Minnesota State Fair food guide: what to eat and how to plan a visit

The Minnesota State Fair is a very big fair, and for many visitors it is mainly about food. The fairgrounds in Falcon Heights hold a huge number of food stands, and each year brings a new set of dishes to try. A first visit can be overwhelming. Here is how the fair is organized, how to eat well without spending everything on the first hour, and what to check before you go.

When is the Minnesota State Fair?

The fair runs for twelve days and ends on Labor Day. Dates move each year with the calendar, so check the State Fair's own site for the next one. Tickets and parking prices are set each year, and the fair may offer special days with deals or themes, so look at the calendar and the ticket options before you choose a date.

What is food on a stick?

The fair is famous for putting food on a stick, so you can eat while you walk. Crop art and butter sculptures are other fair traditions. The dishes range from classic corn dogs to inventive new items that change every year. A stick keeps your hands free for the next stand. Not everything is fried: there are grilled items, fresh fruit, dairy treats and desserts as well. Dairy stands are a long-standing tradition, and a cold glass of milk is a welcome break between rich bites. New foods are announced before the fair opens, and local media publish lists that help you choose.

How do you plan what to eat?

Plan like a tasting.

• Look at the list of new foods and pick three you want to try.
• Walk the grounds once before buying, noting what you want.
• Share every item with a friend, so you can taste more.
• Alternate rich with fresh, such as fruit, salad or lemonade.

Prices at the fair are higher than in town, and a few shared items can cost as much as a restaurant dinner, so decide a budget first.

When should you go?

Weekdays are less crowded than weekends, and the last weekend and Labor Day are the busiest. Arrive early, because lines grow through the day. Mornings are the best time to eat popular items before they sell out or lines reach an hour. Late evenings can also be easier. Weekday mornings have shorter lines at the stands near the entrance, and the animal barns and exhibition halls are calmer then too. Wear comfortable shoes, since a day of walking the grounds can reach several miles. Heat on a late summer afternoon can be intense, so carry water.

How do you get there?

The fairgrounds sit between Minneapolis and St. Paul, and parking on site and in nearby lots fills quickly. Park-and-ride buses from locations around the metro run during the fair, and are often the easiest way. Check the fair's transportation page for current options. Rideshare drop-off zones can be crowded at peak times. Consider arriving by a shuttle from a neighborhood stop and leaving before the closing crowd. Pick a meeting point for your group in case you split up, since cell service can be slow when the grounds are full.

What about families and children?

The fair has a children's area and a midway, and families often plan the day around rides and animal barns as well as food. Bring a stroller with a shade cover, sunscreen and wipes. Pick a meeting spot in case of separation, and agree on a plan. Ask at the information booth about quiet places to rest and about stroller parking. Plan your rides and your meals in separate blocks, so that nobody rides a spinning ride after a large lunch. Children's portions can be small, so sharing an adult-size item is often better.

What about dietary needs?

The fair offers more than fried food, and each year some stands sell vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free items. If you have a serious allergy, ask each vendor about ingredients and cooking oils, since many items are fried in shared oil. Carry any medication you need, and know where the first-aid stations are. Check the fair's guest information before you go for any allergen guidance it publishes. Call ahead to the fair's guest services if you need accessibility help.

What do you pay and tip?

Fair prices include a markup for the setting. Sales tax is added at some stands according to the rules for prepared food. Most stands are counter service, and tips are optional. Many stands take cards, but lines can be shorter at stands that take cash, so carry some.

How do you keep track of what you ate at the fair?

Take a photo of what you ate and a note of the stand. Mosey is a food app for finding, rating and sharing places to eat, and it rates by the dish, so the corn dog, the cheese curds and the new food everyone waited in line for each get a score and a tag such as Must-Try.

A list from this year helps you plan the next one, when you will want to repeat the best and skip the rest. Share it through an invite link with the friends you went with, and follow the ones who go every year.

Rate your favorite fair food in the Mosey app before the memory of the line fades.

More guides to read next:

• Minnesota foods to try: hotdish, Juicy Lucy, walleye and wild rice
• Minnesota State Fair food guide: new foods and where to start

More in the US food guides and the ranked lists of places.