Best Bets Guide - Minnesota State Fair

Best Bets for Groups at the
Great Minnesota Get-Together!
Welcome to the Great Minnesota
Get-Together! The State Fair features the
best of Minnesota’s industry, agriculture,
entertainment, innovation, fine arts, food
and merchandise. It’s all packed into 320
acres and 12 fun-filled days.
See last page
for corresponding
map areas!
Use this “Best Bets Guide” to help plan
your day at the State Fair. Dividing the
fairgrounds into areas—map areas A
through F—the Best Bets Guide features
the best things for groups to do in each area. After all, it would be impossible to cover the entire
fairgrounds in one day! Use the following guide, in partnership with a daily schedule (found at
any information booth or at mnstatefair.org), to plan your group’s itinerary of must-sees. The
daily schedules feature specific times for many activities and attractions you’ll read about in this
Best Bets Guide. Enjoy your day together at the Minnesota State Fair!
Map Area A
1.
3rd Lair SkatePark
• BMX bikers and skateboarders flip, kick and perform daring high-air stunts at noon,
1:30, 3, 4:30 & 6 p.m. (Aug. 25-28 and Sept. 2-5) and noon to 3 p.m., 4:30 & 6 p.m.
(Aug. 29-Sept. 1).
2.
Pet Center
• Opportunities to meet dozens of canine breeds
• Live pet surgery demonstrations
• Action-packed dog agility and police K9 shows outside on the demo lawn
3.
Giant Sing Along
• Get your group together to sing together to popular music karaoke-style in a field
of microphones.
4.
Little Farm Hands
• The littlest fair fans become farm hands at this agricultural education exhibit. The entire
agricultural process comes to life as kids help with farm chores, collect goods to sell at
the farmers market and spend their earnings at the grocery store.
5.
The North Woods
• Shows taking place at The North Woods:
• Captivating canines conquer big-air stunts and race through weave poles in the
All-Star Stunt Dogs Splash daily at 11 a.m., 2 & 4:30 p.m.
• Limber lumberjacks race up poles and saw through logs with lightning speed in the
Timberworks Lumberjack Show daily at noon, 3, 5:30 & 7 p.m.
• Many food and merchandise options
6.
Eco Experience
• Interactive exhibits on energy saving, recycling, organic food and farming, alternative
fuels, wind energy and sustainability
Map Area B
7.
Family Fair at Baldwin Park
• Comedy, music and dance performances from 10:30 a.m. to 9:15 p.m. each day
• Interactive educational exhibits like Alphabet Forest and Math On-a-Stick include crafts,
learning and fun for families
• Kids can dig, burrow and scoop in the Great Big Sandbox from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
8.
Fine Arts Center
• See Minnesota’s largest juried art exhibition featuring the work of more than 300 of
the most talented artists in our great state.
• View the original 2016 Official State Fair Commemorative Art by Michael Sweere on
display all 12 days.
9.
Kidway
• More than 30 attractions provide itty-bitty thrills for the littlest fair fans!
10. 4-H Building
• View artwork, technology and other projects created by talented Minnesota
4-H students.
• Demonstrations, shows and live competitions on stage throughout the day
11. Education Building
• Freebie alert! Free bags, hats and other goodies from select exhibitors
• Learn about education in Minnesota from the colleges, schools and other exhibitors
represented here.
• Robot demonstrations and ribbon-winning work of K-12 students on display daily
• Arts A’Fair performances just outside at the courtyard feature the best of Minnesota
performing arts each of the fair’s 12 days.
12. Creative Activities
• View the handwork of Minnesota’s finest amateur cooks, bakers, crafters and artisans.
• Don’t miss the Creative Activities Annex. More than a dozen shops and merchants offer
options for home décor, culinary convenience and more!
Map Area C
13. Leinie Lodge Bandshell
• Musical performances all day, every day from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Bandshell Tonight! shows start at 8:30 p.m. each night and feature country, pop and rock
performances by national touring acts, and it’s all free with fair admission.
14. Agriculture Horticulture Building
• View the finest in Minnesota agriculture, horticulture and bee culture all 12 days of the fair.
• The Common Table: Minnesota Eats exhibit teaches fair visitors about sustainable,
community-based food systems and how to create them.
• Don’t miss a Minnesota State Fair tradition – crop art! Artists use Minnesota-grown seeds
and crops to create masterpieces.
15. International Bazaar
• Take a trip around the world – all in a day at the fair with food, shopping, cultural
demonstrations and music.
• On-stage music, dance and cultural performances from 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Map Area D
16. DNR Park
• Information, demonstrations and displays on Minnesota’s forests, rivers and wildlife
• Demonstrations, performances and music each day of the fair on DNR Park Stage
17. Ramberg Senior Center
• Oldies, polka and banjo performances beginning at 10:30 a.m. each day
• View the beautiful quilts and other artisan work of Minnesota seniors on display.
18. Dairy Building
• Watch butter sculptor Linda Christensen carve the likeness of a dairy princess out of a
90-pound block of butter.
• Find cool dairy treats (yogurt, sundaes, malts or cheese) from Minnesota’s dairy industry.
• Plenty of shops and merchandise vendors
19. CHS Miracle of Birth Center
• Watch the animal agricultural process literally come to life as nearly 200 calves, lambs and
pigs are born right here during the fair’s 12-day run.
Map Area E
20. Livestock Complex & Barns
• Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum
- Shopping and food vendors fill the concourse. The arena features the free Minnesota
State Fair Horse Show with live competitions and performances every day of the fair.
• AgStar Arena
- Fast-action judging of cattle, llamas, goats, sheep, horses and more
• See the animals up close at the Cattle, Swine, Horse and Sheep Barns.
21. Moo Booth, Oink Booth and Baa Booth
• Hands-on activities and presentations help fair guests learn more about agriculture in
Minnesota and how food gets from the farm to your table.
• See cows being milked in the Cattle Barn’s Milking Parlor.
22. Mighty Midway
• More than 30 world-class attractions, 60 games of skill and many concessions for
thrill seekers
23. West End Market
• Music and comedy performances all day on the Schell’s Stage at Schilling Amphitheater
• Dozens of crafters, artisans, food options and merchandise vendors
• Don’t miss the History & Heritage Center, showcasing the State Fair’s more than 150-year
history, with artifacts, photos and interactive displays.
Map Area F
24. Grandstand
• More than 200 merchandise vendors offer kitchen goods, clothing, home décor
and more.
• 12 nights of premier entertainment. Visit mnstatefair.org for lineup and ticket information.
25. Adventure Park
• High-flying attractions and extreme experiences provide massive thrills for the bravest
thrill seekers in your group.
26. Carousel Park
• Demonstrations and performances on stage throughout the day. Each day has a different
theme offering a whole new experience for visitors.
27. FAN Central
• Memorabilia and merchandise from local sports teams
• Interactive games and exhibits provide a stellar fan experience, and maybe a prize or two!
Other - The following can be found all around
the fairgrounds!
Shopping
• Vendors offering merchandise and services are all over the fairgrounds. Some
shopping hubs include the Grandstand, Merchandise Mart, Creative Activities Annex,
Warner Coliseum, West End Market and International Bazaar.
Food
• Visit one of the more than 300 concessionaires serving up more than 500 different foods,
approximately 80 of which are on-a-stick!
• The Food Building houses nearly two dozen concessionaires in one central location.
• Stop by any information booth to pick up a New Foods Brochure to find your way to the
32 fresh cuisine options debuting in 2016.
Parade
• Beginning and ending at the Haunted House, the daily parade takes place at 2 p.m.
• The best place to watch the parade: Leinie Lodge Bandshell or at Family Fair at Baldwin
Park where all parade participants are announced.
Media
• More than 30 radio and television stations broadcast live from the Minnesota State Fair
every day. Meet local celebrities, get autographs, snag some freebies and be part of a
live audience.
History Walking Tour
• Take a self-guided walk through the fairgrounds to learn about the Great Minnesota
Get-Together’s past and present. Pick up a brochure at any information booth or History
Walking Tour stop.
• Great exercise: the whole tour is about a 2-mile walk!
BUFFALO LOT
CAMEL LOT
Bicycle
Lot
HOYT AVE
HOYT AVE
Pet
The
X-Zone Center Demos
2
Expo
Place
OWL
LOT
COOPER ST
UNDERWOOD ST
DAN ELMER WAY
SkyGlider
Giant
Sing Along
A
3
$
Old Iron Show
4
LEE AVE
4
5
Little
Farm
Hands
Eco
Experience
Progress
Center
The
North
Woods
D
FOR
BU
$
6
Lasertainment’s
Laser Hitz
Show
18 RANDALL AVE
L AVE
L
RANDA
Bicycle
Lot
COSGROVE ST
MURPHY AVE
$
3
Campground
7
Pedestrian &
Service Vehicle Entrance
8
Math
On-A-Stick
Great Big
Sandbox
Fine
Arts
Center
Family Fair
Baldwin
Park
CHARTER BUSES
ROBIN LOT
10
Alphabet
Forest
tH
16
$
23 Arts
West End
Market
$
Historic
Streetcar
Arch
22
25
$
Horse Barn
West Barn
Aisle of Breeds
STEVENS ST
$
Libby Conf.
Center
$
Cattle Barn
280
Cattle Annex
$
W
C
D
$
DNR
Building
DNR
Park
16
JUDSON AVE
$
Lee & Rose Warner
Coliseum
Exercise Ring
19
W
FFA
14
17
Ramberg
Senior Center
18
Go
Carts
River
Raft
Ride
LOOP GATE
Dairy
Building
$
Haunted
House
Employment
Center
STELLA-COMO PARKING LOT
CATHLIN ST
1880 Como
Operations
Building
MSF
Foundation
J.V. Bailey
House
$
pe
International
Bazaar
15
Pedestrian &
Service Vehicle Gate
COMO AVE
Pedestrian Bridge
Motorcycle Lot
WEST COMO LOT
Space Tower
de
94
Demo
Stage
service drive only
TAXI DROP OFF
AND PICK UP
COMO AVE
Admin
Agriculture Horticulture
JUDSON AVE
$
CHS
Miracle
of Birth
Center
Ye Old
Mill
Metro Mobility Drop
Employment Center
13
$
Bandshell
Skyride
path
CANFIELD ST
Baa
Booth
W
W
Pedestrian &
Service Vehicle Gate
20
W
Admin
Too
Libby Conf.
Center
W
W
Food
Building
$
MIDWAY
PARKWAY
Merchandise
Mart
Health
Fair 11
ian
W
W
The
Garden
st r
Oink
Booth W
Booth
Sheep & Poultry
W
12
$
U of M
nly
eo
riv
21 Moo
Swine
Barn
Commissary
W
JUDSON AVE
Visitors
Plaza
Giant Slide
Carousel
Park
Arts
A’Fair
Creative
Activities
& Annex
Carousel
26
11
d
ice
E
Forage
W
W
W
FAN
Community
Stage
$
DAN PATCH AVE
27 Central
Education
Building
rv
se
TRANSITWAY
Exercise
Ring
EquiMania! ™
AgStar
Arena
Butterfly
SkyGlider House
B
Home
Improvement
CARNES AVE
LIGGETT ST
Mighty Midway
Adventure
Park
CHAMBERS ST
Skyride
WEST DAN PATCH AVE
$
24
$
A’Fair
Elevator
Grandstand
Grandstand
Plaza &
Ticket Office
Kidway
UNDERWOOD ST
History &
Heritage
Center
$
$
Grandstand
Concert
Accessible
Ramp
9
Wiser
Living
E
$
NELSON ST
Schilling
Amphitheater
$
F
Hub
CLOUGH ST
Tran
sit
Horton
Pavilions Entrance
at Heffron
Park
UNDERWOOD ST
ub
COSGROVE ST
si
COOPER ST
$
Tr
an
4-H
WRIGHT AVE
EAST COMO LOT
SNELLING AVE
1
Metro
Mobility
Drop
ROOSTER LOT
SNELLING AVE
TIGER LOT
SNELLING AV
Each number
correlates with the
attractions on
previous pages.
E
SNELLING AV
LARPENTEUR AVE
Bicycle
Lot