Find these hidden gems at the Minnesota State Fair

Covering 322 acres, with thousands of vendors and exhibits, it’s impossible to see everything at the Minnesota State Fair. Here are a few of our favorite “hidden gems” you might not have noticed.

Minnesota Newspaper Museum

The Minnesota Newspaper Museum is a living-history newspaper office, where you can smell the ink and see printing presses in action. Fairgoers of a certain age might remember the museum when it was located in Heritage Square, but now you’ll find it on the exterior of the 4-H building. Still going strong, and staffed by volunteers, stop by to learn about the history of printing and grab a newspaper hat for the little ones!

Department of Natural Resources

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) building itself has so many different areas to explore, it’s easy to miss the Minnesota Biome Walk located in the “Wildlife Wing” section.

Utilizing sound and lighting effects, and taxidermy and statues, this immersive walk-through exhibit recreates scenes of the wildlife and habitats that populate our beautiful state. It’s a great exhibit for children and adults alike, with a scavenger hunt-like quality to finding the animals and plants within the dioramas.

Frontier Bar Peanuts

There’s not much you can do at the fair for a buck, but one of our favorite deals at the fair is $1 peanuts at the Frontier Bar. Pull up a stool, shell your own peanuts, and take in all the fabulous people watching!

Steichen’s Grocery & Deli

A state fair gem literally hidden from view is Steichen’s Grocery & Deli. Operating on the fairgrounds since 1926, Steichen’s is a great place to stop for anything you might have forgotten to bring with you to the fair. They have everything from ibuprofen, hearing aid batteries, sunscreen, baby bottles and diapers, and so much more.

Marching Bands and Talent Contest

Depending on when you visit, there are hidden gems specific to each day. The University of Minnesota marching band participates in the daily fair parade only one day each year, and this year it’s Saturday, September 5th. It’s quite a sight to see and hear hundreds of maroon and gold band members marching through the fairgrounds!

On Sunday, September 6th the Minnesota State Fair Amateur Talent Contest Finals take place on the Grandstand Stage. This show features nightly winners from two different fair talent contests performing a variety of talents in three categories: preteen, teen and open. With the backing of a full orchestra, we highly recommend this show featuring talented Minnesotans—and the best part: it’s free to attend!

Nature Play Area

A hidden gem for young children: the nature play area on the outside of the Eco Experience. It’s a great spot to get out of the hustle and bustle, let the kids play with sand and water, and reset for the rest of your stimulating day at the fair.

Dairy Free Soft Serve

And finally, a hidden gem for those who are dairy free or vegan. In the food building, stop by the Dairy Bar for oat milk-based soft serve (not to be confused with the Dairy Goodness bar in the Dairy Building). You can even get it in a root beer float! If you have dietary restrictions it can be overwhelming to find options at the fair, but stop by any info booth to pick up printed lists of vegan/vegetarian foods and gluten-free foods.

Kristen Donaldson and Margie McCarron are Roseville residents who work together in a Minnesota State Fair information booth. They are the co-hosts of the Info Booth Ladies podcast, an unofficial, behind-the-scenes podcast about the Minnesota State Fair. Sharing lots of laughs along the way, they love to learn about the people and traditions that make our fair the Great Minnesota Get-Together!