The Great Minnesota Get-Together 2012

When I was growing up, my family lived just about a mile from the Minnesota State Fair fairgrounds.  We could hear the concerts, smell the pronto-pups and even see the nightly fireworks from our house.  It's no surprise then, that the fair holds a special place in my memory, and it also signals the end of the summer in a bitter-sweet way.  

 

 Despite having great childhood memories of the fair, I really let the ball drop on this tradition with my own kids.  Sure, we've attended the plethora of small county fairs in our area over the years, but it has been a really long time since Steve and I have brought the kids to The Real Deal. Years since.

Space Tower

Space Tower Riders

Will and Emmie Enjoying the View

This year, however, I managed to get over my grown-up aversion to the crowds and junk-food focus of the fair, and remember how fun it all is when you're a kid.  So, I grabbed my sister in-law and her family, and we planned a day of food, fun and meandering!

Pianos on Parade

  Here are just some of the highlights from our 8 hour visit...We played tunes on a beautiful piano in the fairground park, watched a First Robotics competition and a beekeeping demonstration (not part of the same activity...although that would have been cool...), rode the Gondolas high above the fairgrounds, enjoyed a Bluegrass show, went 350ft in the air on the Very Cool Space Tower, and managed to run into my brother and his family at one point during the day, despite the sea of 164,694 people!

And yes, of course, We Ate Our Way Through The Fair.

Stuff-On-A-Stick

 We're a pretty traditional group, and stayed with mostly recognizable foods, although we did give a moment's consideration to the Lamb "Fries" from Holy Land Deli.  Favorite picks for us were Chan's Teriyaki Chicken On-A-Stick with Lo Mein, Foot-Long Pronto Pups, Fresh French Fries, Tom Thumb Donuts, Fresh Chocolate Cream Puffs (Oh. My. God.), Honey Ice Cream, Dairy Building Malts, Roasted Corn On-The-Cob, Cinnamon Almonds, and lots of ice-cold Lemonade!

Roasted Corn!!!

It was a fantastic day at the fair with plenty of sunshine and a cooling breeze.  No one got lost, no one got crabby...

Taking a rest after lunch

...and everyone wants to go again next year!