MN State Fair TODOTC.com To Do in the Twin Cities Events MN State Fair Date: Aug 2 - Labor Day 2024 Snelling & Como Ave 55108 Phone: (651) 288-4400 www.mnstatefair.org

State Fair

It’s called the Great MN Get Together. There are more people in the 322 Acre state Fairgrounds during the fair than any other place in MN throughout the year. Tickets are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors and $16 for kids 5-12.
We used to drive our personal vehicle to the state fair.  Now very few people do. The State Fair has preferred that everyone now take the bus. Bus service once was very good, about a 15-minute wait. That now has become hours in some cases. Next year we will I believe choose to drive. If you are there early there is a parking lot on the St Paul Campus at 1395 Gortner Ave, St Paul, MN 55108. That is just off the State Fair property on the west side. It is maybe a dozen block walk to the State Fair Entrance. There is also public parking on Como Ave, but usually that is a traffic jam.
I have heard there are more different types of foods at the MN State Fair then any venue in the world. And THAT is not an exaggeration. Of course, MOST of the foods are conveniently placed on a STICK! So, you can walk & eat. This year one of the most talked about foods was NOT on a stick they were Peach Donuts. E wanted to try them. Well, that was until we saw the line was literally TWO CITY BLOCKS LONG. We’ll try them when they get to Target! LOL
So, if you have never been to the MN State Fair there are several must sees. From the bus gate you can start by touring the marketplace completely redone a few years ago. There are a hundred booths great for Christmas shopping. They also have several food and drink venues. And great new bathrooms. Pee before you go!
 After the marketplace you walk into the main portion of the fair. At that point you have two options. Take the skyride to the far Southeast side of the fair and over look & plan where you will be going. Or walk toward the Midway and barns next to the First French Fry booth. French Fries in a bucket are must haves at the state fair.
About a block from the French Fry booth away from the Midway is the DNR Booth. It is full of maps, displays and a TON of fish with DNR personal to help you and your nature plans. The fishpond on the back side is a must see especially for the kids.  After you have your fill of fish, across the street is the FFA Birth Center.
If you have kids 3-30 and miss the FFA Birth Center, you will need to return to the fair. In the birthing center there is everything from baby chicks coming out of their eggs to sheep, goats, rabbits, pigs and cows being born in front of everyone. People spend hours in the building. It is an incredible display.
From the birthing center you can go through the colosseum where the animal showing happens, usually it is free. There are also booths around the entire circle inside. Coming out of the colosseum you can either go to the horse or cow barn. You will also find all the of the rest of the animals at the fair there. They are always popular with all ages.
Though smoking is allowed on fair property, we once had a Filipino parent of our foreign exchange student that was flicking his hot cigarette buts into the straw at the entrance of the barns. I was on fire watch that day… LOL
One of the little-known shops in the state fair is the state fair store called Steichens Market & Deli. Which is located on an alleyway between the Sheep & Poultry barns next to the DNR Building. The address is 1778 Commissary Loop, Falcon Heights, MN 55108.  It’s a small convenience store that is visited regularly by those working at the fair. Its great for diapers, bottles, first aid stuff, sunscreen and other such goods.
Further up the hill to the east is the must-see Dairy Building. Where you can see the Princess of the Milky Way and her court Busts carved in Butta! Each contestant gets to take home a one cubic foot likeness of themselves. People spend HOURS watching the carver do his magic. The dairy building also has great deals on milk, ice cream and malts.
Further up the hill takes you past the haunted mansion to the International Marketplace & Bazaar. Where there are about 100 booths of food and gifts from all over the world. Plus, a great place to sit and listen to bands and enjoy of board of beer.
Across from the International Bazaar is the crop building where you will see crops judged, wines and grapes judged, beers, honey and much more. Plus, some interesting crop art. They will also have displays about the different flower and plants clubs in the area. That is how we found out and joined the MN Mushroom society.
Across from the crop building on one side is the space needle to get a great view of the fairgrounds and the area. On the other side is MN Wine booth from the dozens of MN Grape growers and wine producers. They have great food and good wine. And a good place to sit.
At the end of the street from the crop and wine building is Ye Old Mill, some call it the tunnel of LOVE. It’s a Boat trip that lasts ten minutes and is a favorite for more than one hundred years at the fair.
Across from that is the food building. Which has a great place to sit & eat and great options inside.
After that there are only three other must see places: the Midway, the grandstand booths and machinery hill which once was all tractor and farming displays now its everything from dogs to windmills and a youth midway to many more displays.
If you are going to try to see the entire fair in a day, don’t plan on getting out of bed the next day. We always go twice. We go opening day every year, hope to see you there next year Aug 21 – Labor Day. We’ll be there.

Contact us Dennis@ToDoTC.com