Minnesota State Fair

I love the Minnesota State Fair. There is so much to see, do and experience: food, animals, rides, freebies, art, displays, concerts at the Grandstand and much more. I can't even describe how much the fair has to offer. There's something for everyone. The only negative aspects of the MSF experience is expensive food and parking and large crowds. Other than that, it's a great event and I would most definitely recommend it to anyone! more

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the state fair. It's really not a good place to go alone (or semi-alone). Being super cheap, half the fair is out of the question, but I got tired of the horse barns a long time ago. Just a tip: If you're planning on buying deep fried food, don't go on the last day!! They reuse the oil, and buy that time the fair smells disgusting and the stuff tastes terrible. :) more

The Fair has everything and something for everyone. You can be cheap or spend lots. There's the free animal barns,shows and fireworks and theres rides, games and concerts. You pick! The key is to have fun and see everything you can. Last years big hits with my guys was the battlebot show, baby animals, kid farm exhibit, slide, & games. It's a tradition for a reason- TONS of fun :) more

I love the fair. The first year I went as a I did not care for it much (mostly cause my dad said we could keep all the $ we didn't spend, so I was super frugal). As an adult I went with my hubby, who has gone every year since childhood. He said the key is to try lots of food and not worry about the $. Since I have always looked forward to the fair. Besides food there is a ton of stuff to look at and do for free too. My favorites: frozen cider pops, fried green tomatoes, crepes with strawberries & whip cream, pickle dogs, and anything NEW (like the Rubens on a stick the year before last). My husband loves the milk shakes, while your there look at the dairy princesses busts made out of butter. My kids love the slide and all the animals- especially the baby animal barn. more

As far as a fair goes, the MN State Fair is great.. but I am just not that into fairs. I am not big into junk food, so I actually left the fair hungry last year (though I did have some perennial favorites). Still always have to go to the all you can drink milk booth! One of the best parts is the Lil Farmers area near the old machinery hill... both of my children had the chance to pretend they were on the farm. We also stopped at the Kiddie Midway but only went on a couple rides because that is so expensive. I do love that some places have great goodies though! And yes, the deep fried candy bar on a stick is pretty good. more

Don't miss it, don't even be late!!! Terrific fair from the cheese curds to the DNR exhibit. The entertainment line up is always great for both the grandstand and the free shows. The variety of food vendors is superb with everything from elk to fried pickles - most on a stick. And you can see rodeos and ride on the Olde Haunted Mill ride. more

well , it has everything you could want in a fair , 4h , rides (midway ) food any kind of food you could want . arts and crafts and great bands to see . they had so mush it is hard to see it all and the people every where . more

It's a great time for everyone! No matter what your age there is something for you to do and see. Many events going on , entertainment at the grandstand gets big names. Rides for all ages. All kinds of food on a stick and more. Sweet Martha's cookies are a favorite for all. Exhibits in all the building and many thing to buy. The only bad thing is the crowds if you go on the weekends or evenings. You can take the bus from different shopping centers around. Which we always do it is so easy drop you off right in front of gates. more

I have lived in MN for 10 years now and have been to the fair every year! My favorite "must-haves" for the fair are: Corn on the cob, Sweet Martha's cookies, the fresh cooked french fries and mini donuts! The Grandstand is my favorite place to shop. There are several booths that I visit every year. I love being able to try fun products that you can't just go buy at Target. Plan on spending lots of money, forgoing the diet for the day, and having lots of fun! It is the best! more

The Minnesota State Fair is often said to be one of the best State Fairs in the United States, and I would never disagree. The fair is a kitchy delight. One of the best things you can do is try to count all the different varieties of foods on a stick. It's undeniable that most residents visit the state fair simply for the food, because it can't be beat. The Pronto Pups, made from flour, not corn, are amazing, as are cheese curds from The Mouth Trap, Tiny Tim's mini donuts, and many other varieites of fried food. Strap on your walking shoes and prepare to have a fantastic time! more

I look forward to the State Fair all year, and I’m an angry, depressed, transplanted Northeasterner. I can’t stand the Midway, the bizarre, or the rows of automobiles, but I love the Fair. I also wish that the military wasn’t always looking for new insurgent fodder at the fair. The food is to die for, and will probably kill you (eventually). I love the pronto-pups, mini-donuts, and the fudge puppies (Belgian waffle on a stick dipped in dark chocolate). I always get suckered into all the milk you can drink, but that used to be cheaper and quainter. I preferred drinking milk directly from a tanker truck. The animals are interesting. If you want to see a particular species, check out the fair program before heading to the grounds. Also check the schedule to find out when the butter-heads are being carved. It is horribly disappointing to head to the dairy building only to stare at a block of pristine butter. The fair doesn’t seem to change much from year to year. Every year, there’s something new on a stick, but other than the Fudge Puppy and Ralph Nader on a stick, these usually can’t compete with the original Pronto Pup. I park at the U of M and take the free shuttle service to the Fair. more

Fairly Fun! The food is greasy, and there is just so much of it! They do call it the Great Minnesota Get-together for a reason… there are tons of people! That is my favorite aspect of the fair—the people-watching. The energy of the fairgrounds is a unique experience, with so many people, and so much going on in such a relatively small space. A great place to find that thing you never knew you were looking for. more

The Minnesota State fair is probably the best State fair in the country (I can guarantee that without having been to any others). I like to set a path and stick to it. First, the animal barns, nothings better than a bunch of animals on a hot day. Next, scotch egg, the milk booth and DNR building. OK, I can see this would get long if I did every stop. I recommend going, but don't expect to see everything unless you are driven, like me, and spend over 6 hours walking. There are so many free pencils to collect, people to see, and things to eat. Don't waste your time on the midway though, unless you go late to see the inappropriate displays of flesh. Long live the big pig! more

mmmm... i can almost taste all of the good food on a stick right now! We love the state fair. There is so much to look at and so much to eat it takes a good couple days to get through it all! The best part for the kids is the home depot work area where they get aprons and get to build. My favorite part -- the fresh potato chips :) MMmmmmmm :) and the chocolate chip cookies :) and the milk stand :) and the pickles :) the list goes on and on .... more

The Minnesota State Fair is something that everyone should attend, well, at least attend every few years. The premier animal (and people) watching venue in the cities has a lot to offer – food, rides, displays, etc. Although I get sick of the “everything on a stick” theme, I always am intrigued by the food options. more

....but you couldn't get me within 5 miles of this place now. Ugh! Nasty carnies, vomit inducing rides, horrible, greasy food, washed up rock bands, stupid radio djs tossing the occasional t-shirt to hundreds of begging attendees, and some drunk guy throwing punches because another guy "looked" at his girlfriend. The best thing about the fair is probably the 4-H exhibits and the farm related stuff. It's these kids day in the sun and they should be proud. That and the canning contests, and other homemade food related stuff. Pretty much everything else about it sucks. more

Fun for the whole family. You can find pretty much everything here. From rides to animals and all kinds of foods, the fun never ends. They even have a haunted house. I also like the International bizarre. If you like animals, they have horses, pigs, chickens, cows, and even a fish pond. One of my children's favorites is the place where baby animals are being born everyday. Be sure to check this fair out. more