State Fair 2019 - See You Next Year

Changing the sign to reflect the dates the 2020 fair.

(Photo from the Minnesota State Fair's Instagram page.)

State Fair 2019 - Attendance

Another years's gone by and a new attendance record.

(Photo from the Minnesota State Fair's Instagram page.)

State Fair 2019 - Fairborne and Fairchild & The 50th Anniversary of the Giant Slide

State Fair 2019 (Second Visit) - Walking Back to the Car

Friday, August 30, 2019

Another great visit to the fair under our belts. It's always fun to be at the fair after dark to enjoy the lights and it was great to spend some time with Mike and Charisse as it's been a few years since we've been to the fair with them. I love the walk back to the parking lot after dark. It's peaceful and dotted with strings of lights and all in all just rather romantic. 

State Fair 2019 (Second Visit) - Ferris wheel

Friday, August 30, 2019

After the Giant Slide Dale and I both decided we were ready to call it a night. The last thing on my list for this trip to the fair was to get some Tom Thumb donuts which I knew I could get at a stand on the way to the north end entrance/exit. We stopped to see the Ferris wheel on our walk back. Neither Dale nor I had any desire to wait in the insanely long line to ride it but had no problem watching it for a couple minutes as it sure is pretty. 

State Fair 2019 (Second Visit) - The Giant Slide

Friday, August 30, 2019

We made it to The Giant Slide and discovered the line for tickets to be very short. Dale surprised me by saying he wanted to go so we purchased a couple tickets, hopped in line, grabbed our mats and made the hike up the stairs. 

This year is the 50th anniversary of the Giant Slide.

The line for tickets was short.

Lots of steps to get to the top.

Obviously it takes longer to get to the top than down to the bottom.

Quite fun for just $2.50. Wow, 1969, 50 years ago. I don't exactly remember it but Mom says I was there. Mom, Dad, Grandma Alice and Grandpa Louie came in the late 1960s starting the year or maybe the year after I was born. I'm still attending more than half a century later. 

State Fair 2019 (Second Visit) - Blue Moon Dine-In Theater

Friday, August 30, 2019

After finishing our Dole Whips at the midway our next stop was the Giant Slide. On our way there we ran into Brenda, an old high school friend of mine from my graduating class. They say you always run into someone you know at the fair. On our first visit we saw someone we know from Buster's Grill and this time it was Brenda and her friend Karen who were taking a little break from watching a country band that was performing near Andy's Grill. My high school reunion is coming up this October so I should see Brenda again there. 

After taking our leave of Brenda and Karen we passed the Blue Moon which was showing an old episode of The Facts of Life. We had to stop and watch for a couple minutes. 80s nostalgia of course.

State Fair 2019 (Second Visit) - Midway

Friday, August 30, 2019

We walked around with our Dole Whips and ended up at the Midway. This ride (and any other ride that rocks or spins) would be a no-no for me. I posted the above video Facebook and someone asked me if I knew the name of the ride. I didn't. Another person suggested it should be called Migraine and Barf. Seems fitting. The person running the ride got on the speaker a couple times while the ride was in motion and was very clear that if anyone took out a cell phone or a vaping device she would shut the ride down. I can see why. I wouldn't want to be hit on the head with one.