I promised a photo compilation of the walking tour that you can take part in as you make your way around the circumference of the grounds.

On Day One this year, Andrea & Shannon wanted to know what you could do at 6 am on the grounds. There’s not much, but there is this.

Dad & my best time was 37 minutes. I’m sure people could go faster alone.

To set any time records, you need to start early in the morning, before the people get in your way!

There used to be signs near Ye Old Mill and the DNR which added to the walking, but they have been replaced. I wish I had done this photo tour years ago…. or at least made an effort to read them, like Shannon did! There’s a bit of history that I know, that is not reflected on these signs!

I always start at the end, because I come in Gate 5, which will always be known to me as “The Main Gate” on Snelling.

But for this post, we’ll begin with #1:

The Streetcar Arch used to be where the DNR is now and welcomed people into the gates at the end of the Grandstand ramp. When cleaning out some property the fair owned behind the Channel 23 building on Como, they uncovered this sign. Cleaned & restored, it will be enjoyed for years to come!

Stop #2: Grandstand

Who remembers the stock car races every day at 1:00. You couldn’t hear yourself think. The old Grandstand “Annex”? Not sure when it was added on, but it was over the tunnel into the stands. It was removed years ago to create the “plaza” we now have adorned with family memorial bricks that you can’t read anymore!

Stop #3 Swine Barn

I think this year is first time in forever that the Swine Barn has received any attention! New stalls, and updates. I only went in to check out the big boar on day one, and never went back.

Stop #4 Coliseum

I love admiring the stone cutting on the exterior of the buildings over the doors.

Stop #5: Miracle of Birth

This used to be housed in what now is the Kare11 Barn. It outgrew that space and needed upgrades! This space is pretty incredible with the addition of the new hen house & baby goats!

Stop #6 International Bazaar

Long gone are the days of Mexican Village and the dilapidated stands of sombreros and maracas. Some of the food vendors however have been here since I was a kid! Like the Chinese food booth with really deliciously bad chicken fried rice!

Stop #7 Bailey House

It was known as the Greenhouse (the glass greenhouses are behind it) but it was really painted green. When we were kids we had a paper route and had to deliver to the “publicity building” the brick one now called “Admin Too”, the Admin building and the green house. It was a long trip in the winter and we had to deadhead back in the wind & snow.

Now it’s the home of the Foundation Offices and if you’re a “Friend of the Fair”, there’s water, coffee and A/C!

Stop #8 Fairchild

He was born the same year I was! It’s always a good meeting place, using the Space Tower as a guidepost!

Stop #9 Kidway

Kiddieland was always a part of the Midway! The Kidway was born in 1993, making a space for family friendly fun geographically removed from the seedier Midway!

Stop #10 Machinery Hill

Gone are the days of acres of combines, seed spreaders and tractors with tires taller than your dad! The farmers used to sleep with their equipment and come knocking on the partially opened garage doors at 5:15 am, when the Gloria Dei booth was housed inside the 4H building exterior. Dad & I would start the water for open pot boil Scandinavian egg coffee around 5am, so we’d have enough when we opened the booth at 6am. That was getting a bit late for these farm implement guys! I learned to drink coffee at the ripe old age of 9, best coffee ever. I only know how to make it 5 gallons at a time!

Stop #11 Progress Center

I don’t even remember what was in this building. If you know, let me know!

Stop #12 4H

The 4H building is where I started working, loving the day to day insider part of State Fair life. Mom was a 4H kid, I always wished I could have lived up in those bunk rooms! This is the new first stop (after they took out the one by Creative Activities.

When you finish, you will fabulous prizes! I actually used the pouch style water bottle… for a day, until I saw pictures and it looked like I was wearing a colostomy bag…and the lid broke off.

There’s a pennant and post cards too.

It’ll be interesting if these change next year. It’s fun to read the history and remember my own.

Today marks the finality of parking at Mom & Dads during the Fair.

This time next year, we won’t be here. The house will be sold and hopefully the new owners will love the fair as much as we did. I inquired of Bart’s annual rates, (the neighbor two doors down Simpson St.) and we’ll see if it’s in the budget. I might need to take the bus, but I would certainly miss seeing all the neighbors and catching up. There is profound sadness in this.

Today, being Labor Day, we usually grab a hot dog of some variety and head straight to the Midway. The kid, nor I, or Randy had any need to go there. Randy is in pain with his knees & ankles, I don’t possess the skills to win at any games and Gray is too tall for most of the rides….

Today we would eat and shop. Randy picked up the scooter and got a foot long hotdog, as I waited in the long, long line for coffee. I posted about it on Facebook and my friend Paula recommended checking out her friends behind the Merchandise Mart at the Coffee Queens. Note for next year!

Finally!

The kid wanted an Italian bread product of some sort so as we walked, I grabbed my last blueberry pie! Next year, Sara & I are going to spend one whole crazy day together!

She’s curious what I do! I don’t buy the pie at grocery store, despite the fact that I ~can~… most days I don’t have the 25K steps to offset pie consumption! I think it would be less special too.

We found the Luigi Fries stand, always delicious, garlicky, cheesy breadsticks with marinara.

I was shocked when Randy cruised last the Poncho Dog stand! Maybe one per year is enough!

There wasn’t anything left I wanted to buy, I thought, but Randy wanted to check out the shirt warehouse guy upstairs in the grandstand. I truly had had my fill of the grandstand this year, the one building I went into about eight times!

He & Gray made their way up the ramp, and I waited at the DNR.

Smokey the Bear was hanging out, but I was alone so didn’t pose ~with~ him. I walked back by the fish ponds and there was a group from Wildlife Forever in the courtyard outside.

It took me a minute to realize this guy was not stuffed!

And that this guy could eat him for lunch, or vice-versa!

The bird of prey showman that my cousin Thanes wife Janelle is related to was on the outdoor stage, but no time to stay and watch as the kid texted quickly to say they we’re looking for me. That was fast! It turned out they didn’t find the booth. It wasn’t in its usual spot with all the new vendors this year, too bad I didn’t accompany them….I knew my way around the grandstand pretty well on day twelve!

We wandered over to the West End to see what food or commodities we might need. Hot waffles were a favorite food (and steeped with Mom memories) so I wanted to get one on this final day.

Walking back there, I stopped and bought this years Minnesota State Fair ornament.

And made the youth pose with lions & wolves & bears! Oh my!

The hot waffles, as always are delicious, this year they were back to the nice thick square waffles. Last year it’s possible they ran out and substituted round Eggo Waffles! My only issue with this food is the powdered sugar cloud you end wearing when you’re done. I thought of Dad in that moment, and how he always wished he had a white “powdered sugar” colored suit to wear to Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans.

The day was heating up…again, and storm clouds were rolling in. I saw a guy walk by with the cutest garden decor and I remembered, way back in a May I made a list of things to get at the Fair. A sign for the Oasis, with the house rules on it and a pig! I had looked briefly for a sign earlier in the Fair, but I needed to decide the wording, so I’m waiting until next year when the new Oasis is constructed. I did still want a pig however!

Today was a Labor Day special with 20% off! I love my pig!

My puppy Lola does not…

We still had to get the kid to St. Olaf to begin their Senior a Year of college! Randy wasn’t up for the parade and I thought I’d return later.

Randy returned the scooter and we headed back to Mom’s one last time. I got a stamp on the way out, just in case.

Back at Mom’s I knew I had stuff I’d left in the kitchen, but I was too sad to go in on this last State Fair Day. I really did think I might be back yet today, but I was also avoiding the finality of my #12harddays

There has been a suspension of reality and the work we must do, in order to wrap up and close the literal doors on two lives lived well and abundantly in this house for the last 42 years.

Instead of looking back, we went home and looked forward, driving the kid to college, for their SENIOR YEAR! I dropped them off in the pouring rain, and this process is so “old hat” I didn’t even get a picture! Driving back to the city, decided I was done with the fair this year.

Turns out, with five record setting attendance days, and enough crowds all the others we crushed the Two Million mark. There is a big expansion plan for the north west end of the Fair this year, we’ll see if they are successful spreading out the growing crowds every year!

As hard as this Fair has been, I spent each day with family & friends; remembering & reminiscing, laughing & crying, healing & mourning and I’m grateful for everyone who walked with me on this journey.

Mom & Dad wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

I thank you.

I knew I had to get to the fair before buildings opened and security arrived at some of my Ash deposit locations.  Gray wanted to accompany me on this mission, despite the late, beverage over consumption, night before.  I was up at 5 am, made coffee, showered and prepared our usual “day-one” peanut butter toast breakfast, on this second to the last day of the fair. The dog wanted our breakfast, but I wasn’t sharing!

The youth was less than enthusiastic, but yet still willing to rise and join me.  The day was grey and cloudy with rain predicted in the coming hours.  We had a mission and limited time to complete it.

We first walked over to the Leinie Bandshell fenced off garden area. This was my target placement. I got a picture and told Gray that I wished that black cable wasn’t in the way and maybe I could move it if it wasn’t holding up the tree… Gray informed me it was holding up the roof of the bandshell!

We headed up the the 4H building to make the final area deposits! And took in some sights on a cloudy morning!

We had time to kill before the buildings opened and we wandered around the Grandstand Plaza, searching for a brick that purchased so many years ago for my Uncle John Kopper. Many of the original bricks are illegible and maybe next year I’ll have to inquire about a “brick map”. We didn’t find John’s but I found a few I recognized!

And one I just agree with!

Walking over towards Mom & Dad’s bench, with one task remaining we passed by this awesome tree. Only in the quiet without the crowds do I notice this kind of stuff!

We rested on the bench, checked the weather forecast on our phones and I got busy getting Mom & Dad ready to stay with the bench for a while! Duct tape, up inside the seat edge….

The youth was happy to rest while I walked to catch a Pokémon. On my way I found cows and horses!

The rain was coming soon, we could feel it. We walked up to the top of the grandstand ramp and ducked under the awning as we waited for it to open @9am. Us and 200 other people!

The Building finally opened and now it was going to ~crowded~ and hot with the pouring rains outside. We went straight to Turman to get a reluctant Abbey Road picture of the youth

I was looking for more merchandise that had the logo on Allies water bottle… a sloth and it said “don’t hurry, be happy”! We went through the entire upper level twice, looking at shops that all seemed similar before finding it ~right next to~ the grandstand ramp doors, across from Turman. They only had the extra large water bottle, but I’ll search online for it later. There was a shop with old & new buttons and patches and we did through to find some keepers!

We were Red Owl shoppers at Har Mar when we were kids and this Arctic Cat Patch could have come off the lavender snowmobile suit I had when I was 10!

We connected with Andrea & friends… Andreas fifth day at the fair! I took their Abbey Road picture too!

Then went downstairs to get the youth a Nuckeez phone holder and check out the rest of the stuff I missed last week.

Every year since they started, I have bought mom the hand painted globe dated Fair ornament. By the time I got there this year, they were sold out. I’m not sure if I’m ok with it, or sad. It’s maybe fitting that I ~couldn’t~ buy one this year. New traditions. End the old.

There wasn’t much else I’d missed out on, and it was pouring now, so we poncho~ed up and headed outside.

We got a message that KayLyn & family we’re back at the fair and we’re coming through the grandstand. We waited and connected for a bit before Gray & I went to get a bite to eat.

The kid had not eaten a gyro yet, so we got a couple and sat under the tent behind the booth. Gray grabbed a malt from next door and we waited out the storm.

We were wet & tired from our early rising, but I still wanted to get a picture of Kory’s photograph which won a blue ribbon, just not a purple premium.

As we walked we encountered Fairborne & Fairchild with the mascot security carrying jacket matching umbrellas! No umbrellas for the security guys I guess!

We hiked back up to 4H and found Kory’s photograph!

The skies were clearing, but it was time for us to head home and spend some time with the puppy, as Randy was golfing all morning and we had some special tickets in the evening!

I grabbed the final recipe card in the “roundup” this year and I’ll put them all in another post.

I always check my phone each day for attendance updates from the day before… I was wowed by yesterday’s tote board! Highest attended day in history.

No wonder it felt so busy! We’re gonna hit two million, I’m just sure!

~This~ ticket is the only thing that is keeping me from attending the Talent Show finals in the grandstand tonight!

Gray & I both got home and took a nap! Hamilton was incredible and lived up to all the hype!

After the show, we ran into family that we had missed connecting with three or more times at the fair! Kara & Mary had joined Collin & Mark. We knew Collin had season tickets as we’ve posted the same shows on Facebook the same nights for the past two seasons! It was great to finally see them!

Tomorrow is Labor Day, the last, final hurrah. I have done & seen all I really need to this year, so we’ll see what tomorrow holds!

I knew I had lots of family coming to the fair today.  The kid was home, and had to get new boots.  What to do, what to do??   Randy took the kid to get boots, and I went to the fair!

I spent the morning sleeping in, blogging and walking the dog, and didn’t get over to the fair until after 11:00 am.  The first family I connected with were my Uncle Glenn & Aunt Marge from Thief River and my cousin KayLyn and family who live in Southern Illinois, almost to St. Louis.  Her oldest son was last at the fair in a stroller and her younger son hasn’t ever been here!

The day was heating up.  It was swampy and humid and you didn’t want to get too close to anyone, and you’d sweat standing still.  KayLyn’s husband is a physician and had worked a 30 hour shift prior to arriving here in the Cities and he was ready to nap on a bench in the shade. They had already experienced some of my fair, but they had much left to do!

Glenn & Kerry found a couple of Lienie Recliners and I think this spot was claimed by the family most of the day!

As we cousins connected, hugged and visited for a bit in the hot sun, my friend Carole & John found us!  Carole is not quite sure how I can do this for twelve days…she’s been here since about 9am and is already done in.  I told her that avoiding Saturdays and hot days helps a lot!

Marge & Kaylyn had already scored Kare11 coffee tumblers (something I had yet to even see!) and some other swag, but wanted to get the new UCare bags.  Marge also needed coffee and I needed pie.  The three of us made our way in a short circuit to accomplish all three!

We ran through the Health Fair11 building, and then popped into the food building through the back doors and I bought a round of blueberry pie!

I told Marge, it was no “Marge Espe, hand-picked, Beltrami County, wild blueberry pie”, but it was as close as I could get here in St. Paul.  She & KayLyn disagreed and thought it was just delicious! I grabbed one to-go for Glenn.  We headed over to get coffee at the Farmers Union booth.  There are new counters this year, with four lines going and faster distribution system, but they offer so many different things, and have two new food items, a rhubarb blueberry cobbler & Heirloom tomato BLT (both of which I have not tried) and fancy coffee drinks that the lines stretch into the street on busy days.  I suggested they have an express coffee line.  I’m not sure they care.  Today was a busy day, and getting busier.We waited almost 15 minutes for three cups of black coffee.

While we were gone for almost a half an hour, the boys had other ideas and wasted no time, adding buckets of fries and cookies to their food repertoire.

Glenn enjoyed his pie too, exclaiming, “Oh My” as he dipped his fork into the lemon blueberry goodness!  I commented that there isn’t much more Norwegian Lutheran than drinking hot black coffee on a hundred degree day in the sun!  I was told by numerous people today, that hot coffee on a hot day actually cools you down!  I’m in…I’m all in!

I did not have anything I wanted to accomplish, other than to help my family achieve their goals.  The weather really was oppressive and the fair was getting more and more crowded.  I offered to find a bench and plant myself for an hour so we would have a spot to watch the parade.  We found a bench in a semi shady spot, and as the sun moved, we moved the bench….and then the sun moved again and we moved the bench back.  It was a heavy yellow bench, but it was worth moving.

Marge & I sat on the bench while Glenn continued to occupy the Lienie Recliner.  KayLyn & family went to see butter heads.  I gave Kaylyn directions to sneak in the very back door to pop in where the butter heads are, but she missed by one door length and ended up smack in the middle of the dairy product lines! Afterwards they took a trip through the haunted house. I shared the story of why I am not welcome in the haunted house and we shared  good laugh!

My friend Bree was manning the volunteer gazebo at the Bailey House (across the street from us) and she got the best pictures of the parade! I dream of getting the color guard pictures like this!

If you look closely, we’re sitting on the bench by the tree!

This was pre-parade where all the equine participants come out and join the parade mid block from behind the Bailey House. What a cute little unicorn (photo credit Bree)

As the parade came by, once again I got to see my friend Johnny hard at work, scooping the pooping, among other things!

Post parade, we parted ways as I had other family to connect with, and had to return to fetch the rest of my family and return to the fair tonight.

I connected with Emma, Nick, Alexia, Willie and Baby Ashton in the middle of the Garden, where they had scored a table in the swamp!  It was Karaoke hour so there was much singing, dancing and need for cooling off beverages! … too soon?!?!

Laughter & tears were shared and it was Emma’s birthday and much fun was had by all… despite the sweltering heat and ever-increasing crowds!

I headed home, got a stamp and the crowds were pouring in.  What was I thinking….

I picked up Gray & RQ and we returned around 5pm.  We had a meet up scheduled with friends and RQ had to pick up his reserved scooter.

My cousin Karla’s son Kory entered a photograph into his county 4H competition and it made it to the State Level.  We headed up to 4H see if the judging was complete, but it turns out the judging was occurring at that moment.  We couldn’t wait for the results, so we headed to the Ball Park Cafe to meet Randy’s childhood friends, stopping along the way so he could get a foot long, a Gray could get a malt!

I usually avoid the fair, midday or early evening on the weekends.  Today reinforced that conviction.  Many days of this fair have broken records, but I don’t remember it ever being ~this! crowded.  I would have thought the sweltering heat would have thinned the crowds, but it did not.  I’m not sure how I did it….maybe channeling Mom, but I was able to score four tables and 10 chairs in the middle of the ball park, all while people were scoping and clamoring for anywhere to sit, rest and drink out of the sun.

Gray took off to hook up with some college friends and were happy just siting and visiting. 

Mary Jo & I offered to get some beer.  Rod said he’d take a Light beer and Randy said he’d like a “Mini Donut”  Rod said he’d like one of those too, so off we went.  Mary Jo is a celebrity so she doesn’t have to wait for beers!  We carried the beer to the table and Rod looked surprised when I out two beers down in front of him….he thought “mini donut” meant actual donuts…  Not at the Ball Park they don’t.

Lines were long for any food or beverage, seats were scarce and it took forever to walk 20 feet.  I had put on over 140 thousand steps in the past 11 days and I was good just staying put…for the whole evening.  Some of the group took off to see a couple of bands performing in other areas, but Randy wanted to go and get some food.  We left Gray with some friends and bucket of cookies, promising to return at some point.

The food building was sweltering, but not as crowded as the streets so I ran over and grabbed my second pie of the day! Randy did stop for actual Tom Thumb donuts and then we by passed Ye Old Mill, which for the first year is run by the State Fair,  The family that owned & ran it for generations decided to be done.  One of the top dollar auction items at the Taste ( that I did not attend this year) was a refurbished boat from Ye Old Mill!

Randy didn’t say anything and I wasn’t sure my knees would get me out, if I was even able to get in…so passing by was for the best.

We took the back way down through the Territorial Pioneers, walking past one of the recycling depositories for booths around this area.  It smelled about as good as it looked!

We came out by Kare11 and I filled up our water bottles at the nice cold spigots here.

We scooted and hiked over to the Turkey to Go booth and I got some ribs and Randy got a Giant Juicy.  I have not had a turkey sandwich this year, but the ribs are my new favorite anyway!

I got an icy, margarita beverage as we passed by Cafe Caribe, and did not see the rest of our group.  They must have already made their way up to Dino’s stage.  Randy was tiring from the crowds and heat and I wasn’t arguing, so we went back up the hill back to the Ball Park to fetch our youth.  Nate had just finished his very long day as beer man extraordinaire and took a minute to say Hi!

We’d be returning as a family unit again for our annual Labor Day Fair Day, but Randy wasn’t quite done eating.  I got him a Foot Long Poncho Dog as he returned the scooter and we all ~slowly~ walked back to Moms.

I was pretty sure this would be another record setting day.