The Minnesota State Fair often called “The Great Minnesota Get-Together” was first held in 1859, one year after Minnesota became a state. This year, the fairgrounds boasted 1,925,904 attendees from Aug. 22-Sept. 2, according to the official site.
There are about 300 food concessions that make around 500 different dishes. The Fair showcases the best of the state’s art, agriculture, and entertainment. The must-visits vary slightly each year. Number one would have to be Sweet Martha’s Cookies, which is a “cookie empire,” producing three million cookies each day of the fair within eight stands. They have been selling fresh-baked cookies for over 40 years now.
Sophomore Sofia Rivera has been attending the fair since she was very young. She and her family always make a stop at Sweet Martha’s as well as going on the Giant Slide. Every year Rivera looks forward to spending time with friends and family at the fair.
“It’s always a lot of fun to plan out a day with a bunch of people, but it’s also great to just lean into the spontaneity that comes with a day at the fair,” Rivera said.
Another recommended stop? The Fried Pickles stand has been open since 1998 and has become increasingly more popular. They’ve been known to sell 60,000 to 70,000 pickles during the fair.
Sophomore Norah Evens typically goes to the fair once or twice a year. Fried Oreos are a part of her top five: “I really enjoy them because they are underrated.”
Evens looks forward to trying new foods and seeing people she knows while there.
Another popular place is Fresh French Fries. The stand has been serving for 50 years and has been voted “Best French Fries in America” by Gourmet Magazine. The stand goes through about seven semi trailers worth of potatoes each year.
Junior Frances Conrod-Wovcha recommends going to the stand that makes giant egg rolls on a stick and cream cheese wontons. “They are the best egg rolls and wontons that I have ever eaten.”
Conrod-Wovcha typically goes to the fair twice each year: once with her friends and once with her family.
“My brothers and I submit artwork to the K-12 State Fair art competition,” Conrod- Wovcha said.
The Minnesota State Fair is a beloved tradition for many, offering a wide variety of food and experiences for everyone. Five days broke attendance records this year.
This story was updated 9/13 to create more streamlined transitions in the copy.
