Well, I'll start out that I'm not a huge fan of outdoor fairs in swampy, humid Minnesota in the…read moresummer, but I also end up going to a lot of them. Anoka's county fair is a good one... maybe not the best, but a good one. (My favorite so far is the Steele county fair.) Better than the Ramsey county fair. You get the same feel of the State Fair on a smaller and more manageable scale: the smelly animals, the greasy, overpriced food, Midway rides and rigged carnival games, and plenty of crap for sale. Plus, if you go on the right (or wrong) day and time, you'll hear the loud sounds of a demo derby or tractor pull. The upside is that if you're not into roaring engine sounds and the aroma of diesel fuel, the grounds are actually big enough to get a bit away from that. So it sounds like I'm not a fan, but yet somehow I am. I do like this stuff in limited doses. There are also some musical acts as well-- we saw a good rock band, and I wish I could remember their name. Good story! Pro tip: word on the street (and their website) is that you need to get a seat right away for the demo derby. Pro tip 2: you probably won't find me there. Free parking is the in the giant lot across from the main entrance. From the south, turn left at the lights after the bend. From the north, turn right at the lights. Look for people in bright vests and throngs of people waiting to cross the street. There are probably better mappy app directions, but I'll leave those almost rural style directions for now (and forever). Have fun!!! PS: Holiday in Lights in early December is a better way to experience the Anoka fairgrounds, in my opinion, plus it's free admission / free parking, and nachos / popcorn / cider for free or for a donation. That is, if you can tolerate Santa, Jesus, inflatable Minions, and Christmas music at distorted levels over the PA system. I can. It has a small-town winter wonderland feel to it, somewhat vintage as well. Plus it's not 90 freakin' degrees out.

Went to the fair this year it was OK but the seating was not very good for the derby and a couple…read moreof the guys got out a hand and attacked the security people which I didn't find very respectful but other than that great food and they had a lot of old tractors and stuff that were nice to look at you rarely see things like that.

Super crowded, no organization to latern launch... Total overly corwded free for all. It was…read moredifficult to even get to the water with people blocking the way. I'll never do this event again.

This past year (Winter of 2017) I first heard about the Seattle Lantern Light Festival. I'm not…read moresure if the festival was at the Puyallup Fair Grounds before but last winter was the first I heard about it. I have been to a lantern festival about a year or two prior in Spokane and really enjoyed it and so when I heard this one on the radio I jumped at the opportunity to go see it. On top of that this particular festival was much closer so that also made it too hard to pass up. This particular festival was held from November 24th and would have ended around the beginning of January but the festival was so popular the dates were extended to January 14th. The festival started within this time period everyday at 5 p.m. and ended at 10 p.m. on weekdays, 11 p.m. on weekends. I believe some nights towards the end of the opening hours they would set off fireworks as well. There were many similarities to the Spokane lantern festival and it seemed like some of the lanterns I saw at this festival I saw at the Spokane one but there were many other lanterns that were new to me as well. Not only that, at this festival there were performers as well, acrobats specifically which proved to be highly entertaining. There are other activities as well like inflatable buildings to play in, face painting and other activities. This festival also had a market or vendor type section as well where there was a lot of lighted merchandise your could buy, t-shirts, sweatshirts and more artistic vendors that did elaborate and detailed paintings all made with their fingers and hands. There were also other artistic vendors as well but the finger painter is what we found to be really impressive! There was food served here as well but it wasn't terribly authentic. It was the typical vendors that are there when you go to the county fair. But that all may have been during the time we went. The website says they do have authentic food somewhere there. I really do hope that this particular lantern festival returns for future years to come. I got a lot of enjoyment out of it and love taking in the bright, vivid colors of the lanterns as you stroll around in the dark. Tickets for adults for this festival are $23 and children tickets are $18. There are also other ticketing packages as well by checking out their website.

Such a fun place to go with family! We took our 3 year old and he had a blast. They have baby…read moresheep, goats, puppies, chicks, cows, pigs and bunnies. You could even hold the puppies, goats, and baby chicks. They also have a ton of food truck options along with a giant slide and bouncy houses. Majority of activities outside of the animal tent were an additional fee. They did have a fun straw maze and corn pool to play in for free. Staff was super friendly. I appreciated all the hand washing stations they had setup outside the animal tent and by the bathrooms.

Liked it better when the food truck area was free. Now you have to pay 18 to get into the food…read moretrucks. No thanks. That's what we went for, but after 18 to get in and 15 to eat better off going to a restaurant

Great little community event at Island Lake Park. It was super hot out yesterday, but still…read morebearable. Plenty of parking at Deluxe Check or the surrounding lots. Attractions: Smallish carnival- most of the rides are for younger kids which is nice for us. Fun Slide, mini cars, spinning dragons etc. Lake Johannah Fire Station open house with lots of freebies, fire tucks, water hoses, education etc. Nice little open house. Parade Vendors Food Vendors Jump Station for the kids- $5 Some of the prices are ridiculous for things. $7 for a lemonade and $3 for a refill. Good turn out. Nice community event.

Fun free event for the whole family...I was there yesterday and they had an AMAZING band playing…read morecalled THE POWER OF 10. I had so much fun dancing! Loses one star from me because of the expensive food truck items and lemonade...also everything is cash only...so bring cash! There is an ATM on the ground but there's a $3 fee!

Had the pleasure to see The Rainmaker during its last week. The cast members did a fantastic job of…read moremaking you feel like you were right outside their door watching the drama unfold. Exceptional use of a small stage - the set was well laid out & realistic for a period piece. Theatre is well equipped and staffed with people who care that you have a good time. Sad to say I was excited to smell the popcorn when we opened the front door..you can take in to eat while watching the play however we devoured ours beforehand! Recommend this gem for a great date night.

Wonderful theatre here! Great box office staff (we bought tickets this time since the performance…read morewas in high demand) but have done rush tickets before and the box office staff was wonderful. This is the old movie theater that still has a lot of life to it! The productions are amazing and transporting! Concessions available before and at intermission (including beer, wine, pop, coffee, candy, and fresh popcorn)-which they allow you to take into the theater to enjoy.

Winter Outdoor Event & Family Friendly, Private Parties for 6-8 people…read more *Weather Dependent* Open late February- Early March Food truck, fire pits, lights, slides, tubing, ice/snow sculptures, ice bar- alcohol and non alcoholic, music, fire show, cornhole, maze Live music on Thursdays Lots of seating around Hours: 5:30pm- 9 or 10pm depends on day Tickets: Bought our tickets online- cheaper online (There is peak and off peak pricing). Buy tix in advance- might sell out Ticket info: *0-3 years old: Free admission, ticket is not required *4-11 years old: Child Admission ticket required *12 years old or older: General Admission ticket required *Ages 55+ use code "senior26" to receive 15% discount on all tickets purchased **Military & First Responders Discounts** *25% off tickets purchased through VetTix *Code "Hero26" to receive a 15% discount *Need to show ID* Ticket time slot is for entry time- helps with traffic flow but can stay as long as you want (most people stay about an hour) We went around 7:30pm on a Thursday and it was perfect timing- not too busy. We stayed until 9pm. Parking: Free parking is available in the Robin Lot. Enter the Fairgrounds off Hoyt Avenue into Gate 3. Bathrooms: outhouses Tips: Bar does NOT take cash, *Wear boots*, bring hand warmers, no re-entry

Ice Ice Baby....We braved the Minnesota Ice Castles tonight at a casual -2° because apparently we…read morelove our child more than feeling our faces. Multiple layers were not optional; they were a survival strategy. That said, our kiddo had an absolute blast and honestly forgot it was freezing the moment she hit the slides and tubing hill. Nothing felt too wild or intimidating, which made it perfect for kids. The ice sculptures, caverns, and tunnels are genuinely beautiful, and wandering through them feels a bit like stepping into a sparkly frozen fairy tale, just one where your eyelashes might freeze together. There are fire pits to thaw your soul, a food truck and every staff member we met was friendly and cheerful, which is impressive given the temperature. My only hesitation is the price. While the experience is fun and well done, it feels a bit steep for the amount of time and content, and I truly think a lower price point would make it feel like a better value and bring in even more families. Now, if you tell me all proceeds are going toward getting the bad ICE out of Minnesota, I will happily keep donating without a single follow-up question. Cold toes aside, it was a fun, memorable winter outing, especially for kids. Going home now so we can be #fueledbyramen

Don't waste your money! If you have a small child, then sure go. Your child will like the lights…read more As an adult, there is nothing to do or see. The lights aren't even as big as you might imagine they would be. Just don't go.

Have been going here since they've been open years ago. The store is very organized. Signs make it…read morevery easy to compare pricing. They also have a wide selection of groceries to select from . It's pretty much a one stop shop! The employees are extremely helpful if you need help looking for something, and check out is a breeze!

I experienced Taco Palace's product at the Stone Arch Art Festival. Thinking this was the ONLY…read moreMexican food vendor there a "mom & pop" style burrito or tacos sounded like just the ticket. Boy oh boy...I was wrong. The tortilla was big, thick, chewy, (even a little stale) just like it came out of the refrigerator case at the local grocery. the pile of cold cheddar, lettuce, and seasoned meat were less than appetising. It rivaled something from Taco Bell...maybe on a dollar menu at 3am after a drinking binge I could give this burrito another star.