The Fairest Days Of Summer

I get tingly this time of year. It’s Minnesota State Fair time, an annual highlight for our family.

But my appreciation for all things fair is not homegrown. I’m a city girl whose food magically appeared in a well-lit grocery store—a girl who used to snub all things farm.

When I spent weeks on bed rest while pregnant with our first child, I discovered KARE at the Fair on television. I was enthralled. The whole thing looked amazing on TV.

That’s when I announced to the world: “I want to go to the fair!”

My expectations were generously met and we haven’t missed a fair since.

But it’s a big event and can barely be appreciated all in one day. I’ve taken notes from fair-going experts and learned from experience how to properly plan a trip to the fair.

Here are some tips.

First, buy admission and ride tickets in advance.

If you’re going on a discount day, check if gate admission for that day (especially for children) is cheaper than pre-fair admission. Buy accordingly.

And grab an extra pre-fair admission ticket to cover parking. (Or use the park and ride buses.) Pre-purchased Midway/Kidway tickets are a great way to stay on a budget. Get a pre-purchased amount and tell the kiddos, “When they’re gone, they’re gone.”

Start early when crowds are smaller and buildings are easier to navigate. We like to get a head start by having breakfast at the fair. Great breakfasts abound at places like Blue Moon Dine In, Coasters, or French Meadow Bakery & Café.

The exhibits in the Fine Arts, Creative Activities and buildings are my favorite. We head in that direction first before the kids get squirrely.

I’ve learned the hard way that those must-see buildings aren’t open late. Other must-sees are crop art in the Agriculture Building and baby animals in the Miracle of Birth Barn.

But sadly, my attempts to raise completely farm-friendly kids haven’t been entirely successful.

The miracle of birth proved too much for one our sons. After witnessing a calf being born, he needed to lie down in the shade for close to 20 minutes to recover. He also doesn’t appreciate basic barn smells.

So sometimes we skip the animal barns. Hey, at least I tried.

The entire family still loves the food, entertainment, rides and games. The web-based food finder is amazing. There’s even a mobile phone app with food and fun finders and a map!

We’ve mapped fair days based on what foods we want to try. I recommend the fried pickles, crab cakes at Café Caribe and turkey sandwiches at Turkey-to-Go. Experiment and discover your favorites.

A pre-purchased coupon book is worthwhile for experienced fair-goers. But novices might end up chasing their tails trying to locate the deals.

The last thing you want is to ruin your fair day with too much stress. Plan ahead. Settle on a few must-sees and must-eats. Scope out places to rest.

And remember, if you don’t see it all, I’ll see you there next year!