Hi friends! It seems I’m on a quest to squeeze an entire summer’s worth of fun into three weeks; challenge accepted! Tuesday’s mission: the Minnesota State Fair.

“The Great Minnesota Get-Together” is a time-honored tradition of fried food, rides, and people- so. Many. People! I last went in the summer of 2022, and I managed to stay six hours but I was crabby and burnt-out by the end. This time I was only there for three hours, but with the added twist of watching over my 12 and 5-year old cousins, along with their mom.

Rides

Right when we got to the midway, we made a beeline for the Tilt-A-Whirl. I screamed more than the 5-year old, and it was a blast. 🙂 Thankfully, this ride was BEFORE lunch – a key word of caution. We also checked out the giant swing, which was less intimidating than I thought it would be. I actually was dancing in my seat to the early 2010s music. We also hit up the merry-go-round, which I haven’t been on in literally 20 years. This is definitely the most chill ride, for anyone who likes a calmer vibe but still wants a little fun. Finally, we hit up the Giant Slide – a classic. I rode with the 5-year old, and we coasted down. This one is a staple of the State Fair and not to be missed.

Food

I had chicken tenders and French Fries for lunch. It is entirely futile to look for a vegetable that isn’t deep-fried, so I didn’t even try. I didn’t partake in all the snacking, but my companions got fried pickles on a stick, and blue Icees. I do not understand these “foods”, nor will I attempt to.

Of COURSE I got a bucket of Sweet Martha’s Cookies! Did you even go to the Minnesota State Fair if you don’t bring home a bucket of doughy, melty, chocolate goodness? No. I split the bounty with my cousins and still have plenty to last for a few days.

Shopping

While there are a plethora of vendors at the Fair, our little group didn’t do that much shopping. I bought a tote bag, sunglasses, and stickers from the Minnesota souveneir shop, and of course I got the biggest Sweet Martha’s bucket available. Most of our money was spent on food and ride tickets, not to mention parking and the entrance fee.

Butterfly House

This deserves its own category. I didn’t have this on the agenda and I forgot it was even an attraction. I “happened” to be wearing my butterfly shirt from last year’s Nokomis Butterfly Festival last year. I paid the $4 entry fee and it was worth every penny and more.

I ended up with not one, not two, but a total of FOUR butterflies on me! Two hung out on my arm, one was chilling on my head, and the last little guy tried to hitch a ride on the back of my leg.

Miscellaneous

I didn’t bring a tote bag or hand sanitizer, which are two necessary items for an outing like this. Luckily the 12-year old had sanitizer on hand, and I got a MN tote for only $3.

I stopped by the Fine Arts Building toward the end of the day to see a special piece designed by my friend Tekla Rae Designs. Her custom mandala was proudly displayed for the entire fair, and I’m lucky I got a chance to see it.

I didn’t realize my other friend Moxie Malas was also at the fair, and I missed the chance to pop upstairs and say hi to her. That’s another note of caution — make sure you know which friends have booths/displays and try to visit all of them.

Conclusion

The Fair is a fun place for art, rides, food, and people watching, but I would advise everyone to have an agenda and all necessary supplies – including enough energy. Once a year is enough for me, and I know I’ve only scratched the surface of what the Fair has to offer, but that’s all from me and I’ll catch you on the flip side.