Embark on the Ultimate Minnesota State Fair Journey!

Looking to make the most out of your visit to the Great Minnesota Get Together? Look no further! We’re highlighting some of the best foods, activities and can’t miss items at the Minnesota State Fair this year along with some travel tips to make your experience the best it can be in our latest blog post.

Beat the Crowds at the Minnesota State Fair

There’s nothing worse than getting stuck in tons of traffic, having nowhere to park or a very long wait for a park-and-ride, and arriving at the fair when the crowds are at their thickest and lines are at their longest. We recommend planning to arrive at the fair a bit before the gates open to enjoy the cooler morning weather and lower crowds. This Thursday will be your best bet for lower attendance levels as historic data shows opening day traditionally has the lowest attendance numbers.

Best Times to Visit

The fair is at its busiest between 10am and 2pm daily, and of course the weekends are busier than the weekdays. If you can handle a little rain and can take some time off during the week, you’ll have the lowest crowds to contend with. Friday the 25th and Monday the 28th have a little rain potential this year, but the rest of the run will likely remain dry. If you prefer an overcast day for a reprieve from glare of the sun and reflected heat of the pavement, Saturday the 26th, and the extended second weekend are shaping up to be cloudy days.

Getting To the Minnesota State Fair

While you could opt to deal with the traffic, and risk parking your car in the front yard of a home around the fairgrounds, its always a risk in terms of car-dings and exactly how far your tired feet will have to trek to get back home after a long day at the fair. Park and rides remain available, but do fill up fast, and can leave you stuck on a crowded bus as it makes its rounds to the various drop spots. Make the experience more enjoyable by booking car service to the state fair. You’ll be dropped off and picked up very near the main gates, and we’ll handle the hassles for you! We monitor traffic levels and will do our best to get you through the crowds and on your way to fun efficiently – and you can use the car time to finalize your plans for the day.

Experience the New-Found Flavors

Whether you prefer to eat your way through the fairgrounds, or would rather sip on several delectable concoctions, the list of new foods and beverages for 2023 has some enticing new options. We’ve perused the lists and think these are the highlights to consider:

Feast on the New Foods at the 2023 Minnesota State Fair

There are always the crowd favorite cheese-curds and corn dogs to be had, but this year’s line-up of new foods offers some elevated options we think you’ll be excited about! You’ll find the full new foods list at www.mnstatefair.org/new-this-year/food/

• Fried Butternut Squash Ravioli from Oodles of Noodles

  This dish offers up the fried-food fair tradition with a sophistication beyond a sugar bomb. Served with a side of whipped ricotta and sprinkled with maple cinnamon sugar, these are just the right touch of sweet.

• Galabao from Union Hmong Kitchen

  Experience a taste of the diverse cultures in Minnesota with this dish that brings us a Hmong-style steamed bun from Chef Yia Vang’s mom. Filled with ground pork, egg and special blend of spices, biting into this soft snack will have your taste-buds singing. Pair it with your choice of three sauces to spice it up or enjoy a more Minnesota-mild flavor experience.

• Loaded Lobster Fries from Cafe Caribe

  Fine sea-food meets the famous french-fry with a Caribbean twist this year. Enjoy succulent sections of lobster basted in garlic and herb butter over seasoned french-fries topped with bacon and homemade chipotle mayo drizzle. This dish is easily sharable, though you may not want to!

• Maui-Sota Sticky Ribs from RC’s BBQ

  While a visit to Maui wouldn’t be the same this year as they recover from the wildfires, you can enjoy a Maui themed bite from RC’s BBQ. These ribs are slow-smoked and caramelized in RC’s secret Sticky Huli Huli sauce. Finished with additional Polynesian flavors and topped with refreshing fresh cilantro, you won’t be disappointed.

• Irish Butter Ice Cream Over Brown Sugar Cinnamon Toast from Blue Moon Dine-In Theater

  is the perfect dessert to top off your State Fair culinary journey. The ice cream is made with European-style butter and served on top of a thick slice of brown sugar cinnamon toast. The dish is drizzled with butter syrup and sprinkled with sea salt flakes for that perfect combination of savory and sweet.

The Buzz on the Best New Beverages

Options this year run a wide range of soft and alcoholic options, but all of them were created with the thirst-inducing hot weather in mind! You can find the full beverage list available this year at www.mnstatefair.org/general-info/specialty-brews-and-beverages/.  These ones sound particularly appealing this year:

• Ahnold Palmer Hard Seltzer from Shanghai Henri’s

  Made with whole-leaf black tea and fresh squeezed lemons by Sociable Cider Werks, this hard seltzer twist on the classic Arnold Palmer comes in at 4.5% ABV and is the perfect refreshing option for a hot day at the fair.

• Appleshine Mango Hard Cider from Dino’s Gyros

  If ciders are more your speed, you’ll want to check out the Appleshine Mango Hard Cider offering by Invictus Brewing Co. With a 6% ABV, it packs a little more punch than the Ahnold, but still features fresh fruity flavors for easy drinking. You’ll find notes of mango, apple and champagne and a light and crisp feel.

• Cosmopolitan Martini Slushie from Coasters

  Also coming in at 6% ABV, this twist on a cocktail classic brings in the cooling comfort of the summer slushie from Lift Bridge Brewing. You’ll find refreshing flavors of cranberry and lime that will keep you going through the heat and crowds.

• BFF from The Blue Barn

  IPA’s are always popular, and this one comes from a collaboration of Bauhaus, Forgotten Star and The Freehouse! It’s a mimosa-inspired hazy IPA with a 6.2% ABV. You’ll find it is loaded with the flavors of Bavarian hops, fresh orange peel and notes of tangerine.

• Italian Bellini from Mancini’s Al Fresco

  Mixing Italian tradition with Minnesota’s vineyards, Cannon River Winery brings us a sparkling wine cocktail this year. Made from their Minnesota Sparkling Edelweiss wine and freshly pureed peaches, this one packs the biggest punch with 12%ABV, but will go down so easily – so sip carefully!

Can’t Miss Experiences at the Minnesota State Fair

The food and beverages are great, and the people watching is first-class throughout the fair, but the exhibits and shows are massive memory-makers too. From the animal barns to the merch mart, you’ll weave your way through an impresssive array of fine-arts, live performances, educational opportunities and fun. There’s way too much to list here, but these are a few of our perennial favorites:

• The Fine Arts Building

  Heading into the main gates and immediately to the right you’ll head past the education buildings and find the fine-arts building. An amazing array of talented artists call Minnesota home, and the juried competition that results in this exhibit will leave you in awe of the creativity that surrounds us – and you’ll be seeing pieces you won’t find on your visits to the local museums.

• The Waterstone Garden

  This area of the fairgrounds provides a natural oasis from the pavement packed areas your feet will pound the rest of the day. Featuring majestic evergreens and a perfectly composed combination of natural and exotic perennials, you’ll find fantastic inspirations for your own landscaping and gardening plans.

• The Eco Experience

  Whether you’re all in to make as many changes to your daily life as possible, or just like some high-tech tips that can make your life easier, there really is something for everyone at the Eco Experience. Minnesota is a leader in ecological advances, and provides a great opportunity to learn about all the progress at the Minnesota State Fair. You’ll find the latest in healthy cooking, green technology and renewable energy advancements at the Eco Experience. You’ll find scheduled interactive demonstrations throughout the day each day. Find the schedule at www.mnstatefair.org/location/eco-experience/

• The West End Market

  For those that love to shop, you’ll find an impressive array of local small businesses and artisans among the booths in the West End (and some of the best food and beverage options as well!). These shops know you don’t want to lug around purchases throughout the fairgrounds, so most have options to hold for pickup or deliver your purchases, and there are some really unique and interesting finds here every year.

• Live Performances

  With over 900 shows from over 100 acts throughout the 12-day run of the fair, there is so much to take in. You’ll find nationally famous rock and country artists at the Grand Stand, local music, the amateur talent show, comedy and more. (The Minnesota State Fair boasts 11 stages so there’s always something to entertain you.) Then there are the traditional demonstrations and competitions to take in too – like the All-Star Stunt Dogs Splash or the Timberworks Lumberjack Show. Stop by the dairy barn in the early days and you can even watch the famous butter sculptures come to life. Find a daily schedule and full listing by category or location on the State Fair’s website.

Safe Travels

We love the Great Minnesota Get-together, like so many of our fellow Minnesotans. We are committed to bringing you safely and comfortably to and from the Minnesota State Fair on your preferred schedule. Our team of office staff and chauffeurs coordinate with the event planners and watch daily traffic to adjust and mitigate traffic delays as much as possible. We’d love to be a part of your fair experience this year, and have vehicles available for small and large groups. Reserve online or give us a call to book your ride to the Fair today! 612-267-2552.