Courtesy Minnesota State Fair
We’ve got you covered for (soon to be in) Minnesota State Fair food and drinks. Critic Jason DeRusha has already done gone ranked the new 2019 State Fair foods, we’ve rounded up the new State Fair foods in full if you’re a completist—plus the new beers, plus the new beers by location. And now, Jason has given his definitive verdict on what to eat and what not to eat of the fair’s new foods.
Make sure to swing by the new food vendors, too. Or, if you want a classic fair experience, Jason also bullet-pointed the can’t-miss, perennial food favorites (like Sweet Martha’s cookies and Fresh French Fries).
What’s left? Just for you to park those extra pounds in front of a stage and take in a free show. There are plenty. Literally almost 1,000. Because, yeah. There’s more to do here than stuff your face. (Here’s the Grandstand lineup, by the way. Not free.)
Out of more than 100 acts, a couple notable names include Dessa at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell Stage on Sept. 1 and 2, where Belinda Carlisle performs opening weekend, and Kat Perkins (of The Voice) on the International Bazaar Stage Aug. 26 and 27.
Check out the schedule for this weekend here:
Leinie Lodge Bandshell Stage
What: Big-name talent on the stage that’s shaped like a triangle
Where: Across from the Food Building, north of the Space Tower
Aug. 22 and 23
Dawson Hollow, 10:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m.
Mac McAnally, 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m.
Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, 3:30 p.m., 4:45 p.m.
MSF Amateur Talent Contest, 6 p.m. (through Aug. 31)
Belinda Carlisle, 8:30 p.m. (Bandshell Tonight! Concert Series)
Aug. 24 and 25
Chad Przybylski and His Polka Rhythms, 10:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m.
The Quebe Sisters, 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m.
Brandon Lay, 3:30 p.m., 4:45 p.m.
Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone, 8:30 p.m. (Bandshell Tonight! Concert Series)
Courtesy Minnesota State Fair
Cosgrove Stage
What: Mostly dance, from square to swing, clogging to Zumba
Where: On Cosgrove Street, south of the 4-H Building, across from the Home Improvement Building
Aug. 22
Young Fiddlers Association of Minnesota, 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon
Square Dance Federation of Music, 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m.
Cadenza, 3:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.
Aug. 23
Krewe de Walleye, 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon
Square Dance Federation of Music, 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m.
Rhythym & Swing, 3:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.
Aug. 24
West Coast Swing Dancers, 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon
Tapestry Folk Dance Center, 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m.
Cre.ture Crew, 3:30 pm, 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.
Aug. 25
Royal Sil-O-Ets Cloggers, 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon
Line Dance Minnesota, 3:30 pm, 4:30 pm, 5:30 pm
Courtesy Minnesota State Fair
Family Fair Stage in Baldwin Park
What: Family-friendly entertainment, goofy performers, circus-y acts
Where: On the corner of Randall Avenue and Cosgrove Street, across from the 4-H Building and the Fine Arts Center
Aug. 22 and 23
Greg Frisbee, 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 3 p.m.
Sean Emery, 12:30 p.m., 5 p.m.
Break-Shop Bump’n, 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m.
MSF County Fair Talent Contest, 7 p.m. (daily through Aug. 31)
Aug. 24 and 25
The Chipper Experience, 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 3 p.m.
Courtesy Minnesota State Fair
Festival of Nations Demo Stage
What: Performances spanning the globe, “from Russian accordionists to Lebanese belly dancers”
Where: Behind the Haunted House on Underwood Street (close to the International Bazaar Stage)
Aug. 22
Cultural Society of Filipino-Americans Dance Troupe, noon, 1:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 23
African American Dancers, noon, 1:30 p.m.
Turkish Dancers, 3 p.m., 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 24
Armenian Dance Ensemble, noon, 1:30 p.m.
Al-Bahira Middle Eastern Dance Theater, 3 p.m., 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 25
Thai Dancers, noon, 3 p.m.
Izvorasul Romanian Dance Ensemble, 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m.
Courtesy Minnesota State Fair
3rd Lair SkatePark
What: Skate park for watching cool flips and tricks
Where: On the corner of West Dan Patch Avenue and Chambers Street, across from the Grandstand
Daredevil skateboard and BMX bike demonstrations, 10:30 a.m., noon, 1:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m. (daily)
Courtesy Minnesota State Fair
International Bazaar Stage
What: Artists from around the state/world showcase jazz, polka, funk, R&B, Tex-Mex, dance, rock, brass…
Where: Next to the Haunted House on Underwood Street (close to the Festival of Nations Demo Stage)
Aug. 22 and 23
Cheremosh Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, 10:45 a.m., noon, 1:15 p.m.
Intoxicats, 3:15 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5:45 p.m.
Westside Band (Bazaar After Dark)
Aug. 24 and 25
Papa Shalita, 10:45 a.m., noon, 1:15 p.m.
Native Pride Dancers, 3:15 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5:45 p.m.
MFELLAZ (Bazaar After Dark)
Courtesy Minnesota State Fair
Ramberg Music Cafe Stage
What: Singer-songwriters croon country, bluegrass, other folksy sounds
Where: On Judson Avenue, across from the Dairy Building
Aug. 22
The Fairlanes, 10:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 1 p.m.
Steve Noonan, 3:15 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5:45 p.m.
Aug. 23
Steve Noonan, 10:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 1 p.m.
The Fairlanes, 3:15 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5:45 p.m.
Aug. 24
Tony Cuchetti, 10:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 1 p.m.
Rich Lewis Band, 3:15 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5:45 p.m.
Aug. 25
Rich Lewis Band, 10:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 1 p.m.
Tony Cuchetti, 3:15 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5:45 p.m.
Courtesy Minnesota State Far
Schell’s Stage at Schilling Amphitheater
What: Indie rock, folk, pop, hardcore fiddling—and “History on a Stick” every morning at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m.
Where: North of the West End Market, east of the Grandstand
Aug. 22 and 23
Sarah Morris, 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m.
Joyann Parker, 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m.
Mentalist Noah Sonie, 6 p.m.
Nooky Jones, 8 p.m. (West End at Sunset Concert Series)
Aug. 24 and 25
The Minnesota State Fiddle Contest, 11:30 a.m.
Sawyer’s Dream, 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m.
Hit Ticket, 6 p.m.
Early Eyes, 8 p.m. (West End at Sunset Concert Series)
Courtesy Minnesota State Fair
The North Woods Stage
What: Impressive pups and lumberjacks/jills—i.e., plenty of sawing, panting
Where: On the corner of Cooper Street and Lee Avenue, across from Little Farm Hands
All-Star Stunt Dogs Splash, 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m. (daily)
Timberworks Lumberjack Show, noon, 3 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7 p.m. (daily)
