> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://hyperallergic.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The Minnesota State Fair in Pictures - URL: https://hyperallergic.com/the-minnesota-state-fair-in-pictures/ - Published: 2013-08-30T18:57:38.000Z - Updated: 2025-11-24T16:45:06.000Z - Description: ST. PAUL — This week I had the distinct pleasure of visiting the Minnesota State Fair, the largest state fair in the country by average daily attendance. Before the trip, I had never been to either Minnesota or a state fair; needless to say, I was excited. - Author: Jillian Steinhauer - Tags: Art, Photo Essays, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-hidden, #Import 2025-11-24 06:59 (2012, 2013, part 2) ![These foot-long hot dog stands are all around the Minnesota State Fair. (all photos by the author for Hyperallergic)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/08/dscn5729.jpg) These foot-long hot dog stands are all around the Minnesota State Fair. (all photos by the author for Hyperallergic) ST. PAUL — This week I had the distinct pleasure of visiting the [Minnesota State Fair](http://www.mnstatefair.org/?ref=hyperallergic.com), the largest state fair in the country by average daily attendance. Before the trip, I had never been to either Minnesota or a state fair; needless to say, I was excited. The fair is essentially the size of a small town, with a network of streets that sprawl out from the massive Grandstand. It encompasses everything from carnival rides and a “Miracle of Birth Center,” where you can see animals give birth, to lots filled with tractors and cars and a fine-art exhibition. You can find a startling array of foods on a stick: hot dogs, deep-fried cheese, Belgian waffles, alligator. You can buy a jacuzzi and enlist in the Army, watch a bee-keeping demonstration or live butter-sculpture carving. The fair assaults your senses, swinging you back and froth between euphoria and exhaustion. At one point, I found myself sitting in a gazebo in 90-degree heat, digging into honey sunflower ice cream as a marching band rolled by playing songs from *Les Misérables*. It was the best kind of overwhelming. I had come for Wednesday’s nighttime Grandstand show, the Walker Art Center’s second [Internet Cat Video Festival](http://www.walkerart.org/calendar/2013/internet-cat-video-festival-2?ref=hyperallergic.com). That was another experience in itself, one I’ll post about next week. But for three hours beforehand, I wandered around the fair trying to take in as much as possible. Here are some of my photos from the fair that’s aptly nicknamed the “Great Minnesota Get-Together.” ![A marching band in Wednesday's parade](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/08/dscn5773.jpg) A marching band on parade ![Princesses in the parade](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/08/dscn5777.jpg) Princesses in the parade ![The Horiculture building](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/08/dscn5728.jpg) The Horiculture building ![Giant, award-winning pumpkins](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/08/dscn5744.jpg) Giant prize-winning pumpkins ![IF](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/08/dscn5753.jpg) A bee colony and prize-winning honey ![Crop art, aka art made from seeds and corn kernels. Two favorite contributions: Beast Jesus and Grumpy Cat.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/08/dscn5763.jpg) Crop art, aka art made from seeds and corn kernels. Two favorites: Beast Jesus and Grumpy Cat. ![The seed queen of crop art, Lillian Colton](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/08/dscn5766.jpg) Making crop art ![Minnesota apples](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/08/dscn5772.jpg) Minnesota apples ![Butter-sculpture carving](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/08/dscn5718.jpg) On-site butter-sculpture carving ![The Fine Arts Building](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/08/dscn5788.jpg) The Fine Arts Building ![The exhibition inside contained 340 artworks selected out of 1,885 submissions](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/08/dscn5803.jpg) The exhibition inside contained 340 artworks selected out of 1,885 submissions. ![Gun safes for sale](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/08/dscn5813.jpg) Gun safes for sale ![Mowers for sale](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/08/dscn5815.jpg) Mowers for sale ![Inside the Luminarium, a blow-up structure filled with different-colored glowing rooms](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/08/dscn5825.jpg) Inside the Luminarium, a blow-up structure filled with different-colored glowing rooms ![Tired](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/08/dscn5835.jpg) Long day ![The Grandstand, where the 2nd Internet Cat Video Festival was held](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/08/dscn5842.jpg) The Grandstand, where the 2nd Internet Cat Video Festival was held ![This french-fry seller was leading "YMCA."](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/08/dscn5708.jpg) This french-fry seller was leading “YMCA.” ![Horses](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/08/dscn5855.jpg) Horses ![Sheep](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/08/dscn5859.jpg) Sheep ![Texas steak dinner on a stick](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/08/dscn5836.jpg) Texas steak dinner on a stick ![Announcing the winner of a dance contest](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/08/dscn5843.jpg) Announcing the winner of a dance contest ![Free constitution and sunscreen!](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/08/dscn5839.jpg) Free constitution and sunscreen ![Late-night fireworks over the Grandstand](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/08/dscn5936.jpg) Late-night fireworks over the Grandstand *The Minnesota State Fair (1265 Snelling Ave N, St. Paul, Minnesota) continues through Labor Day, Monday, September 2\. More information can be found* [*here*](http://www.mnstatefair.org/?ref=hyperallergic.com)*.*