With just a week left until the gates open for our beloved state fair, excitement levels are high and everyone is talking about what the best attractions will be this year. We’re warming up our stomachs and getting the camera ready for another year of epic adventure through the fairgrounds. There are so many things we can’t wait to experience, and for these 12 reasons (one for each of the fair’s days) we are hoping this week goes by really fast!

  1. THE FOOD! From the old to the new, all the state fair foods are so good it’s impossible to pick a favorite. Is “I’ll take one of everything” an option?

Flickr/Scott Costello

  1. The people watching! Always fun and always easy when you’re surrounded by the entire state!

Facebook/Minnesota State Fair

  1. The entertainment is epic - even the free shows! The concerts are worth looking forward to all year.

Facebook/Minnesota State Fair

  1. The babies! All the baby animals are so adorable, it’s hard to contain our excitement!

Flickr/Nicholas Wadler

  1. The butter sculptures - because when else do we ever get to see things like this?

Flickr/Sharon Mollerus

  1. The old friends. You can’t go to the great MInnesota get together without running into old classmates, neighbors and other friends.

Flickr/Bala Sivakumar

  1. The rides! Okay so maybe this is mostly for the kids - but we can all still enjoy a few, right?

Flickr/m01229

  1. We can’t drink milk like this any other time. Also - we’re already thinking about how much we’ll need it with that bucket of cookies.

Facebook/Minnesota State Fair

  1. No summer nights beat nights at the fair. The warm air, the smell of sugar and fried foods, the sound of the concerts - it’s our natural environment.

Flickr/m01229

  1. Nothing makes us feel more connected to our Minnesota community than being together and celebrating our history.

Flickr/Chris

  1. Riding the skyride is always unforgettable. We never get views like this!

Flickr/Tony Webster

  1. The Prince tribute. Nothing means more to us this year than getting the entire state together and celebrating the beloved artist.

Flickr/Thomas

What are you most looking forward to at the 2016 fair?

Flickr/Scott Costello

Facebook/Minnesota State Fair

Flickr/Nicholas Wadler

Flickr/Sharon Mollerus

Flickr/Bala Sivakumar

Flickr/m01229

Flickr/Chris

Flickr/Tony Webster

Flickr/Thomas

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