Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Minnesota > Minneapolis - St. Paul
 [Register]
Minneapolis - St. Paul Twin Cities
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
Reply Start New Thread
 
Old 08-24-2011, 11:28 PM
 
16,374 posts, read 30,162,208 times
Reputation: 25427

Advertisements

I am making my first trip to the Minnesota State Fair ... since 1987. I loved the fair back then but had a four day stay when my vehicle died.

The fair has a great website and I downloaded a lot of the info - daily schedules, park and ride locations, freebies, etc. We will be staying near MOA and planning to park OFF-SITE at one of the locations served by the shuttle buses.

We are planning to spend an entire day at the fair - arriving at 9 am and staying until we have seen everything ... or are ready to drop.

Any suggestions or recommendations??
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 08-25-2011, 01:04 AM
 
Location: Bel Air, California
23,769 posts, read 28,942,614 times
Reputation: 37326
unquestionably the best parking available is on the U of M campus at the Gortner Ave Ramp, a short walk to the Midway for $8.

University of Minnesota - Parking and Transportation Services
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 08-25-2011, 04:06 AM
 
20,793 posts, read 61,176,685 times
Reputation: 10693
There are free park and ride lots all over the metro, don't pay for parking or bus transportation when you can get it for free. We used to park at the Snelling/94 lot but that is closed this year because of construction.

The Miracle of Birth building is newer and pretty fun. You can go watch farm animals give birth-cows, pigs, etc.

Food-well that is why you go to the fair really. Everything is "on a stick". I think I read this year that they even have deep fried butter on a stick.

If you have a smartphone, there is a good app to download that has a food finder, etc. on it. It's pretty good.

There is a parade everyday at 2:00.

The free concerts are excellent. Depending on when you are going, one group we always try to see is Tonic Sol Fa--love them. They are an a capella group from St. Cloud, mostly, and they are amazing. They are there on Sept 2-3rd.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 08-25-2011, 10:36 PM
 
Location: Midwest
164 posts, read 600,080 times
Reputation: 66
Park for free on Roselawn Ave, east of Snelling and just walk through the U of MN farm fields one-half mile to Larpenteur and enter the fair. Must haves are cheese curds,Tom Thumb mini donuts, and a trip to the milk booth.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 08-27-2011, 08:14 AM
 
1,114 posts, read 2,418,116 times
Reputation: 550
I'll hop in here with a question as well. We're headed down to the fair next weekend and planning to make a day of it. However, we'll have our 6-month-old daughter who gets a little over-stimulated from time to time. Any suggestions for a quieter place either on the grounds or nearby where we could take her when she needs a nap or a break?

I don't think I've ever been to the MN State Fair. I've done the IA state fair for the last few years (not this year), so I'll be curious to compare the two!
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 08-27-2011, 09:12 AM
 
20,793 posts, read 61,176,685 times
Reputation: 10693
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1stpontiac View Post
I'll hop in here with a question as well. We're headed down to the fair next weekend and planning to make a day of it. However, we'll have our 6-month-old daughter who gets a little over-stimulated from time to time. Any suggestions for a quieter place either on the grounds or nearby where we could take her when she needs a nap or a break?

I don't think I've ever been to the MN State Fair. I've done the IA state fair for the last few years (not this year), so I'll be curious to compare the two!
I am pretty sure, somewhere, there is a "family" area for nursing babies, etc. I think it is set up with recliners and toys, etc. I can't remember where I saw that though--look at the fair website.

Our kids were there on Thursday. Our daughter used the fair app on her Iphone and she said it was awesome because it showed you where you were, what was around you and you could look up what you wanted to see or eat and it would direct you there . It's a free app.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 08-27-2011, 10:48 AM
 
812 posts, read 2,166,783 times
Reputation: 314
The nursing area is in the family block out past the Eco Experience.

The North side of the fair doesn't seem as high traffic as the central area.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 08-27-2011, 10:48 AM
 
1,072 posts, read 2,909,861 times
Reputation: 611
i live in edina. where is the best place to park and ride for me?
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 08-27-2011, 10:58 AM
 
20,793 posts, read 61,176,685 times
Reputation: 10693
Quote:
Originally Posted by daboywonder2002 View Post
i live in edina. where is the best place to park and ride for me?
Southdale??
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 08-27-2011, 12:41 PM
 
Location: M I N N E S O T A
14,799 posts, read 21,436,228 times
Reputation: 9263
My favorite thing to do is the Eco Experience
Living Green - Eco Experience - Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Hope you have a great time. I also recommend trying Fried Pickles they taste AMAZING
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:


Settings
X
Data:
Loading data...
Based on 2000-2020 data
Loading data...

123
Hide US histogram

Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Minnesota > Minneapolis - St. Paul
Similar Threads
View detailed profiles of:

All times are GMT -6.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top