Minnesota State Fair — Attraction in Falcon Heights

There are five named great state fairs in the United States let me see if I can remember them all, New York State Fair, Texas State Fair, California State Fair, Iowa State Fair, the Minnesota State Fair. I have been to the New York State Fair and the Minnesota State Fair. When I compare the two you need to understand, at the New York State Fair draws its audience from a small percentage a tiny percentage of the New York City population. Let's say 5% and the other half of the audience comes from everywhere else. Nobody other than California can possibly compete with that body count they probably have the largest attendance. The Minnesota State Fair has probably the second largest attendance at a bit over 1 million. The Texas state fair is probably the biggest as far as attractions and walking size, and probably our biggest competitor for food because how else are they going to get people to go out in the middle of a high desert and 120 degrees temperature and party if not damn good Texas barbecue. The Minnesota State Fair was the one that invented the idea of putting something on a stick probably with our original Pronto pup started in God knows 1939? This Fair has been around a very long time probably longer than any other Fair other than the New York State Fair. Probably because it gets so miserably cold here what else you going to do you better have a Soiree at the end of summer before you shovel snow for the next 9 months. Probably one of the most amazing people watching environments you can get to and participate in without having to join a religion. Smart Savvy fairgoers plan their meals. When you have hundreds of amazing decadent deep-fried Treasures to taste, and you don't want to fall into a food coma at noon and have nowhere to take a nap. You need to carefully plan ahead what you're going to choose to eat, maximizing your best eating experience at the fair. Savvy fairgoers also, determine in advance what they're going to go and see plan their route taking into account what they want to eat and try to get it done in one circuit so that they can walk no more than 5 miles while here. Savvy fairgoers wear sneakers good ones ones that don't make their feet tired after a couple hours of standing, standing walking eating these are the things you're definitely going to be doing here prepare for it. Super Savvy fairgoers bring a folding wagon. why folding so you can stuff it on the sky ride at the beginning, to take you to the far end, without having to walk there. This allows you to get your tour, and eating done, without having to walk more than 3 miles, unless you screw up like I didn't have to walk back. Enough said, those who know know the fair doesn't need any reviews because it's one of the greatest fairs on planet Earth. And is exactly what you should expect at an overstuffed overcrowded super Fair. So if you don't like people and you're not really interested in food, agriculture technology, vendors rock concerts animals, rides children, snacks upon snacks upon snacks... Then this is not the...

I've been attending the MN State Fair for literally my entire life. Haven't missed a year, well, until this year. And not it's not by choice.

(Note: Ive never got free admission to the fair and the only affiliation I have, is simply the love and memories I have of it.)

I've moved away from the great state of Minnesota due to life/career choices almost 2 fairs ago. I was fortunate enough to make it back last year, but due to financial obligations, that streak will sadly end.

I've had some of the best memories of my life on those fair grounds. Memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life. The beginning of the MN State Fair has been something that I have looked forward to every year starting on the the first Tuesday of September.

It's not souly because of the Ye' Old Mill, french fries, cheesecake on a stick, big fried bacon, haumted house, the skyscraper, tipping up a bottle in the midway, the insane amount of animals or the chocolate chip cookies...

It's all of it.

We have over a thousand venders that come and go that draw us to the fair. Some small... some large. There is a lot of new comers every year and the good ol greats that we look forward to from the last.

But we should never boycott everything that makes these 12 amazing days amazing. Unfortunately a torn apart family had to make a very tough decision after an owner had passed. From my understanding, this put the MN State Fair smack dab in the middle of this controversy.

This shouldn't stray us away from the thousand + of other venders out there (along with the hard working staff of the state fair)loose our business.

The Minnesota state fair has an obligation to make the public keep coming back with innovation and authenticity. But one thing that comes with that, is what only I can imagine is insanely hard decisions.

Big surprise the Minnesota State Fair is for profit, but how else would they be able to keep up everything from the landscape and buildings to the roads, parking lots and overall innovation. Without that, it wouldn't be the second largest in the country.

Yes, the original cheese curd stand will be have something in its place this year. But this is nothing different from year to year, other than it sounded like this time around, this particular deliberation took months to come to a resolution.

In end.... Don't boycott... But rather support the things you love about the fair and try something new, who knows.. maybe it'll be me next thing you love about the best 12 days of...

Minnesota State Fairgrounds off Snelling in St. Pauls Como area is a community of zero except for a couple indulgent weeks in August. Buildings and street signs with a water tower too gives the grounds a early Sunday morning feel the rest of the year. Groups do rent the fairgrounds for other events usually a building or two to hawk knock off tools, sell cheap home and car stereo equipment or hold a community event of some sort. The MSF generally sits quiet until thousands of Minnesotans and folks from all over descend upon this community (think Sturgis SD for motorcycle rally) all looking for parking, entertainment, food, drink and the bathroom. It’s an adventure everyone should experience at least once as for the most part it’s the same year in and year out. Imagine a slow moving heard or sheep with the sounds of 10, 000 people talking at one time. Mix in some food from all over our little world. Throw in some beer, lemonade and soda pop. Sprinkle some B.O., farts and bad breath and that’s when MSF’s is officially that little town. By day it has a touristy feel with family’s holding maps trying to do as much as they can with the time they have. At night it has the feel of a John Hughes movie going for an R rating. Hundreds of teenagers find their way to Minnesotas largest baby sitter with the words “stay out of trouble” still echoing in the head. Wide eyed with that grin that says they love this ‘sitter’ because they can do what ever they want and maybe be that person their parents tell them not to be. During the MSF’s off season you don’t need much of a plan. During the fair the people watching is top notch but you soon will realize those that had no game plan coming in. Haggard, exhausted, bloated, sunburnt, dehydrated, lost and angry. You can see and feel it their time to go home eyes. So have a plan. Pick an off day if you can. Be prepared for lines for everything. Shift into your low gear and merge right cause it will be an all day human traffic jam with the usual clowns making it more difficult for everyone around. To sum it up…..Be a good human and the Minnesota State Fairgrounds will treat...