / Pexels
Compare five verified 2026 Minnesota contest routes, including State Fair entries and paid-ticket Second Chance drawings.
There is no verified Saint Paul-residents-only program called "Contest Alerts" in 2026. The current source-backed options are Minnesota Lottery promotions and Minnesota State Fair contests held locally. Some entries are free, while others require an eligible non-winning scratch ticket.
Every listed reward is a chance to win, not a guaranteed benefit.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on August 29, 2026.
State Fair entries available now
From August 27 through September 7, Fair attendees may enter non-winning scratch tickets purchased at the Lottery booth into an on-site drawing. The Minnesota Lottery says 12 winners will each receive $1,000 and a prize pack. Visitors may also scan the booth's QR code, download the Lottery app, and enter the free State Fair Cash Giveaway.
One winner will receive $500 and a branded prize pack after the Fair, according to the Minnesota Lottery's 2026 State Fair promotion details. The contest entry is free, but the promotion still requires visiting the booth during the Fair.
Scratch-ticket Second Chance options
"Second Chance" drawings let eligible players reuse specified non-winning tickets as promotion entries. These are not free-entry contests because each requires a paid ticket that did not win. The Minnesota Lottery currently lists three relevant options:
- Area Code Cash: Minnesota residents with a non-winning $2 ticket may enter for up to $1,500 and a phone-accessory and shirt prize pack. The stated 1-in-3.69 odds apply to prizes in the printed instant game—not the Second Chance drawing—while the instant top prize is $10,000. See the Minnesota Lottery Area Code Cash page.
- Forest Fortune: A non-winning $5 ticket may qualify Minnesota residents for a current cash-and-merchandise drawing. The scratch game's instant top prize is $100,000. See the Minnesota Lottery Forest Fortune page.
- Gnome Series: Eligible non-winning tickets may be entered for up to $500 and a gnome-themed prize pack. The instant game's stated top prize is $10,000. See the Minnesota Lottery Gnome Series page.
The talent contest is closed to new entrants
The 2026 Minnesota State Fair Amateur Talent Contest is no longer accepting new auditions. Twenty-six finalists are scheduled to compete September 6 for more than $20,000 in cash awards. Prospective performers can instead request placement on next year's mailing list.
The Minnesota State Fair contest page provides the current competition status.
Check the entry requirements
Lottery Second Chance entries require a free Lottery account. Entrants must supply the eligible ticket's game number and 10-digit entry code, as explained in the Minnesota Lottery Second Chance guidance. Before entering, confirm these points: Saint Paul residency alone does not create eligibility.
For ticket-based promotions, the qualifying non-winning purchase is the key requirement.
- The ticket belongs to the named game or series.
- The ticket is non-winning and otherwise eligible.
- You meet the promotion's Minnesota-residency requirement.
- You enter through the Lottery account using both required ticket numbers.
- You distinguish instant-ticket prize odds from separate drawing odds.
Avoid giveaway impersonators
The Minnesota Lottery warns that people may impersonate its giveaway accounts. It directs entrants to mnlottery.com, its official app, and verified Minnesota Lottery social accounts. Use the Lottery website to check official winner status rather than trusting an unsolicited social message.
The agency explains these precautions in its giveaway impersonation warning.