2011 Minnesota State Fair

We love the fair. We had been looking forward to going to the fair ever since we were heading home from the fair last year. It's an expensive day and I often lament about how we blow an entire week of food money on one day, but we have such a great time and attending has become something of a tradition for us. There's something magical about the fair and though I can't pinpoint what it is, it happens somewhere between all the noise, the crowds, the animals, and the fried food. The fair is one of the best places to do nothing together. We love to wander without an agenda and see what the day brings.

This was Weston's second year at the fair. Last year he was only two months old. This year was a bit more challenging because he didn't want to be cooped up in his stroller all day. We had to let him out a couple of times and we ended up chasing him around in the crowds for 10 minutes here and there just so he could stretch his legs. He seemed to like the fair just as much as we did. He sampled all the foods we purchased and he took an interest in some of the animals.

Weston got to pet a newborn piglet.

Here he is reaching for a sheep

Dada and his beer.

self photo

Onion rings from Danielson and Daughters. Awesome. These came in at #3 on our list of foods for 2011.

Hanging out in the stroller, sucking on his fingers as usual.

Pink, brown, and white were not flavors the last time I checked.... Whatev. It's the fair!

Caramel apple=yummy but not good enough to make our top 5.

Strollin

Apple cider popsicle. These are only $1.00 so I get one every year.

This was our first purchase of the day. This was the first year I purchased a Blue Ribbon Bargain Book. It had lots of great deals and it led us to try some new foods that we never would have found. The book had some great deals so we'll be purchasing one again next year!

Weston at the oink booth 2011

Weston at the oink booth 2010!

Up close and personal with a big bird.

Our #1 fair food pick. At $7.75 a plate, they better be good and they WERE! Australian Battered Potatoes drowning in ranch dressing and salt. Amazing.

He took two long naps in his stroller. Thank goodness! We were worried he wouldn't be able to sleep and we'd have to cut our day short due to his crabbiness. He did great, though!

Sausage pizza.

Thanks to the Blue Ribbon Bargain Book, we were able to make our money last longer and try more items. Here is the list of what the three of us consumed yesterday:

1. egg roll

2. sausage pizza

3. strawberry treat shake

4. Australian potatoes

5. meatballs on a stick

6. caramel apple

7. french fries

8. diet soda

9. milk

10. apple dumpling with ice cream

11. apple cider popsicle

12. meatball sundae

13. beer

14. onion rings

15. corn dog

16. hot dog

And here are our top three (in order):

1.Australian battered potatoes

2. Rutana's apple dumplings with vanilla ice cream

3. Danielson and Daughter's onion rings

That's a lot of food! It was sssooooo delicious. We were at the fair for 13 hours and we walked over 9 miles. I'm going to have to work out extra hard this week to make up for my fair day! But it was worth it. There are only about 360 days until State Fair 2012. Let the countdown begin!