State Fair TODOTC.com To Do in the Twin Cities Restaurants State Fair Aug 22, 2022 1265 Snelling Ave N St Paul, MN 55108 Phone: 651-288-4400 www.mnstatefair.org

State Fair
 
Need I really write something about the state fair.
Perhaps if you are new to MN I can lend you a few tips we may have by not missing an opening day in 34 years.
 
Why opening day, who would ever go to opening day? No one goes to opening day because everyone goes to opening day.
Exactly! We always go twice, the first time is opening day. The past two years we have taken the grand kids... its fun.
 
We don't do busses. We park at the U of M on the west side and walk in. Parking is usually about $10 but we come and go on our schedule, not some bus schedule.
And when we want to go home we don't need to hope the bus we want is on time for us and not full. Anyway we drive.
 
We always buy tickets in advance. We hate lines and clueless people.
We understand we are probably going through security so we bring fish net back packs if we truly need a back pack.
Saves a LOT of hassle.
 
We normally go before 8AM, again on opening day. It's great you can sit anywhere and not stick to your seat.
The Grandstand usually opens at 9 AM so you will need to some back to that later, though it's right by the back gate.
We have gotten on the West side air tram and went to the far side of the fairgrounds before and went to the area with the least amount of people.
We don't do the sky tram with a 3 year old as we now have.
 
At the back gate there is a shopping village you could easily spend an hour on if you desire. We have bought our share of Christmas pre3sents there.
The also have normal food... Beer, burgers & fries there.
 
Anyway we have a few early things to see. a few blocks from the back gate is the DNR Building... look for the Fire observation tower.
On the South side of the DNR building is the Fish tank. Ask anyone, everyone knows about it. In that fish tank are a great pool of
MN Fish of all sizes. Some people spend hours there. It is presented in a way even toddlers can stand up to the glass and look at
fish most have only dreamed about. And the DNR are there to educate us.
 
Across the street from the DNR Building is the KARE 11 barn. This is where Kare Channel 11 broadcasts every day of the show.
They usually give out there share of freebees and you can meet celebrities and be on TV. It's a must see.
 
Kinda across the street toward the KARE 11 barn & the DNR Building is the birthing center. Another must see. The birthing center is
an amazing exhibit run by the FFA (Future Farmers of America) I'm a former president of a WI Chapter. They work with members, farmers
and a ton of people to have live births for people to watch. Daily you can see calves, sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits, chickens, turkeys and
nearly every farm animal from Minnesota being born close enough to touch. And very well informed people to answer questions.
Again a must see, for everyone.
 
Next to the birthing center is the coliseum where judging events are held. This including showing the dozen kinds of animals you may see at the fair.
The coliseum ground floor also has a ground floor circular walk of exhibits and people selling everything from Mixed nuts to sometimes hot tubs. And
yes you can get a beer there.
 
On the side of the coliseum is farm sales exhibitors. If you need new cowboy boots, a saddle, fence, a mail box you'll find it on the street.
If you continue down the barns you will see cow exhibits, a thousand pound hog where you can get some pretty neat hog ear hats, horse, sheep, goats, chickens, ducks all the farm animals being shown.
See the animals... it's fun.
 
At this point it is definitely after 9 AM and you can tour the grandstand vendors a few blocks away. And it being early it wont be too crowded. After that there is two great destinations the food building and ethnic village a sky ride away.
Or the north side of the fairgrounds called Machinery hill. there is a sky ride to each which will help you decide where you should go next, we go to both. and there are great shopping and eats both directions.
 
And do go to both. That's a quick overview I could write another 4 pages, put that is part of exploring the fiar we all should do.

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