Although millions of people won’t be able to gather at the Great Minnesota Get Together this year, the Minnesota State Fair team is still safely putting together events that will bring the fair to you. During the usual dates of the fair, there will be the 2020 Food Parade and Fine Arts Exhibition of Minnesota instead. At both of these events, Minnesota Department of Health guidelines will be followed. All staff will be wearing masks and keeping their distance, and they strongly encourage you to do the same.
Food Parade
The 2020 Food Parade is August 20-23 (9 a.m. to noon and 2 to 5 p.m.), 27-30 (9 a.m. to noon and 2 to 5 p.m.), and September 3-7 (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.).
How does it work?
Instead of the usual strolling around the fairgrounds to find your favorite fair foods, this year you and your friends and family can meander through a 1.5 mile drive-thru route in your car. You will order your food from the car and then vendor workers will bring it out to you. The entire one-way route should take a couple of hours to get through, but if you’re in a hurry to dig into your food, there are a few bypass lanes along the way.
Who will be there?
There will be sixteen food vendors including Tom Thumb Donuts, Turkey To Go, Pronto Pup, Mouth Trap Cheese Curds, West Indies Soul Food, Sweet Martha’s Cookie Jar, Fresh French Fries, Sweets & Treats, Que Viet, Pitchfork Sausage/Butcher Boys London Broil, Dairy Goodness Bar by ADA of the Midwest, Foot Long Hot Dogs and Corn Dogs, Giggle’s Campfire Grill, Cheese on the Stick and Fresh-Squeezed Lemonade, The Hangar, and El Sol Mexican Foods. There are vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options available at Turkey to Go, Pitchfork Sausage/London Broil, El Sol Mexican Foods, and Fresh French Fries.
What else will be there?
Along with food vendors, there will be lots of entertainment along the path. At the start of the parade, your car will receive a goodie bag with not only a menu for ordering your food, but also in-car bingo and a State Fair trivia game to play along the way. You will also receive an insulated State Fair reusable lunch bag. Be on the lookout for the State Fair mascots Fairborne and Fairchild and live music as well! At the end of the parade, you can stop at the designated parking lot to enjoy your food and purchase select State Fair merchandise.
What should I bring?
Before you leave for the parade, make sure you have a pen to fill out food orders and participate in activities along the way. Some vendors are only accepting cash, so don’t forget to grab some before you go, but in case you forget, there will be an ATM available to use on site. The State Fair team also encourages those in the vehicle who will be placing and paying for orders to wear masks. At the Midway Welcome Lot, the State Fair team is also collecting food donations for Second Harvest Heartland, so don’t forget those donations! The entrance for the event is located at the intersection of Snelling and Hoyt avenue at the north end of the fairgrounds.
Where can I get tickets?
Tickets go on sale for the 2020 Food Parade July 31st at 10 a.m.. You only need one ticket per vehicle with up to five people in it.
Fine Arts Exhibition of Minnesota
Earlier this year, Minnesota artists entered their work into the 2020 Fine Arts Exhibition run by the Fine Arts Department of the Minnesota State Fair. Now, it’s time for the contestants to showcase their work for the public.
How can I view the exhibition?
The exhibition can be viewed three different ways. The first is through a free online virtual catalog. Each piece will include the artwork’s description as well as the artist’s information and website/social media. The second way you can see the artwork is a video recording tour that will be available for free on the State Fair’s website and social media.
How can I see it in person?
The last way to view the artwork is through an in-person gallery showing in the Fine Arts Center on the fairgrounds. This event will take place August 27 -September 7 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.. You can purchase tickets on the State Fair’s website.
What kind of safety precautions are enforced?
Multiple social distancing practices will be put into place at the event to ensure the safety of staff and visitors. Along with select time slots, attendance will be limited to 25 percent of Fire Arts Center’s capacity. In accordance with state health mandates, masks will also be required at this event.
