The Minnesota State Fair Scores Again
Last Saturday, I attended another Minnesota State Fair, my 21st annual trip to the "Great Minnesota Get-Together" only one day after beginning my 29th trip around the sun (or technically, my 30th I suppose, perish the thought). It's a late summer tradition that I'll be sure to maintain until the pry that pronto pup from my cold, dead hand.
There is a wealth of attractions at the Minnesota State Fair, but it's hard to describe its appeal to anyone who hasn't attended. There's an intangible energy that one feels just being there, and you can feel it just walking through the gate. I felt that way the first time I went to the fair back in 1986 and ended up needing a security escort to help remove my petrified nine-year-old self from the haunted mansion.....and I felt that way just last year while attending the free concert from the 1980's country group Restless Heart, who wrapped up their show with a blazing performance of the hard rockin' "Big Dreams in a Small Town", one of my all-time favorite tunes. Every year in between, the Minnesota State Fair has come through for me in one way or another with some good times and great memories.
Fortunately, I'm not alone in my acclaim for the Minnesota State Fair. Several reports last week indicated that most state fairs across the nation are struggling while Minnesota's continues to break past attendance records. Two weeks ago, I had a chance to visit Iowa's State Fair, often competing with Minnesota for "best state fair in the country" designation for the first time. I gotta say....it was pretty impressive. The fairgrounds was probably only half the size of Minnesota's, but they packed in the crowd and offered some uniquely interesting exhibits. Minnesota's fair will always be my favorite, but you can be sure I'll return to Iowa's next year as well. As a fair fan, I feel pretty lucky to have access to the two most successful state fairs in the country.
I'm noticing from daily attendance records on the Minnesota State Fair websites that crowds this year have been off a bit from 2005. While the small reduction in attendance is far from troubling at this point, I'm hopeful it's not indicative of a decline in interest. It most likely isn't, but I still have to give a push to my Minnesota readers to make the trip up Snelling Avenue at some point in the next five days to enjoy the Minnesota State Fair. It's a trip well worth your time and admission cost.
There is a wealth of attractions at the Minnesota State Fair, but it's hard to describe its appeal to anyone who hasn't attended. There's an intangible energy that one feels just being there, and you can feel it just walking through the gate. I felt that way the first time I went to the fair back in 1986 and ended up needing a security escort to help remove my petrified nine-year-old self from the haunted mansion.....and I felt that way just last year while attending the free concert from the 1980's country group Restless Heart, who wrapped up their show with a blazing performance of the hard rockin' "Big Dreams in a Small Town", one of my all-time favorite tunes. Every year in between, the Minnesota State Fair has come through for me in one way or another with some good times and great memories.
Fortunately, I'm not alone in my acclaim for the Minnesota State Fair. Several reports last week indicated that most state fairs across the nation are struggling while Minnesota's continues to break past attendance records. Two weeks ago, I had a chance to visit Iowa's State Fair, often competing with Minnesota for "best state fair in the country" designation for the first time. I gotta say....it was pretty impressive. The fairgrounds was probably only half the size of Minnesota's, but they packed in the crowd and offered some uniquely interesting exhibits. Minnesota's fair will always be my favorite, but you can be sure I'll return to Iowa's next year as well. As a fair fan, I feel pretty lucky to have access to the two most successful state fairs in the country.
I'm noticing from daily attendance records on the Minnesota State Fair websites that crowds this year have been off a bit from 2005. While the small reduction in attendance is far from troubling at this point, I'm hopeful it's not indicative of a decline in interest. It most likely isn't, but I still have to give a push to my Minnesota readers to make the trip up Snelling Avenue at some point in the next five days to enjoy the Minnesota State Fair. It's a trip well worth your time and admission cost.
posted by Mark at 4:56 PM
3 Comments:
Sounds like fun! Even though I'm in Texas with plans to return to California, I'd love to visit Minnesota's and Iowa's state fairs. I will probably visit on a cross-country trip; one of my goals in life is to visit all 50 states (with 21 seen so far).
I like fairs myself, though in my 23 years I have only been to one, the Orange County Fair in California. I ironically haven't been to the Texas State Fair since I moved here in 1995 even though it is in Dallas, not far from where I live. I may check it out this year. (It runs from late September to late October.) It is easily recognizable by the Ferris Wheel but mostly by the towering Big Tex statue!
(I haven't been to California's state fair because it is in Sacramento, not exactly close to my old neighborhood.)
A friend of mine from Texas says great things about the Texas State Fair. Enjoy your visit if you attend. And definitely see if you can make it to the Minnesota State Fair at some point in the coming years.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Post a Comment
<< Home