the state fair starts THIS week! the “great minnesota get-together” is one of our popular tourist destinations. it attracts close to 2 million people a year! 12 days of food, entertainment, shopping, and fun! the state fair is the best part of summer (in my opinion). if you can’t tell, the state fair obsession is real guys. not embarrassed about it. it literally made my year when i got invited to attend the “great minnesota blog together.” i got to hear about the entertainment for 2017 and get a sneak peak of the new food. based on my wealth of knowledge (ha!) and the preview event, i put together my tips for what to do, eat, and wear this year at the fair.
WHAT TO DO
there are many options for entertainment at the fair. so many in fact that it can be overwhelming. i am narrowing it down to 5 ideas for you guys. some you may have heard of, others maybe not! i would also check out the ‘fun finder’ on the state fair website. it wouldn’t hurt to also download the state fair app!
1. see a concert at the grand stand
my pick: sam hunt
sam hunt is probably the biggest act at the grandstand this year. he is one my fave country artists and i love love his music. also, look at him. i mean… he’s beautiful. he is playing september 4th at 7:00pm at the grandstand. there are limited tickets still available here.
photo courtesy of the minnesota state fair
2. see a show on one of the many FREE stages
my pick: hippocampus at the leinie lodge
hippocampus is a local indie rock band. they will be playing september 3rd and 4th at 8:30pm. the bandshell stage is free. it is the best bang for your buck as far as entertainment goes. in the past, this stage has featured acts like keith urban and andy grammar before they made it big. did i mention this is free? check out the other free stages performances here.
photo courtesy of the minnesota state fair
3. learn something!
my pick: history-on-a-schtick
history-on-a-schtick is a free show at the shell’s stage at the west end market. the performance is a fun and fast minnesota history lesson. it has sing-alongs, trivia, and prizes. the show is daily at 9:30am and 10:30am. definitely a hidden gem of the fair. i plan on grabbing breakfast in the west end market and then enjoying this wacky peformance!
photo courtesy of the minnesota state fair
4. do one of the ‘classics’
my pick: the giant slide
the giant slide is definitely a ‘classic’ at the fair. it has been around for years and years and is fun every time. am i right? the slide is $2.50 per rider and is located on the east side of nelson street between dan patch and carnes avenues. fun for the whole family!
photo courtesy of the minnesota state fair
5. try something new
my pick: the great big wheel
the great big wheel is one of the new attractions for 2017. standing at 156 feet tall, this is the tallest traveling giant ferris wheel in north america. the ferris wheel has half a million LED lights. the great big wheel will run from 9:00am to 11:00pm and is $5 per ride.
photo courtesy of the minnesota state fair
WHAT TO EAT
grab your stretch pants. it’s time to eat. this is not the time for calorie counting friends. the best thing to do at the state fair is just enjoy. as far as the classics go, there are items i get every year.
my 5 favorite items at the state fair (in no particular order):
- cheese curds from the mouse trap
- corn on the cob
- sweet martha’s cookies
- corn dog or pronto pup (i don’t discriminate, i like both!)
- apple cider freeze
now let’s talk new food. the best part about the sneak peak was the new food. although there are several new food items (see full list here), there are five i got to taste. my favorite item was the tipsy pie. if you are going to try one new item, i recommend the tipsy pie!
brown ale and onion-gouda tipsy pie from sara’s tipsy pies
pizzarito from green mill
sweet corn blueberry eclair from the farmers union coffee shop
italian bomba sandwich from mancini’s
mobster’s caviar from the hideaway speakeasy
WHAT TO WEAR
comfort is key when you go to the fair. it is usually extremely hot. and is always a super long day. but we like to dress cute, right? i put together an outfit that i might wear one of the days at the fair. 
the keys to dressing for the state fair:
- closed toe shoes are a must. i like to wear tennis shoes. the ground is super dirty. not to mention the manure. also keep in mind that sandals come off during rides.
- wear a t-shirt (got mine here) or something that covers your shoulders. the sun is powerful, so sun protection is key. if you must wear a tank, cover yourself in SPF.
- to ensure your money is safe, a cross body bag is best. this will also keep your hands free. to hold more food of course.
- lighter colors absorb less heat. i would stick to white or pastels.
- avoid dresses (unless maybe for a concert). dresses are a pain for rides (if you like the midway). also think about how sometimes you have to sit on curbs and other random places. go for shorts. i promise.
GIVEAWAY!
i am giving away TWO tickets to the state fair on instagram. head there to see how to win tickets. happy fair!
I’m drooling over the food pictures and remembering how delicious those tipsy pies were! So excited the Fair starts this week
me too! going 3 times this year 🙂
Love this guide to the state fair! Drooling over the photos as well.
Going two more times! State fair obsessed and not sorry bout it!
Ready to go!