Fun at the Minnesota State Fair

Rides, Attractions, Food, and All the Stuff You Can't Miss

Jun 15, 2007

Planning a trip to the Minnesota State Fair? Here are some highlights of The Great Minnesota Get-Together.

If you're traveling to Minnesota and want to get a glimpse into local culture, you simply can't miss the Minnesota State Fair! There's something about wandering around the fairgrounds with a Pronto Pup (which is like a corn dog, only better) that makes you feel like you've been in Minnesota all your life. Whether you're checking out the all-butter statue of Princess Kay of the Milky Way or watching a great game of competitive log rolling, the fair has a kitchy feel that tells you that although Minnesotans love their state, they never take themselves too seriously. Look around and you'll see lots of different kinds of people, as "The Great Minnesota Get-Together" is where sophisticated urban Minnesota meets charming outstate Minnesota.

The Minnesota State Fair is located in the Twin City suburb of Falcon Heights, which is in spitting distance of St. Paul and close to Minneapolis. It's been around since 1854--five years before Minnesota became a state--and is second only to the Texas State Fair in terms of attendance. The fair always lasts for the two weeks before Labor Day, and this year it runs from August 23 to September 3.

It can take you days to wander through the whole fair, so don't try to do everything! Here are some must-see highlights for your Minnesota State Fair excursion.

The Space Tower. Want a breathtaking view of the Twin Cities? Ride the 340-foot Space Tower. Look around and you can see both downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul, plus the whole fairgrounds. It's a good place to start your trip.
Food on a stick. The Minnesota State Fair is a feast of flavors, and an awful lot of them come on a stick. Local favorites include the Pronto Pup, the pork chop on a stick, chocolate-covered cheesecake on a stick, and the insanely decadent fried candy bar on a stick. For the adventurous, there's deep fried alligator. In 2006, a St. Paul Pioneer Press reporter went on a 12 day diet where he only ate fair food on a stick. (He lost two pounds!)
The all-you-can-drink milk booth. Okay, now you know you're in the heart of dairy country. Fifty cents will buy you a cup that can be filled with a bottomless supply of milk. This is best enjoyed with a piping hot bucket of Sweet Martha's gooey chocolate chip cookies.
Princess Kay of the Milky Way Butter Sculpture. Still need proof you're in dairy country? Princess Kay is the title awarded to the winner of the Minnesota Dairy Princess Program pageant. The Princess poses in a walk-in refrigerator as a 90-pound block of butter is carved in her likeness.
The Moo Booth, Baa Booth, and Oink Booth. Unless you hate farm animals, stop by Ag Adventures to see prize-winning livestock from all over the state. You can guess what animals are featured in the three above-mentioned booths! The Moo and Baa Booths cosponsor the annual Agri-lympics, which has four events: cow milking, animal calling, sheep sheering, and butter carving.
Adventure Park. If you want rides, go to the Midway. If your kid wants rides, go to the Kidway. But if you want extreme rides, go to Adventure Park. These include the Ejection Seat, which is attached to several bungee cords and whips screaming riders through the air.
Machinery Hill. If you like vehicles of just about any kind, this large section of the fair is a blast. It used to be the place to go to see tractors and combines, which are still around, but you can also see stuff like cars, trucks, and lawn mowers.