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 (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 (First Visit) - Gyros

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Dale and I got some gyros at a stand under the big Ferris wheel. The gyros had lamb, onion, tomato, and sauce and sure were delicious. 

When we finished eating we clomped around and explored some more. 

State Fair 2018 (First Visit) - Ferris Wheel

Saturday, August 25, 2018

State Fair 2017

Friday, September 1, 2017

Disappointed I was only able to make it to the fair once this year. I was hoping to match my record of 3 visits back in 2014.  Alas, multiple visits were not meant to be this time around. With kids in the district where I teach starting school now before Labor Day and with teacher workshop week overlapping the first few days of the fair, it's hard to get there as much as I'd like.  Never-the-less, the one visit Dale and I made this year was hugely enjoyable - lots of food and Garrison Keillor's (supposedly) last appearance at the Grandstand made it well worth while. Of course, there's always next year. The Fair still makes me feel like a kid and having to wait for another year is just as hard as it was when I was a lad. 

State Fair 2017 - The Great Big Wheel

Friday, September 1, 2017

Got some shots of the new Ferris Wheel from our Grandstand seats for Garrison Keillor's Minnesota Show.

The Great Big Wheel, as it's called, is one of the tallest Ferris wheels in all of North America. It's 15 stories tall and at the highest point a rider is 150+ feet high. I've heard tell that it takes 12 trailers to move it around to different fairs.

State Fair 2017 - The Great Big Wheel

Friday, September 1, 2017

This photo of the Ferris wheel taken as Dale and I were leaving the fair. It looks great at night. No, we did not ride it. Will it be back next year?

State Fair 2017 - Attendance

Monday, September 4, 2017

Looks like the day Dale and I visited this year was a record breaking day. Friday, September 1, 2017 had an attendance of 187,066 people which is 4,140 more people than the same day last year and is a new attendance record!

Fair 2015 - Ferris Wheel

From a photo taken August 29, 2015

Fair 2015 - Visit #1: Mighty Midway

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Next stop: The Mighty Midway! Ashanka took Shay on a roller coaster. They next hit the new 4-story funhouse pictured below. Next Mike took them on the Ferris wheel. We didn’t have to wait too long for rides at all.