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.

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

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.

Beautiful pine trees, hot chocolate, hay rides--visiting Hansen Tree Farm to buy our Christmas tree…read moreis an annual tradition our family genuinely looks forward to! As a former Floridian, we had never visited a pine tree farm until moving to Minnesota. We first came across this one after booking a family photo shoot, and our photographer set the location here. Hansen Tree Farm does not do professional photography sessions, but they do allow outside professional photographers to bring clients for shoots, with pre-approved permission by the farm. When we arrived, we were immediately blown away by the beauty of the farm and the warmth of the staff. We liked it so much that we came back the very next day to pick out our tree. The farm is HUGE! Upon arrival, you're given a map and a saw. The staff is incredibly helpful and patient, always willing to guide you and answer questions. I remember feeling a bit overwhelmed during our first visit when I saw all the different tree types listed on the map. I had no idea there were so many varieties. We took our time wandering through the clearly labeled sections of the farm, followed the map, and slowly got familiar with the different species. Once you find the tree you love, you cut it yourself using the saw provided. From there, you carry it to your vehicle and drive slowly toward the exit signs. Attendants are usually driving around the farm if you need help. It's a short drive, and that's where staff shake the tree and securely tie it to your vehicle. All trees are priced the same, regardless of size or species. If you have time to hangout, purchasing a tree includes one free hot dog or sausage per person, redeemable inside the gift shop near the exit. Free hot chocolate and/or apple cider is also included. During colder months, there are mini bonfires set up for guests to sit around and warm up. A hay ride is also included which takes you around the entire farm. I've visited on days when they've outdoor glass blowing demonstrations and local musicians playing inside the gift shop. The trees themselves are wonderful. With proper care, ours have typically lasted over six weeks. The fresh pine scent fills the house and, while it softens over time, the tree never loses its beauty. Shedding varies depending on the species, at least that's what I noticed, but we've never dealt with excessive shedding, bugs, or anything unexpected while having the tree in our home. It's easy to turn the visit into a full experience. Even if you don't plan to buy a tree, Hansen Tree Farm is still worth the visit.

We love our only tradition since moving to Minnesota in 2020 of going to Hansen Tree Farm for our…read moretree The place has been in business since 1952-I will tell you that each year we are so very impressed with the staff They are all so welcoming and seem so genuinely happy to be there They have lots of awards and accolades as well Flat $150 pretax for all trees the staff will shake, bail and tie your tree to your vehicle for you

Northland School of Dance is literally our second home!! After my daughter's previous studio had…read moreto close we found Northland and we're welcomed with open arms! My daughter has created so many new, happy, memories and feels safe and loved there. She was even able to be a buddy to an amazing special needs dancer The teachers and owners are so incredibly amazing and the parents are so supportive of ALL of the dancers there

5/30/2023 I think its time for a quick update here. My…read moreoldest daughter (with special needs) still dances here. I would have pulled her out but she has a real hard time with change. We have been trying to contact the owners about tickets to her dance recital but they have not returned our messages. We have been trying for over a week. We only want the tickets because we were required to buy them with our contract. And we would not miss her dancing for anything. (BTW, they charged us $25.00 per ticket. And we were required to purchase 5). When they finally answered their phone, we were informed that we were not welcome there, as they had read my first review, And we would not be getting our tickets. So I went down there in person. They did give me the tickets, and then proceeded to kick me off the premises. They also stated that they were going to call all other studios in the area and (I'm paraphrasing) basically have my youngest daughter blackballed. They also told me that they looked up my business and were going to write bad reviews in an attempt to put me out of business. I think that right there is proof of my earlier statement of them becoming the bullies. After all of this I think it needs to be said again. Do yourself a favor. There are LOTS & LOTS of dance studios in town. And most of them are higher quality than this one. Do your homework. You definitely want to steer clear of this one. One last thing. I see 2 - 5 star reviews after this from other "supposed" mothers that love this place. I will say that I'm glad they are happy there. We were happy as well. but once things go wrong, those reviews will change. I will update again after the recital.

Holly was very authentic and real with me in a very positive and affirming way. I thoroughly…read moreenjoyed my session with her and I'm looking forward to another when the time happens. Her insights and the reading made a lot of sense to me. I'm looking forward to growing more as a person.

She is amazing! She took time to read and get to know me. She gave me great advice and made me…read moreexcited for the future . I 10/10 recommend her and her services .

We have been coming for a few years. Great for vegetables! The vendors selling flowers and plants…read moreare good also. The bread guy is a bit overpriced. We keep asking for the raspberry ricotta bread and he never has it so we have given up on him. Natasha's piroges, her piroges and blini are good. We keep asking her for borscht and she replies "next week I have borscht!". Then she doesn't have it or is gone the next week. Luckily we do errands on Tuesday afternoon also so it isn't a complete bust. Bring cash or you pay a fee for market bucks. Mostly just the produce vendors that don't take credit.