Many a kid has lost handfuls of tickets trying to win a prize at the Mighty Midway. But a few lucky folks win big, and get to carry a large stuffed animal around the State Fair for the rest of the day, prompting envious stares. A very few fairgoers even hand their prizes over to the aforementioned sad kids, winning an even bigger medal: a giant smile of gratitude.
Evangeline Carbajal, 5, of Minneapolis photographed with a stuffed animal prize at The Minnesota State Fair in Falcon Heights, Minn., on Monday, August 25, 2025.
] CARLOS GONZALEZ • carlos.gonzalez@startribune.com (Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Evangeline Carbajal, 5, of Minneapolis with her prize at the Minnesota State Fair.
Nevaeh Blackburn, 15, Tramaine Braziel, 14, and Imani Wright, 15, all of Minneapolis photographed with stuffed animal prizes at The Minnesota State Fair in Falcon Heights, Minn., on Monday, August 25, 2025.
] CARLOS GONZALEZ • carlos.gonzalez@startribune.com (Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Nevaeh Blackburn, 15, Tramaine Braziel, 14, and Imani Wright, 15, all of Minneapolis, with their matching prizes.
Tom Morrison, 48, of White Bear Lake photographed with stuffed animal prizes at The Minnesota State Fair in Falcon Heights, Minn., on Monday, August 25, 2025.
] CARLOS GONZALEZ • carlos.gonzalez@startribune.com (Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Tom Morrison, 48, of White Bear Lake can barely carry all his prizes.
Juan Antonio, 4, of Cumberland, Wis. photographed with a bubble gun at The Minnesota State Fair in Falcon Heights, Minn., on Monday, August 25, 2025.
] CARLOS GONZALEZ • carlos.gonzalez@startribune.com (Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Juan Antonio, 4, of Cumberland, Wis., got a bubble gun to play with at the fair.
Emily Shilson, 24, Chad Shilson, Sophia Mirabella, 23, of Astoria, NY, Margaret Shilson and Tyler Shilson, 26, photographed with their stuffed animal prizes at The Minnesota State Fair in Falcon Heights, Minn., on Monday, August 25, 2025. The Shilson family is from Maple Grove. Chad Shilson has mastered a Mighty Midway game and can win consistently. Every year the family wins large stuffed animals and gives them away to other fairgoers who are often children.
] CARLOS GONZALEZ • carlos.gonzalez@startribune.com (Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Emily Shilson, 24, Chad Shilson, Sophia Mirabella, 23, of Astoria, N.Y., Margaret Shilson and Tyler Shilson, 26, display their State Fair prizes. Chad Shilson has mastered a Mighty Midway game and can win consistently. Every year the Maple Grove family wins the big stuffed animals and gives them away to other fairgoers, often children.
Mila Ostlund, 2, of Minneapolis photographed with a stuffed animal prize at The Minnesota State Fair in Falcon Heights, Minn., on Monday, August 25, 2025.
] CARLOS GONZALEZ • carlos.gonzalez@startribune.com (Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
That’s a pretty big dill: Mila Ostlund, 2, of Minneapolis gets to carry a prize in her stroller.
Mario East, 43, of Mandeville, Jamaica and Paula Thomas, 35, of Falcon Heights photographed with a stuffed animal prize at The Minnesota State Fair in Falcon Heights, Minn., on Monday, August 25, 2025.
] CARLOS GONZALEZ • carlos.gonzalez@startribune.com (Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Mario East, 43, of Mandeville, Jamaica, and Paula Thomas, 35, of Falcon Heights, won a giant panda.
