Minnesota State Fair Itinerary
As much as we love the solitude of nature and eating healthy, we also love our traditions, and The Minnesota State Fair is one of them. Of course, we do it Golden Guides style.
Here’s how we navigate the Great Minnesota Get-Together. This year, we set out on a mission to find the best vegetarian food at the fair. There were so many NEW foods to try, so we’ve rounded up our favorites. Let this be your guide to food, sites, and what not to miss at the 2023 MN State Fair.
✨ Top Tips ✨
Arrive early ideally on a weekday, the first week of the Fair.
Bring a water bottle, there are hydration stations throughout the fair where you can refill.
Bring wet wipes, extra plates for sharing, and hand cleaner.
Plan ahead and hit your favorite foods and attractions first.
Get the FairEats and MN State Fair apps
Wear comfortable walking shoes.
Have a cooler in your car filled with lots of ice, water, and damp washcloths infused with essential oil - so refreshing after a day at the Fair.
The parking lots open at 6:00 a.m. Gates open at 7:00 a.m. The Animal Barns and most Food Stands open at 8:00 a.m.
GOLDEN GUIDES ITINERARY
1. Baba’s
We try the Falafelicious; falafel, fried eggplant, warm chickpeas, pickled cabbage, Arabic pickles, tahini, and sumac on top of the best hummus I have ever had.
Thankfully, they sell their hummus in grocery stores too.
2. Pet Pavilion
We always make a stop to visit the dogs. Today we watched a dog obedience demonstration, impressive.
3. Animal Barns
We love seeing all of the animals and the 4-H kids getting them ready for judging. Sometimes we even catch a horse show.
We ordered a NEW dish, Nqaij; chilled rice noodles with lemongrass and turmeric tofu, served with a lemongrass, scallion dipping sauce. Super flavorful! And a 5 spice Tea.
They also sell jarred sauces to bring home and they are all so good - Crunchy Chile Oil, Kea Txob Pepper Sauce, Lemongrass Scallion.
5. Holy Land
A NEW food from Holy Land this year is Basil Hummus. It’s bright green and fragrant, topped with a spicy red pepper, and walnut sauce., delish!
6. The International Bazaar Stage
Watching free performances at The International Bazaar Stage is a nice break.
It’s a tradition to get a Vegan Corn Dog with mustard. Fresh from the fryer, so good!
The Agriculture Building is a must-see. The giant pumpkins are pretty impressive.
9. The Hanger
The Hanger is a great spot to sit in the shade with a local, craft beer and listen to live music.
We tried a NEW food, the Crunchy Balboa; a deep-fried tortilla, filled with vegan roast beef, bacon, and cheese sauce, with peppers, onions and hash brown patty, and a side of spicy sour cream. You would never know this was vegan. Piping hot and bursting with flavor.
11. Afro Deli
This is a NEW food vendor this year. We get a Veggie Samosa; a pastry filled with lentils, onion, garlic, and cilantro and deep-fried. The dipping sauce is a spicy blend of cilantro, lemon, and chili peppers - spicy goodness! We also get Somali Tea. It’s spiced with cardamom, cinnamon, clove, ginger, and nutmeg.
They have so many options for fun little hand pies. We chose The Onion and Gouda. The onions are caramelized with Lift Bridge Chestnut Ale and the results are a savory flavor bomb. Lucky for us they have a shop in Stillwater and we immediately made plans to get more.
13. Mouth Trap
Not all cheese curds are the same, and these are the best at the Fair. Made with cheese curds from Ellsworth, WI, delivered daily, fresh from the creamery.
14. DNR Building
It’s cool to see the fish we swim with and the displays of animals. So much diversity in this area.
15. Butterfly House
We tried something new and visited the Butterfly House. It’s surprisingly magical to have butterflies land on us.
16. Blue Barn
This NEW food of Fried Halloumi with Hot Honey and Honeycomb Crunch did not disappoint. Sweet and salty and oh so gooey.
17. Sweet and Selfie Experience
For a fun, air-conditioned stop, we visit some larger-than-life candy. This new installation features candy trivia and history in an interactive way.
We take a break from walking and end the day with a ride on The Great Big Wheel, one of the tallest traveling Ferris Wheels in North America, it takes us to 156 feet, offering incredible views.
