State Fair 2024 - The Fair at Night

Friday, August 23, 2024

I love being at the Fair after dark. 

After dark it cools off a little bit.

And the neon lights are just so pretty. 

State Fair 2018 (Second Visit) - Skyride

Sunday, September 2, 2018

We wanted to we didn't take the Skyride but didn't.  The lines were annoyingly long. I guess we didn't want to ride it that badly.

State Fair 2016 - Skyride

Friday, September 2, 2016

One of these days I'm gonna ride this thing.

Fair 2015 - Visit #1: Crowds Galore

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Upon entering the fair it was visibly apparent how crowded it actually was. None of that deterred us from doing everything we wanted to do. For such large group we really did a good job negotiating getting around to all the sites/sights we wanted to see. 

State Fair 2014 - View of the Midway from Martha's

Skyride 2014

 Sunday, August 31, 2014

Skyride

Was just made aware that this year marks the Skyride's 50th anniversary. It's my favorite ride.

Photo: Schawang Photo Company, 1964

2013 Attendance Record - Actually, All Time Attendance Record

Sunday September 1, our second Fair visit of the year, actually turned out to set a record. Dale and I knew it was crowded that day but we didn't realize just how crowded. It turns out 236,197 people showed up that day which is a record for the largest single-day attendance in State Fair history.

State Fair 2013 (2nd Trip) - Two in One Year!

My hope to visit the Fair a second time this year came true! Dale, bless him, agreed to take me again. We had an amazing time and also bumped into Donna, a colleague of mine from school, and her two daughters.

State Fair 2013 - Skyride 2

A view of the merry-go-round and the Giant Slide from the Skyride.

State Fair 2013 - Skyride

This is a most amazing ride and I've always loved it.  As a kid it was fun waiting in line and trying to predict which color car you would end up in. This year I noticed a car or two that were painted white with black patches to look like the hide of a cow. I was kind of hoping for that one but I think we ended up in a green one. I love quickly hopping in when your car is ready as the attendants hold the door open for you and then shut you in. They hold your car until they're ready to let you go to start your climb to join the other cars. It's magical to listen to the hum as you ride and watch everything that's going on beneath you as you make your way over the Fair. Dale and I always hold hands.

State Fair 2012 - Skyride

Didn't ride the Skyride this visit but got some video footage of it. Sadly, it doesn't look as good on Blogger as it does on my computer.

Winter Visit Part 3 - Other Sights

It was a gorgeous, sunny winter day at the Fairgrounds. Strangely warm with no snow.

Top photo: Watertower

2nd photo from top: Giant Slide

3rd photo from top: Skyride

Bottom photo: Watertower

MN State Fair 2011 - Even More Skyride Photos

The return trip going west yielded some nice pictures of the evening sky. Photos from top: 1. The evening sky. 2. The Grandstand. 3. The Midway.

MN State Fair 2011 - More Skyride Photos

On our first fair trip for 2011 Dale and I took the Skyride. I got some really good pictures as we headed east.

The Giant Slide.

Approaching the Ag/Hort building.

A closer shot of the Ag/Hort building.

Above photos taken Friday August 26, 2011.

The Skyride Part 1

I love the Skyride! It's one of my favorite things to do at the fair. This photo was taken by me just before Dale and I got in line to buy tickets. We opted for the round trip ride. The green car on the right is leaving the station and the blue car on the left is coming in. We didn't have to wait very long and when our turn came we were put in a green car.

The Fair 2011 (First Visit) Part 9 - Skyride

This ride is one of my favorites as it's just plain fun!

Skyride 2009 Part 2

These photos were taken on our 2009 trip to the fair. The view is from the Skyride car that Dale and I rode in. In the top photo you can see the full moon near the top of the picture. In the bottom photo you can see the Giant Slide in the middle of the picture.

Skyride 2009

The Skyride is and aerial lift ride. Fairgoers are carried across the fair in different colored cars. This is a permanent ride at the fair and has been around as long as I can remember. It's my favorite. These photos were taken on our 2009 trip to the fair.