Electric Snow Cone, Minnesota State Fair, half way between St. Paul & Minneapolis, Minnesota, August 2008, photo © 2008 by QuoinMonkey. All rights reserved.
It’s Labor Day weekend and we’re recovering from our second day at the Minnesota State Fair. For me, the Fair is about photography, food, and history. On Wednesday, we checked out the State Fair and Sesquicentennial history exhibits and enjoyed a Gnarls Barkley concert and fireworks in the Grandstand.
There is a JFK Remembered exhibit this year that we wanted to attend (Kennedy’s death had a big impact on me as a child). We passed the building when we arrived, but the lines were too long (the exhibit is drawing 20,000 people a day). We had planned to circle back, but you know how it goes at the Fair. Navigation routes are turned topsy-turvy; we never made it back.
The exhibit is the personal collection of Nick Ciacelli. He started collecting in the 4th grade on the day Kennedy was assassinated. The exhibit contains rare items such as Kennedy’s jewelry box, a gift from his father in 1946, and a pair of gold Texas star cufflinks he never got to wear. The exhibit was featured on WCCO News a few nights ago — ‘JFK Remembered’ Exhibit Drawing Record Fairgoers.
On Friday, we returned to the Fair. We did the weave-and-dodge past weary food vendors, and over-full rides, then ate our way through the Food Building, packed with wall-to-wall people (wait until you hear about the Pickle Pop on-a-stick!). We visited the Education, Creative Activity, Horticulture, and HealthCare buildings and picked up a few freebies at the Merchandise Mart.
There are 3 days left to attend the Minnesota State Fair. It’s a beautiful cloudless Saturday: low humidity, sun, slight breeze, blue skies. There must be thousands of people planning to venture around St. Paul’s blocked off roads (for the Republican National Convention) to make their way down the Midway. I thought it might be helpful to have a check-off list of must-haves (in no particular order) to take with you to the Fair.
Hidden Values Of A Casket, vintage Minnesota Casket Company booth at the MN State Fair, half way between St. Paul & Minneapolis, Minnesota, August 2008, photo © 2008 by QuoinMonkey. All rights reserved.
On-The-Go List Of Must-Haves (MN State Fair)
- State Fair tickets — easy to forget. slide them in your wallet
- Blue Ribbon Bargain Book — see details under Ways To Save $$$ in the second link on this post
- Rain jacket — and rain pants if you have them. It drizzled all through Gnarls Barkley and poured as we were leaving. You never know!
- Portable umbrella — small enough to fit in a backpack. When it comes to umbrellas, remember, you get what you pay for.
- Shoes with good arches — flat feet or not, your feet and legs will be tired; they need lots of support.
- Water bottle — unbreakable and full. Fair food is greasy and salty. You are going to be thirsty for water!
- $$$ — with attachable wallet ring. The Fair makes you spacy. The right accessories help to keep the right things close to your body.
- Backpack — comfortable with lots of zippered pockets
- Sweatshirt — hooded, for cooler evenings at the Grandstand
- Map of the Fairgrounds — with streets, bathrooms, buildings, and information booths labeled. You can pick this up at any Information booth when you enter the Fair. Believe me, you’re going to need it.
- Tree Sculptures By Name map — kind of like playing the License Plate Game with your kids on the family vacation. (Details in Comment #43 on the second link in this post.)
- Deals, Drawings, & Giveaways Guide — this is your guide to everything FREE at the Fair. (Details in Comment #43 on the second link in this post.)
- Hat — with a brim to shield direct sun from eyes. August in Minnesota is bright!
- Sunglasses – any kind, cheap or designer. I saw two kids wearing blue LCD light-up sunglasses at night on the Midway. It’s a strange adaptation, but it works!
- Suntan lotion – does Rudolph ring a bell?
- List of 63 foods on-a-stick — and their locations on the Fairgrounds. I marked the ones I wanted to try on the map in highlighter. Well, okay, that’s just me. (More info and a list of all 63 foods in the second link on this post.)
- List of streets blocked off in St. Paul — for the Republican National Convention. It hasn’t officially started, but already there have been street closings and police raids in St. Paul. Is it the Boy Scout motto that says, “Be Prepared?”
- Plan for your parking spot — it’s mobbed, friends. You’ll pay $9 for the lots. Make an alternative plan to save money. Have any friends living near the Fairgrounds?
- Cameras and video cam — don’t forget charged batteries, portable tripod
- Tickets to Gnarls Barkley & Cloud Cult — these were the tickets we had to remember. Varies with the evening. BTW, Cloud Cult is one of Liz’s favorite bands. They combine art and music beautifully in their concerts. Two painters work on canvas during the concert; then they auction the paintings off at the end. See them if you ever get a chance!
- Trash bags — large brown plastic ones to cover gear and body if it rains
- Aluminum foil and baggies — for extra foods on-a-stick that you’re too full to eat or want to cart home. We used quite a few of these!
- List of Must-Do Points — do the things important to you first, before you get worn out. For us it was: History Building, Farmers Union, Public Radio, WCCO, Art Building, Crop Art, chickens, Dairy Barn, Butter Queen sculptures, photographs of carousel, Ferris wheel, roller coaster.
- List of places where there are seats and shade — you’re going to want to get off your feet and out of the sun once in a while! I had a mini-meltdown last night when my ice cream was melting down my hand, a blister was forming on my right foot, and my camera battery died all at the same time. A 15 minute rest on a nearby bench did the trick.
- ChapStick — for the dry lips that happen from sun, wind, and all that screaming!
- Napkins, paper towels, & Wet Ones — need I say more? Yeah, grease, and everything else touchy-feely-sticky imaginable.
- Flashlight — portable LED that hangs around the neck (with fresh batteries)
- Pressure point wrist bands — for vertigo from the rides. Liz bought these for her plane trip to Georgia this year (I ended up using them on our car rides). Yesterday, I wore them to the Fair. They really do work!
- Gratitude — to the 3000+ workers who labor at the Fair to make it all possible. (After all, it is Labor Day weekend!)
If you don’t live close enough to make it to the Minnesota State Fair, you can live vicariously by visiting the pieces sprinkled throughout this post. They contain all the links and trivia you’ll ever need to know about the Minnesota State Fair (with the exception of their official website).
Or better yet, plan on attending a local Fair this Fall in the part of the planet you call home and write an essay about your own experiences. It’s good to support the local economy (think global, buy local), and have tons of family fun in the process. Oh, and if you think of anything I should add to the list, feel free to leave it in the comments. I just thought of one other thing I neglected to mention — TUMS!
State Fair Chautauqua (150 Years Of Statehood), celebrating all people and cultures of Minnesota, Minnesota State Fair, half way between St. Paul & Minneapolis, Minnesota, August 2008, photo © 2008 by QuoinMonkey. All rights reserved.
-posted on red Ravine, Saturday, August 30th, 2008
This afternoon, I listened to “Prairie Home Companion,” from the Fair! Then, on the 5:30 p.m. NBC News, they did a piece on St. Paul and showed a bit of Garrison Keillor’s show…looked like a big crowd, and I was wondering if you and Liz were there. I’ve enjoyed your letting us be at the fair, at least “virtually,” or “vicariously.” Thanks!
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[…] swear to God, there were times when I really did think of Mary of the Grains and thank QuoinMonkey of the Fair for the haiku she sent out to me before I left for the Mekong […]
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This is more preparation than going camping. 8)
I can’t believe the Fair is almost over! It seems like the last time I checked, it had barely started.
Is this a new Fair attendance record for you and Liz? If you add up all the hours, how many did you spend at the Fair? And, did you ever tell us which food-on-a-stick was your very favorite this year? And Liz’s?
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Well, QM, I got lost after the $$$ (aside from the gratitude) as I would be truly be unprepared for a day at the fair! Sounds as though you & Liz had a great time! Good job of attending twice. You were able to fulfill more appreciation in 2 days instead of one. Thanks for sharing as I had been looking forward to fair news from you! Wonderful!
I’m really curious about the pickle pops! Have a super week-end! D
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Maybe it is a good thing the State fair is an annual event. 🙂
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Thanks for all these great comments. I want to respond to each of you, but first a little about going to the Fair. Bo’s absolutely right — the endurance, preparation, and $$$ involved in going to this large of a State Fair is exhausting! You can only do it once a year. It’s kind of like a tradition for a lot of people in Minnesota (and some in Wisconsin). An end of summer ritual.
We were so spaced out and so tired both nights that we got home from the Fair, that it took at least half of the day after to recover! We were watching something on the news about the State Fair — they were asking people if they would ever eat the amount and kinds of Fair food they consumed if they weren’t at the Fair. Everyone said, “No Way!” Even the vendors said that Fair food only tastes good at the Fair. It’s kind of the whole sensory experience you are taking in. So preparation for all that really helps!
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oliverowl, Liz and I were actually AT the State Fair when Garrison was performing in the Grandstand with A Prairie Home Companion last Friday night. But we didn’t attend. Our Fair friend, Teri, went with her niece though and we chatted with them briefly by phone when they were about to head into Garrison’s show. We listened to hear him floating out over the Grandstand (this is often the case with the concerts there) but couldn’t hear anything that night!
But then yesterday, when I was driving home from breakfast with a friend, Garrison’s State Fair show was being broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio. So I did get to hear little bits of it when he was talking about the Fair days of old and going to the Fair with his dad. He’s kind of an institution there. Glad you got to hear the show! A great thing about Public Radio.
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diddy, I took more photos of food and rides on Friday but haven’t viewed them yet. One is of the Pickle Pop. Oh, my gosh, it was frozen dill pickle juice and when we first tasted it, it was like eating a popper – we puckered at the sour and salt! Then I kind of got used to it and it was refreshing in the stuffy heat of the Food Building. More to come on food after I digest a little more. 8)
ybonesy, I’m sure everyone doesn’t do as much prep as we do (or maybe they do, can’t say for sure). I tend to carry a lot of these things around in my pack anyway, so it wasn’t really a lot of effort to get ready. Carrying these things to the Fair comes from experience. I’ve been rained on, sweated to death, gotten sunburnt, needed places to rest, and been all sticky and full. It’s just kind of nice to be able to fall back on some simple tools.
I don’t go to the Fair every year (but Liz does). Liz loves it. This is the first time EVER I’ve gone twice in one year. I was kind of into the history and food this year. And taking more photographs. The aspect I like the most is supporting the local economy and learning about the State Fair traditions.
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Oh, ybonesy, I forgot to answer your questions — we spent a total of 15 1/2 hours at the Fair this year, including both times we went. We were there 10 hours the first day, including heading to the concert! It’s a long time. (Thank goodness for the new bathrooms at the new International Bazaar area!)
Favorite foods — I loved the wild rice corndog. It was really good. And the honey sunflower seed ice cream. Hmmmm. I’ll probably do a wrap up post later in the week. A very short one. I want to see my photos first.
To all who are heading out today (the last day), have fun! Liz just read on the State Fair website, the animals depart at 3pm. So better get there soon!
So far, Saturday (yesterday) was the highest attended day at 209,399 people. BTW, the last Saturday of the Fair is always the most highly attended.
We attended on the lowest day, I think because it was rainy — 88,228. So far, 1,383,085 people have attended the Minnesota State Fair (and that doesn’t include Sunday or Monday). All for now!
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Oh, one more thing I couldn’t resist — in the Giant Pumpkin Contest? The adult winner had a 834 pound pumpkin! Wow, that’s a lot of pumpkin pie! Happy Halloween!
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834 lb pumkin? Yikes!! That’s huge!! Did you take a picture of that? That WOULD definitely yield lots of pumpkin pie!
I’m sooo going to go and hunt down for some fall festivals/carnivals… What you just gave us was a long list of fun!! I’m so jealous! I’m sooo living through this post and the photos, so I guess I was in that state fair only in spirit! 😉 I don’t think we have anything that sounds that big as the state fair you’re describing… Hmm, maybe I need to look into that since I don’t go to fairs that much.
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a~lotus, that is truly a HUGE pumpkin. I always wondered what they did with it afterwards. I imagined them maybe selling it to Starbucks or Caribou — I saw they have all their pumpkin flavored drinks out already. And, guess what? Tons of Halloween candy in the aisle at the grocery story yesterday. I didn’t know Halloween started September 1st! I’m behind the times. 8)
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The Fair just announced this morning that on September 2nd, 2009 everyone who brings a valid public library card to the Fair will get a discounted admission pass. It’s called “Read and Ride Day.”
Go, Minnesota State Fair! Way to support reading and libraries!
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Teri, that’s really great! So supportive of the libraries here. How’s the rest of the Fair prep going this year? So much to be done, so little time!
Looks like Read and Ride Day, September 2nd, 2009 is a Wednesday. I’ll have to let Liz know. We are thinking about motorcycle parking this year; a short walk into the Fairgrounds then. But a LONG ride home after a long day. Works great if it doesn’t rain!
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The Fair prep is fabulous. I love going to work. Having worked at a job (in the past) I dreaded going to everyday, I never take life-giving employment for granted.
The fact that Minneapolis & St. Paul are consistently named in the top five “Most Literate Cities” in America is no surprise when things like this happen: Hey! Bring your library card to The Great Minnesota Get-Together and we’ll honor the fact that you read.
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Hey, that’s awesome, Teri! Did you have something to do with floating the idea, by chance?
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Nope, it wasn’t my idea! I’m going to get to the bottom of who had the brain-child, though, and give them a huge compliment.
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Teri, Liz and I heard on the news last night that there will be Pig’s Cheeks (what in the world are pig’s cheeks?) and something I think was called a “Fry Dog” at the Fair this year. It looked like a deep-fried and battered hotdog with French fries sticking to the hotdog, splayed out everywhere (all underneath the batter!). Liz said she smelled a MN State Fair post coming on at red Ravine. 8)
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I can only guess what Pig’s Cheeks and Fry Dogs are! I haven’t heard the official description, yet.
We’re all looking forward to the big art unveiling that will happen today at 1:00. The Minnesota artist, Leo Stans,
was chosen to paint this year’s official poster. Because this is the 100th Anniversary of the Grandstand, there is great anticipation that the old, grand building will be featured in his work.
The public is invited: Root Beer Floats and art at 1!
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Teri, what building is the unveiling of the Leo Stans poster at?
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The Minnesota State Fair Foundation–the big, yellow house on the corner of Cogsgrove & Cooper.
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Teri, it was great to see you today and meet your boss (maybe he’s reading! Hello J.!) Was fun to meet the artist for the new MN State Fair poster commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Grandstand (Leo Stanz) and to talk painting with him, too. I really enjoyed that. Was a great day to be outside; the root beer floats were good, too. I’m glad Liz talked me into going. I did ramble around the Fairgrounds a bit before leaving. So quiet this time of year (compared to the millions of people who will later descend!).
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[…] On-The-Go List Of Must-Haves (MN State Fair) […]
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This must-have list for the MN State Fair is actually coming in handy as I pack this morning. I’m ticking off things one by one!
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Heading to the MN State Fair in a bit. Came back to this checklist because I’m feeling groggy headed this morning. Would not want to forget anything. Especially rain jackets, umbrellas, a sweatshirt. It’s on the cool side which I don’t mind at all. List of 71 foods on-a-stick, baggies, and aluminum foil for leftovers – Check!
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I’m checking this list again as we make plans to head over to the Minnesota State Fair this afternoon! It’s actually very helpful. Can’t forget the baggies for all that extra Fair food that I’ll be carting home. This will be the first year that I do my MN State Fair post after I get back from the Fair. It will give it a different flavor. Off to get ready!
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