New Rides, Attractions Announced For 2018 Minnesota State Fair

SAINT PAUL, MN — The Minnesota State Fair is just around the corner, and organizers announced dozens of new attractions, events and services for the 2018 Great Minnesota Get-Together.

The following is a list of the State Fair experiences debuting this year.

Cambria Kitchen

The former Creative Activities Demonstration Kitchen has been transformed into a state-of-the-art facility to showcase presentations that cultivate interest in creating delicious and attractive food.

The new Cambria Kitchen will feature a full schedule of premier local chefs and demonstrators, including Andrew Zimmern (Aug. 24), Scott McGillivray (Aug. 24), Sean Sherman & The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Food Lab (Aug. 31), and many more. Free with fair admission.

Located in the Creative Activities Building (open daily 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.), on the northeast corner of Dan Patch Avenue & Cosgrove Street.

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Related: 27 New Minnesota State Fair Foods In 2018: Photos, Descriptions

Seven New Thrilling Rides

Seven new rides – including three that are the only rides of their kind in North America – debut at the fair this year.

New at Mighty Midway:

• Downdraft: Get in, buckle up, and get ready to ride the airwaves in a supersonic spin.
• Haunted Castle Dark Ride: Brave souls who embark on this darkest of dark rides will encounter two levels of animated spooks, sounds and lights. Constructed in Italy, this will be the largest traveling haunted attraction in North America when it makes its debut at the Minnesota State Fair.
• Rock Star: Hop on board for a rock and rollicking good time on this exhilarating 360-degree thrill ride that spins to 60 feet high.
• Super Frisbee: Nothing short of spectacular, this is the only traveling ride of its kind in North and South America. At 52 feet high, the gondola rotates at 20 revolutions per minute and free falls at 3.5 times the force of gravity.
• Twin Flip: Monumental, high-flying spins within spins – and in all directions – make this a unique ride in North America and a thrill-seeker’s dream.

New at Kidway:

• Combination Carousel: This colorful ride takes tots on a spin merry-go-round style.
• Teacups: A calm rotating teacup ride amidst bright scenery and sparkling lights.

Mental Health Awareness at the State Fair

The Minnesota State Advisory Council on Mental Health, Subcommittee on Children’s Mental Health, National Alliance on Mental Illness Minnesota and more than 40 local organizations will host fun games, photo opportunities, trivia contests, giveaways and activities on wide-ranging and far-reaching mental health and wellness topics at Dan Patch Park on Aug. 27.

Topics include: relaxation and breathing exercises, prenatal care, sensory regulation, tele-mental health and recovery resources, art therapy coloring and mindfulness activities, crisis text numbers, reducing the sense of isolation, mental wellbeing assessments, legal advice on disability and mental health, bullying prevention, Medicaid resources, and more.

On the Dan Patch Park Stage, a full day of programming will raise awareness about mental health through inspiring and entertaining stage acts, including: drumming, musical theater storytelling for children, yoga, humorous conversations, music, sports psychology Q&A, therapy animals, and other presentations.

Located at Dan Patch Park on Monday, Aug. 27, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

New Construction on the State Fairgrounds

Highlights of this year’s fairgrounds improvement projects include:

• New Pet Pavilions and Outdoor Demonstration Area: A 6,600-square-foot open-air pavilion located just west of the former Pet Center will house purebred dog breed booths and the Pet Surgery Suite, where Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association members perform spay and neuter surgeries.

A neighboring structure will feature merchants selling pet-centric treats and accessories.

Agility, obedience and police K-9 demonstrations will be showcased in a new grassy outdoor demonstration area. Pet Pavilions are open daily, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• New Restroom Building: With 54 toilets, 32 sinks, 22 urinals, 18 family restrooms, eight drinking fountains and four water bottle refill stations, a new restroom building is being constructed on the south side of Murphy Avenue between Underwood and Cooper streets. This structure is the sixth major restroom facility built on the fairgrounds in the last 10 years.

Located on Murphy Avenue at the north end of the fairgrounds.

Eco Experience – New Highlights

At this award-winning exhibit, an array of new highlights features the latest in: easy, everyday reduce-reuse-recycle how-tos that impact our air and water; healthy cooking tips to reduce food waste; innovations in green technology; and other compelling topics on environmentally focused living.

At this year’s Eco Experience, here’s a sampling of the questions fair guests will find answers to:

• What are the challenges facing our beloved and unique Lake Superior, one of the fastest-warming ecosystems in the world?
• Can I taste the difference between Duluth water sourced from Lake Superior, St. Paul water sourced from the Mississippi River, and a third Minnesota community? (Daily rotation varies)
• What chefs and foodmakers are sharing tips and demonstrating recipes that minimize food waste, part of the exhibit that calls attention to the fact that 40 percent of food is wasted in the United States while one in eight Americans struggle with food insecurity?
• What are the myths and facts of tampering with the pollution control equipment in vehicles?
• What fun facts will I learn playing Climate Connections Bingo while exploring the Eco Experience exhibit – and what do I win?
• How can I adjust my home water softening system to work properly and efficiently to lessen the effect on
Minnesota’s growing salty water problem and increasing chloride pollution?
• What are some Minnesota-made products that come from raw material made of items we donate or put out for curbside recycling?
• Where’s the box to drop off my old phones, tablets, cords and cables?
• Where do I sign up to “adopt a drain” and pledge to keep it clear of debris?
• Is this where I pick up my free sheet of poop emoji toilet paper printed with practical water protection tips for folks with septic systems?

Eco Experience is a partnership of the State Fair, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and more than 150 organizations and businesses across the state. It is the largest environmental education event of its kind in the country.

Located in the Progress Center. Open daily 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Minnesota State Fair Horse Show – More Draft & Miniature Horse Competitions

There will be an expanded schedule of draft horse and miniature horse competitions:

• Friday, Aug. 24, 5 p.m. (Warner Coliseum): Draft Horse Hitch (various classes of six, four and single horses pulling wagons or carts)
• Saturday, Aug. 25, 8 a.m. (Compeer Arena, formerly AgStar Arena): Clydesdale, Percheron and Belgian Halter (horses are led not ridden and judged on conformity to the breed)
• Saturday, Aug. 25, 6 p.m. (Warner Coliseum): Draft Horse Hitch (various classes of horse teams pulling wagons or carts); Miniature Driving (various classes of carriage drivers and minis working together)
• Sunday, Aug. 26, 8 a.m. (Warner Coliseum): Draft Horse Showmanship (youth lead by hand, rather than ride, their horses through a series of patterns); Decorating (youth show off their groomed and fancied-up draft horses)
• Sunday, Aug. 26, 9:30 a.m. (Warner Coliseum): Various classes of Draft Horse Hitch and Miniature Driving
• Sunday, Aug. 26, 3 p.m. (Warner Coliseum): Draft Horse Barrel Racing
• Sunday, Aug. 26, 6:30 p.m. (Warner Coliseum): Various classes of Draft Horse Hitch (including the Eight-Horse, three-horse unicorn and single cart) and Miniature Driving
• Monday, Aug. 27, 2 p.m. (Warner Coliseum): Draft Horse Supreme Six-Horse Hitch and Supreme Cart Classic

The Hangar

The Hangar is a brand-new destination for food, craft beer and entertainment on the north end of the fairgrounds. Once home to the State Fair aircraft show in the early 1900s, the former Pet Center building is being repurposed into this establishment, complete with aircraft-themed décor and other memorabilia paying homage to the building’s history.

The menu will feature Slider Flights, breakfast items, smoked turkey legs, smoked brisket sandwiches, burgers, bacon-wrapped pork belly, kid meals, chicken-and-waffle ice cream splits topped with candied bacon, and a selection of local beers curated by members of the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild. Plus, there will be live entertainment.

Located on the northeast corner of Murphy Avenue & Underwood Street. Open 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays; 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends.

Premier Livestock Shows

The reputation and quality of the Minnesota State Fair livestock shows continue a proud tradition of excellence and will host several national-level exhibitions attracting strong competitors, some of which go on to win at other renowned exhibitions and others who use the regional and super-regional points they earn in Minnesota to garner national recognition.

Highlights for 2018 include:

• Charolais cattle
• Dairy goats
• Hereford cattle
• Holstein and Red and White cattle
• Sheep
• Shorthorn and ShorthornPlus cattle

Located in the livestock area and barns on Judson Avenue.

Touring Promotional Exhibit

Nearly 20 touring exhibits make a stop at the fair this year. One new highlight for 2018 is the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Spirit of Aviation presented by National Air Traffic Controllers Association.

Fair guests can: learn about the Experimental Aircraft Association through a 360-degree virtual reality video experience; try tools used on homebuilt aircrafts to bend a cookie cutter into a design; build a Flite Test foam glider to learn about the principles of flight; and get a feel for flying by taking the controls in the Redbird Spot Landing Challenge Flight Simulation.

Experimental Aircraft Association’s Spirit of Aviation located on the northeast corner of Judson Avenue & Nelson Street.

These popular and free State Fair experiences are adding new features in 2018:

• Alphabet Forest: The AmaZing Alphabetini (Debra Frasier) enriches children’s vocabulary and sends them out into the world with their very own “word of power.” (Aug. 23-30)
• Christensen Farms Stage: Learn fascinating “did you know” tidbits in two new stage programs, “Two Truths and a Lie” and “Food, Facts and Farming,” featuring state agriculture experts, chefs, farmers, food producers and commodity groups.
• The Common Table: Minnesota Eats: From aquaponics, lazy recipes and likeable insects to straw bale gardens and vermicomposting, a new slate of presentations will engage and enlighten.
• FFA Chapter House & Leadership Center: Young fair fans are invited to come on in and earn a “Bag of Ag!” FFA youth will lead hands-on AG-tivities and make-and-take crafts to help young people earn a “Bag of Ag” while learning about plants, livestock and the impact of agriculture on everyday life (while supplies last).
• Health Fair 11: Offering free vision screening for preschoolers.
• Math On-A-Stick: Escape the plane and move into the third dimension! Will you build a cube, a house, a soccer ball, a stellated octahedron, or some new shape the world has never seen before?

New Park & Ride Locations

There will be two new lots added – in Arden Hills and White Bear Township – to the already-expansive Park & Ride service:

• Calvary Church, 4604 Greenhaven Dr., White Bear Township, 55127
• North Heights Lutheran Church, 1700 Highway 96 West, Arden Hills, 55112

Both of these locations are open 8 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to midnight Sunday, and drop-off and pick-up at the Transit Hub on the west end of the fairgrounds.

New History Highlights

The History Walking Tour, a two-mile self-guided exploration of some of the State Fair’s most historically significant spots, introduces three new additions to the tour: International Bazaar, Kidway and Progress Center.

Fair guests can pick up a tour brochure at any of the 12 tour stops on the fairgrounds or the Minnesota Historical Society booth in the Education Building.

The three additions are:

• The Mexican Village opened in 1970, was renamed the Bazaar in 1984, and replaced with the all-new International Bazaar in 2008 to celebrate cultures around the world.
• Kiddieland opened in 1963 but outgrew its space outside the current Mighty Midway and moved to Machinery Hill in 1993.
• Built in 1907 as a poultry exhibition building, the Progress Center is now home to the Eco Experience exhibit. The History Walking Tour is supported by the Minnesota State Fair Foundation and the Minnesota Historical Society.

Located at International Bazaar, Kidway and the Progress Center.

Food Vendors Provide a Behind-the-Scenes Glimpse

The following three food vendors built new facilities or remodeled their existing space and will now provide fair guests with a behind-the-scenes glimpse at how their fair food is prepared and where it comes from:

• Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU): The renovation of MFU’s original 1950s building will give fairgoers the
opportunity to view videos about Minnesota family farmers, the state of agriculture, the importance of agriculture to the state’s economy, the value of locally grown food and the educational and legislative work of MFU.

Located on Dan Patch Avenue between Cooper & Cosgrove streets.

• Pronto Pups: At Pronto Pup headquarters, peek through the window on the south side of the building to see how this iconic food is speared, battered and fried. In a new building located on the west side of Underwood Street between Dan Patch & Carnes avenues.
• Sweet Martha’s Cookie Jar: Sneak a peek through the kitchen window on the south side of the building to see cookies by the thousands. There’s also a video outside the booth showing the full production process. In a new building located on the west side of Underwood Street between Murphy & Lee avenues.

New Merchandise Vendors

For 2018, the Minnesota State Fair welcomes more than 35 new merchandise vendors selling goods including upcycled gifts, home décor, gadgets, hobbies, beauty care, foodie fun, threads, accessories, home & garden solutions and more. These vendors join the nearly 1,000 existing merchants who offer exceptional merchandise.

Images via Minnesota State Fair