- 1). Drive west over the Mississippi into St. Paul, where the 320-acre Minnesota State Fair campus rests north of Interstate 94 and south of Highway 36 on North Snelling Avenue.
- 2). Fly into the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport in Bloomington and enjoy a stay in either one of the Twin Cities during Fair week (see Resources below).
- 3). Pay around $10 a person for a day at the fair. Kids under 5 years old are free. Parking fees are extra.
- 4). Check out the Minnesota State Fair schedule online and visit on special discount days like Seniors' Day or Kids' Day (see Resources below).
- 5). Buy tickets online in advance for events like the Grand Stand Entertainment series where big name performers entertain each night of the fair (see Resources below).
- 6). Go to the State Fair Mall any of the 12 days at 2 p.m. for an old-fashioned parade held along 14 blocks.
- 7). Sample many of the foods unique to the Minnesota Fair like wild rice corn dogs, supercalifragilistic sundaes, chicory coffee, bug juice, elk burgers, gizmo sandwiches, hot-dish on a stick and lefse.
- 8). Enter the Milk Run, a 5-kilometer race held on the Fair grounds, with a limit of 1,500 runners. Applications are available online as early as May and a fee is required (see Resources below).
- 9). Contact the fair in advance for large group activities. Get free schedules, group savings coupons and the option to rent picnic areas overlooking the midway.
- 10
Take the kids on agricultural adventures through the animal areas, find different and rare breeds, visit the barns or cuddle with farm animal babies. - 11
Spend the night in the fast-action midway and kidway, thrill-seeking on the amusement rides and vying for prizes at the ring toss or bottle throw. - 12
Show your talents and skills by entering the State Fair competition with livestock, homemade goods, arts and crafts, school projects or through the 4H program.
previous post