Live music. Booze. Mechanical bull riding. Booze. Corn dogs. Booze. People watching. Booze. Fresh…read moreAir. Booze. Walleye on a stick. Booze. Stupid drunk girls. Booze. What's not to love? Recommend walking rather than attempting to park... and also wear comfortable closed toe shoes so stupid drunk people don't step on your feet. It gets crowded.

It was our first time this year, and I was surprised at how long we lasted! We got wristbands in…read moreadvance (probably didn't need them you can hear the bands just fine from the other side of the gate, unless you need beer) caught the end of the parade, checked out the local artists (at noon there wasn't much in this area), got some food (our faves were the bison brat and the corn on the cob w/ the mexican crema, cheese and cayanne), got some beer and listened to 4 on the Floor (?). It was pretty hot, but we found some shady spots to take a rest, and it wasn't nearly as crowded as I was expecting. Also, the free shuttle bus running on Summit was great. I think we'll be checking this out next year!

Aggressively adolescent, $1 all you can drink chocolate milk, literal 4 year olds driving atv's…read morecompetitively, an absolute fever dream of a midwestern small town fair. Will go again.

This fair has so much potential but it seems woefully undermanaged. We visited on Saturday and…read morefound the venue very dirty, overcrowded, and unfriendly. I took my son to the bathroom and it appeared to have not been cleaned the entire time since the fair had opened several days earlier. We have been to the fair nearly every year for at least the past 10 years and it seems that every year it gets dirtier and the prices just keep edging up. This weekend we saw kids pushing and shoving each other into elderly patrons, seats that had dried-on ketchup that obviously had been there for several days, trash and discarded food all over the grounds -- overall a very unsavory experience. With the price of admission approaching the cost to attend the Minnesota State Fair, I would have expected better. In addition to the police officers that I would see on a rare occasion, it would be nice to see fair workers in some sort of official shirt (or even nametags) that could serve as ambassadors and clean-up staff so it looked at least like someone cared. It is as if they just opened the gates on day one and management went home. Even the first impression is negative. I gave my admission money to someone I THINK works for the fair, but without any sort of identification (shirt, nametag, something!!!) how would I even know that they are official? The fair board has put money into the buildings (with several new buildings popping up over the past few years and apparently the infrastructure (new sound system), but I think that perhaps some attention should be paid to the "fan experience." Not sure if we will be back next year as our entertainment dollar may be better spent elsewhere...

The Great Minnesota Get Together! Too many people for me…read morepersonally and it is always HOT but the food and beverages are plentiful and delicious!

I recently moved to MN and quickly learned from colleagues about how popular the MN State Fair is…read more I followed Nextdoor posts discussing whether the state fair was worth the crowds and money. Normally those factors would steer me away but as a recent MN transplant, I wanted to experience the fair firsthand. I met up with some new friends ~9:30 am yesterday (Labor Day, 9/1/2025). Knowing that parking would be difficult and expensive, I took a Lyft to one of the Park & Ride stations where I was able to take the bus for $6. When I got off the bus, I was offered a discounted ticket for $15 (normally $20) by a fair goer who had an extra ticket he didn't use. Once I got into the fairgrounds, we explored the livestock and agricultural exhibits. We loved the baby animals (especially the goats!) and the colorful dahlias. In addition to these exhibits, we also saw a lumberjack show. Fun! Now onto one of the most important - and highly debated - parts of the fair. The food! We shared the following: Cheese curds - first time trying them. Deliciously cheesy! Cream cheese wontons - average but came with a good dipping sauce Corn fritters - loved these. Perfect balance of sweet and savory Fried green tomatoes - not overly greasy despite "fried" in the name. Some people thought the tomatoes were too sour but I thought they were good Falawaffle - very tasty. I'd never seen a waffle using falafel batter elsewhere. Would love to pay Baba's in mpls a visit Three people in our group had the hot honey pizza balls, which I did not partake in as I don't eat meat (pepperoni). I wish they made a non-meat version but I plan to find a recipe online. The line was very long and though my friends enjoyed them, they didn't feel the wait was worth it. I got a frozen lemonade ($12) and frozen affogato ($10). Both yummy and perfect for a warm day! Of all the foods we tried, the cheese curds and corn fritters were my fave (and worth deviating from avoiding fried foods to keep my cholesterol in check). Weather was not too hot (60s/70s) and the crowds were manageable other than the very long line at the pizza place. The verdict: I'm glad I went and had the opportunity to experience a popular event in MN! I do agree with some folks on Nextdoor that the food is overpriced. I think the fair is worth checking out once but I'm not sure if I'd go again unless someone wants to go. Tips: 1) go with a group if possible as sharing food can cut down on costs. 2) take Lyft/Uber to/from the park and ride so you don't have to stress over parking!

Infinitely better organized than many of the other Pride festivals across the country I've attend…read moreover the years. The flow of the parade marchers was expertly maintained. Folks kept moving in an orderly way. The Mayor got booed at the corner where I was watching. These people don't play around!

I had a very disappointing experience with Bob at the Minnesota Twins Pride booth this weekend…read more On Saturday, we were told the jersey giveaway had ended for the day and were instructed to come back on Sunday. So that's exactly what my wife and I did. We actually left the Pride parade--something we love participating in--to make sure we arrived in time for the giveaway, knowing the line would be long. The giveaway was supposed to begin at 1:30 p.m., but when we arrived, we waited about 45 minutes because the Twins booth staff were still participating in the parade. We waited patiently, expecting the jersey giveaway to happen once they returned. When the staff finally arrived, no jerseys were being handed out. I politely asked why the giveaway wasn't happening after we had waited so long. Bob's response was, "They're free, geez." Whether the jerseys were free or not is beside the point. People gave up their time, left the Pride festivities, and stood in line because they were told to come back Sunday for this giveaway. A little respect, communication, and customer service would have gone a long way. Dismissing people with "They're free, geez" was unprofessional and unnecessarily rude. This wasn't about getting something for free--it was about honoring what people were told and treating attendees with basic courtesy. I expected much better from representatives of the Minnesota Twins at a community event celebrating Pride.

I've been coming to the Dakota County Fair for a few years now, and it always feels like the…read moreperfect prep for the Great Minnesota Get-Together! One thing I really appreciate is that general admission is free... a nice change compared to other county fairs. There's also free street parking available, or you can pay to park in the lot. The fair has all the staples: lots of food vendors, barns with animals, non-food vendor booths, live music on multiple stages, and a ride/game area. Classic fair fun! The night I went was a bit warm, so we didn't try as many foods as usual. We started with cheese curds (served hot and super tasty), then a slice of spicy pickle pizza-- not bad, but not the best either. We ended the evening with a chocolatey whoopie pie, and that was seriously yummmOOO! One area that could use some improvement, though, is the bathrooms. They definitely need a bit more attention-- updating, cleanliness and upkeep could make a big difference in the overall experience. Suggestion: Please highly consider adding a water fountain/refill station for water bottles. Still, it's always a fun time, and I'm sure I'll be back next year!

Family always goes to fair to check out the new hot items. Love the food items and animals. Very…read morerelaxing atmosphere and cool set up with the old city buildings to explore. Never see the same thing twice when we go. Highly recommend.