Minnesota State Fair Preview 2023
The end of summer is nigh -- let's finish strong
Today’s Just the Preview!
When you become a Minnesotan, you are quickly made aware of an event we all just HAVE TO LIKE and that is the Minnesota State Fair. The state is physically large but not densely populated. I think the only events where people embrace being crammed together are the State Fair or Election Day. We humbly believe we top the charts in both. The greatest State Fair in the land and we usually lead the nation in voter participation.
This is just a preview. It is the time of year to plan to be there for stuff we don’t always get to see. The Fair opened last Thursday. The weather Gods were kind as the previous two days were the hottest August days in Minnesota in the last 75 years according to the National Weather Service. We had some 80F dewpoints in the metro area. Absurd. Only two days from today is a great State Fair Day. Wednesday, August 30th is the day of the llama and alpaca fashion show!!!. In general, Wednesday is show day for the animals so it should be a blast. Last year I captured a crazy candid video of a little boy sleeping with his cow. I hope to manage something similar this year in the animal barns. No reason to look back unless you like the Fair as much as I do!
I’ve already surveyed the new foods this year. Don’t worry, it does not appear there are very many healthy options threatening to ruin the traditions of excess and everything on a stick. Here’s a link to the new foods this year. Here are two creative new foods (#1 - Charcuterie???) & (#2 -Bagel-croissant “State Fairified” ).
Why Minnesota Makes This a Big Deal?
A well-run State Fair fits into the Scandinavian mindset — ours is run with ruthless efficiency. Never a dime of tax dollars to support it. The site is permanent and used in the off-season for swap meets and the like. Every building and booth and barn and stadium looks like it was recently touched up. The buildings are old but tidy and always ready for the twelve days at the end of summer.
The Twin Cities are home to over three million people, more than half of the population of the state. The University of Minnesota (50,000+ students), the State Fair (2M+ over 12 days), and the State Capital are all nearby. It is an interesting vibe when one location serves all three purposes.
Was it Crowded at the Fair?
The grounds are large. The busiest one-day attendance was a Saturday before Labor Day which drew 270,000+ people one year. That’s four Vikings games. The food is better, and you get to be outside! A busy weekend at the Fair draws a larger crowd than the four days of Woodstock! As a PSA, I checked the attendance thus far. Thursday through Saturday attendance was 483,918. All this despite opening day temperatures of 95F and high humidity.
What’s Non-Negotiable?
The llama fashion show is a must-see this year.
It is hard to resist the butter carving. The master carver shaves 80-pound blocks of butter for the top ten finishers during the Fair. What’s not to like? They’ve been carving butterheads since 1954. Here’s a video about “Princess Kay of the Milky Way”.
The seed art contests are amazing. Lots of rules as you would expect from Scandinavians. Ornate works of art made TOTALLY from seeds and certain plant parts.
We always make time for the University of Minnesota section in the Agriculture and Horticulture building. Our old home of nearly 30 years was in the Southeast suburbs and was home to the University’s agriculture extension. I’m sure they play a part in what new apples Minnesota has in store for the world. It is one of the few healthy foods I always get at the Fair!
It would be a blast to see Duran Duran at the Fair but they are performing on the 31st.
The rest of the plan is just to enjoy it, surf with the crowd, and discover some things we’ve never seen before.
Crowds & Traditions
The Fair is fabulously popular. While the Texas State Fair manages a slightly larger number of visitors most years, that is mostly due to extending its fair to 24 days. By any measure, a 5.7 million population state manages similar attendance in half the time of a state of 28+ million. I would imagine the BBQ and the rodeo is better in Texas but not much else. My conclusion is someone is desperate to say everything is bigger in Texas. Perhaps, in this case, it is only interminably longer.
Final Thoughts To Get Me Amped Up
If you can’t get enough of the State Fair vibe, here is last year’s preview.
If you made it this far, a friend shared this story about the State Fair tradition of carved butter heads. Where these three former contestants ended up is a great story.
If you wonder how one concession can sell 36M cookies over twelve days, here is one of the secrets.
The Poll & Music
Who’s better than the Boss to provide a guide to enjoying the Fair?
Llama fashion show?! Haha. I love this piece. It’s important to learn about cultures from other states in this great nation. Are people generally friendly at the fair?
I'd go for the llama fashion show and also the seed art. Plus, I have a weakness for carnival food, which luckily I don't indulge often. I enjoy our Oregon state fair, but I must admit its been years since I've attended.