Weekend Happenings: The Great Minnnesota Get Together

Minnesota State Fair
Thursday, August 25 to Labor Day, Sept 5, 2011
Open 6:00 am to Midnight, but most buildings open at 8:00 am and close at 10:00 pm
Cost:  $12.00 for Adults, $10 for Seniors 65+, $10 Kids 5-12, 5 and under Free; Check for Pre-fair discount tickets available and discount days

Consistently ranked in the Top 5 State Fairs in the USA, the Minnesota State Fair is one event you will not want to miss!  Attracting close to 2 million visitors annually over it's 10-day stint, it boasts one of the highest, if not the highest, State Fair attendance in the nation. 

Minnesotan's love their Fair.  And for good reason.  There is so much to delight in at the Fair.  There is a high emphasis on education with permanent buildings dedicated to teaching young and old alike all sorts of things from robotics to the water cycle.  Like many Fairs, we have the agricultural buildings with one of the highlights being the Miracle of Birth building where fairgoers can watch live births of cows, pigs and sheep. 

The Grandstand consistently features the biggest acts in the entertainment industry.  This year we'll see the likes of Toby Keith, Maroon 5, Train, Reba MacIntyre, Def Leppard, and of course, our own Garrison Keillor will be hosting A Prairie Home Companion live from the Fair.

Yes, it's a great fair.  Everyone has their favorites:  cheese curds, the arts and crafts building, rows and rows of preserves, all the animals, talent shows, the Midway, the Kidway, live broadcasts for local news stations, food on a stick, Machinery row, Sweet Martha's Cookies followed by unlimited cups of milk, and, of course, the butter heads.

There's something for everyone at the Great Minnesota Get Together.  Visit their website where you can get a smartphone app featuring Food Finder, Merch Search, and Fun Finder Tools that you can use on the go.  They also have a facebook page, Twitter feed, and YouTube videos.