One unmissable part of a Minnesota summer is a visit to the State Fair. Sure, every state has pride in their fair, but ours is arguably the best, with the numbers to prove it. Minnesota boasts the title of the country’s largest state fair in terms of average daily attendance (and we’re second in the country in terms of total attendance, only behind Texas, whose fair runs twice as long as ours).
This year, the fair’s 12-day run is August 22 through September 2, with the first two days of the 2024 fair already breaking attendance records.
Fair Food (on a Stick, and Otherwise)
The fair annually posts some of its new foods ahead of opening day to build the anticipation, and this year’s menu ranged from the predictable to the unbelievable—there were some tame (but delicious) new additions like Paella Depot’s paella (which they dub “the Hotdish of Spain”), and then some real out-there bites like Blue Moon Dine-In’s Sweet Corn Cola Float and the (in)famous Deep-Fried Ranch Dressing from LuLu’s Public House (the latter of which I was not brave enough to try).
Meet the Animals of the Fair
Between the fair’s livestock barns, fish pond, and even larger-than-life mascots, there are plenty of opportunities for fans of all ages to meet all kinds of animals at the Great Minnesota Get-Together! In fact, many of the animals you’ll see at the fair’s livestock buildings have been bred and raised by youth in local FFA and 4-H programs.
Celebrating Minnesotan (Agri)Culture
One of my favorite parts of the Minnesota State Fair is the opportunity to get to see so much local talent. Traditional arts competitions like the Amateur Talent Contest and Fine Arts awards are always a highlight, but the fair also importantly spotlights the state’s agriculture. Competitions like the crop art and scarecrow exhibits, homebrewing, and various produce growing highlight the creativity rooted in the farming culture of the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
