I love the Minnesota State Fair. I can’t even count how many times I’ve been there. When I think about it, I have so many memories. The thing about the Fair is that when you go as a child and when you go as an adult, you get a different experience even though the majority of the Fair is the same year in and year out.
Sometimes I’ve gone with people and we’ve parked “nearby” and walked in. Sometimes we’ve parked at a site to ride the shuttle. I always enter through one of the gates on Como Ave. There’s the International Bazaar that has the baby sharks bottled in formaldehyde. I’ve always contemplated buying one but never pulled the trigger. The Haunted House that I’ve been through but now just walk by. For some reason, the past few years it has a man dressed like Captain Jack Sparrow outside trying to convince passersby to go inside.
The raft ride which I do not recommend you do on a cloudy, windy day. That was a brisk regret. The Miracle of Birth Center where you can watch animals give birth. I’ve always found this to be the most disturbing part of the fair. Not because of my aversion to becoming a mother, but because all these people are eating large quantities of meat and dairy products while they look at pregnant animals, some of them actively pushing them out.
The Coliseum that has the necklaces you can buy where they write your name on a grain of rice and then turn it into a pendant. Then all the animal barns. The pungent aroma of animal feces is so strong that I try to avoid eating anything when I’m walking through this area.
The Midway that used to be fun; play some games, win some prizes. As an adult, I avoid this area because I know the games are rigged for the House to win, and I don’t need any of those “prizes” any way. It is full of teenagers avoiding their families and trying to impress each other in feats of strength and skill.
Heritage Square where the train used to be. Where the taxidermy post is. I love that place. There’s a stage for music in this corner and they have some great roasted potatoes on a stick. The emergency services, EMT, and police are across the street so try not to be too visibly drunk over there.
The Grandstand is an air conditioned building, so while you may think you’re a genius for going into it to beat the heat, the other 100,000-200,000 people in attendance have the same brilliant idea. Prepare yourself to walk around with all of them. My grandmother used to work for Round Bobbin and they had a booth in the Grandstand every year. You can pay to get some golf balls and try your hand at putting under pressure to win things. They have so many booths with home improvement items, as seen on TV type stuff, and other miscellaneous things with people giving demonstrations while wearing a headset microphone. I used to be a big fan of buying fudge in this building, not to eat at the Fair but to take home and devour later.
I’ve never paid to see anyone perform on the Grandstand stage but you can still hear the music outside of it. I did act like a fool and dance outside while P.O.S. performed. I should’ve made friends with the other people doing the same thing. There’s the Butterfly House which I haven’t gone in for as long as I can remember. Next time I go to the Fair it will be on my list of things to do. I don’t remember the last time I’ve gone down the Giant Slide either, but to me it seems like such a waste of time to stand in line, to pay, to ride down some filthy burlap that a million people have sat on, so I can slide down for a few seconds while all these other people watch.
The Food Building which is the best place to get cheese curds. The Agriculture/Horticulture building where I’ll be if we get lost and you need to find me. I love to look at all the vegetables people grew and the giant pumpkins! I take pictures of the seed art. I love the entire corner about bees and honey. I avoid the flower portion though because of my allergies. Buy some apples in this building.
The building with all the Art in it. The sewing, jewelry, knitting, doll houses, paintings, photographs, pies, etc. It takes me around an hour to go through this one, so be sure to get some food before we walk in there. I take a lot of pictures.
The Eco building (which wasn’t there when I was a kid) but I Love it. I spend a great deal of time in here and take as many pamphlets and handouts as I can. I’m still debating on what type of compost bin to get for the yard, but I have some great literature on it.
The Lumberjack show in The Northwoods. It is the exact same show every time, every year, but I still find it entertaining. My partner is still asking, “Can I get a Yo Ho?” They have the jerky I buy and hoard to take home over here as well.
Other things I want to mention. I love to walk through the water spritzers. On hot days, you’ll have to elbow your way in and try not to step on the kids, but it’ll be worth it. I no longer go on either of the sky rides due to my Fears, but I would recommend it if you’re trying to get from one end to another and are sick of walking. The stone fruits are amazing! They have great pluots, peaches, and plums. When I could eat them, I would buy enough to eat while I was there and to take home. Same thing with the dairy building. When I could eat dairy, I would eat cheese curds (they make sure you know they aren’t fried like 5 times before you get them), sundaes with fruit syrup on top, cheese sticks, and milkshakes.
Last year, I wrote myself a note that it was okay if I skipped the State Fair next year. Due to all my dietary restrictions (which have only increased since last year) it is so hard to find things that I can consume there. The money I have to spend just to get in and walk around didn’t seem worth it. There were SO MANY people. I definitely think that everyone should go to the Fair just not at the time that I’m there! Also, you always run into someone you know at the Fair, but it is never one of your friends that you want to see; it is someone obscure that you thought you’d probably never have to talk to again.
Now that it is State Fair time though, I am filled with regret and longing. I want to watch people eat deep fried pickles, deep fried candy bars, alligator, ostrich, and everything on a stick. I want to walk around until my legs ache. I want to stumble accidentally on the parade and cross the street directly in front of it for a better view. I want to wear some ridiculous outfit and know that I won’t be the silliest looking person there. I want to eat and drink and dance and smile in the sunshine.
But since I can’t really eat much there and I shouldn’t drink white wine all day, when I do go to the Fair next, I will bring my own snacks and a water bottle. I’ll stop at all the music stages and shake my ass. I’ll enjoy the sun in my sunscreen, hat, and sun protective clothing. I will linger taking in the home-grown produce, the art, the music. I will learn what I can about science and sustainability. I will take in each and every moment while I can.
All pics in this post are from my MN State Fair visits in 2013, 2014, and 2015. I also want to point out that the MN State Fair would be The Largest state fair in the country if Texas didn't run theirs for twice as long as ours is open. I learned that a few years ago and think about it frequently.
Originally posted on my personal blog on 09/04/2016.
~The Overstimulated
P.S. Due to my desire to limit my exposure to large crowds of people and the airborne viruses they expel, I will not be attending The Great Minnesota Get Together this year or in the foreseeable future. If you do go though, be sure to share some pics with me, especially any of the seed art!