Day 1 of State Fair comes to a close with Old Dominion, fireworks

It’s finally here — the first day of the 160th Great Minnesota Get-Together, filled with food, fun and people-watching.

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10:55 p.m. - It’s five minutes to closing at the fairgrounds, but there are last-minute munchies at Sweet Martha’s Cookie Jar on the way home.

— Jon Bream

10:24 p.m. - The Corn Roast Kids do their nightly post-grandstand concert dance at the Corn Roast stand. It’s a marathon.

— Jon Bream

— Jon Bream

9:51 p.m. - Old Dominion performs “One Man Band” as their grandstand set, with impressive graphics and improved showmanship, winds down.

— Jon Bream

9:30 p.m. - Oh, oh, I love the Mighty Midway after sundown. During the day there’s no shade and it’s brutal. At night the lights are colorful and bright. So many different people are walking around, playing games, holding hands, laughing. It’s all scored by a mix of pop music, screaming and arcade-like sounds. This is the best of fair vibes.

— Elliot Hughes

— Jon Bream

9:02 p.m. - A couple guys have their arms around their dates while watching the 1956 musical romantic comedy “High Society” at the Blue Moon Dine-In Theater.

— Elliot Hughes

8:51 p.m. - I checked out the fair’s Haunted House and it’s decent. Lots of good masks worn by the actors. There’s a haunted bar and butcher shop and whatnot. It’s not gonna send a scaredy cat like me home with nightmares, though. Wish it lasted longer because the air conditioning is phenomenal.

— Elliot Hughes

7:52 p.m. - Yam Haus performs “Green Lights,” the song that got the Stillwater band the opening gig for country favorites Old Dominion tonight at the grandstand. Old Dominion’s Trevor Rosen heard the song and connected with the Minnesota rock band.

— Jon Bream

7:43 p.m. - Dan Patch Park: a great place for an early-evening nap.

— Elliot Hughes

7:04 p.m. - People cool off in a mist maker outside of the Compeer Arena at the State Fair Thursday evening.

6:45 p.m. - As bad as traffic and parking have been today, riding a bike to the fair remains pretty easy if you live close enough. From northeast Minneapolis, it was a breezy 30-minute ride, mostly down Como Avenue’s bike lane. It took two minutes and cost nothing to park my steed at the bike lot near Gate 7.

- Elliot Hughes

6:30 p.m. - Hard to beat at sunset, the West End Market Stage is now sponsored by Minneapolis’ Pryes Brewing instead of Schell’s, as is the nearby West End Brews stand. But you can still get Schell’s there. Twin Cities piano rocker and “The Voice” alum Nicholas David thankfully hasn’t changed a lot, though, and is treating the crowd to a slow-grooving Americana music feast for his last of three sets today. He’s back for three more tomorrow.

- Chris Riemenschneider

6:15 p.m. - That’s a wrap for the Taste team, who spent 11 hours eating our way through all 60-plus new foods at the fair. We started with a burst of optimism that we’d finish by 3. Long lines and intense sun had other plans. We have our fair day down to a science: We fan out to buy a few items at a time, each take a bite (sometimes two) of all the foods, jot down notes and discuss as we go. This year there were very few divisive foods and plenty of emerging trends. You’ll read all about them in our reviews, which will post later tonight. We are, however, skipping supper.

- Jeff Wheeler

5:25 p.m. - The Fawaffle was what we were looking forward to most (OK, what I was looking forward to most), and I am thrilled to report it lived up to expectations. A falafel waffle perfectly executed, with fresh tomatoes and tons of flavors.

- Taste team

5:06 p.m. - Whoa — Timber Twists at Giggles’ Campfire Grill. This new fair food of sausage wrapped in pasta, then wrapped in bacon, then brushed with barbecue sauce is one hearty bite. Paul Bunyan would be proud.

- Taste team

- Eleanor Hildebrandt

4:40 p.m. - Did we really need triple chocolate mini-donuts? We absolutely did. Thanks, Solem’s Cheese Curds & Mini Donuts. ($12)

- Taste team

4:33 p.m. - Impressed with Urban Glow Mocktails’ dedication to an all-NA menu. Just tried all seven mocktails on their fair menu and thumbs up, especially the Nojito, Autumn Mule and CosNo ones ($8, 16 oz.).

- Taste team

“The pedestrian bridge that went over Como Avenue from the parking lot to the fair, just south of the Coliseum, was not installed for this year’s fair. The structure was built in 1965 and each year it is inspected by a structural engineer. This year we were not comfortable installing it. Fair guests can still purchase admission tickets on the south side of Como Avenue and will be directed to cross at the crosswalk and enter through Gate #9.”

- Jennifer Brooks

4:15 p.m. - Watch out for the Bagnado! The center attraction at the Eco Experience building informs fairgoers about Minnesota’s plastic packaging and grocery bag usage.

- Eleanor Hildebrandt

4:01 p.m. - If you’re not following our Strib Going Out account, why not? Taste team is posting updates there too. And did you know — each one of them tries a bite of every new fair food. Yes, every single one. Watch for their review tonight.

3:50 p.m. - Strawberries + Dubai chocolate (soooo refreshing). Need we say more?

- Taste team

3:41 p.m. - From malts and mini-donuts to sweatshirts and … beard oil: We’re on the hunt for the Blue Ribbon Bargain Book’s best coupons.(Stay tuned for a full report tomorrow.)

- Rachel Hutton

3:22 p.m. - The Minnesota Farmers Union strawberry basil lemonade is on point, just the refresher needed when walking the fairgrounds. We guessed another item would be as popular, and it was. The stand sold out of their Patisserie 46 collab pastries in the morning, so early bird gets the worm.

So.many.new.foods. And our Taste Team is trying them all:

3:10 p.m. - They are still judging the giant veggies in the Agriculture Horticulture Building. This cannot be rushed.

- Jennifer Brooks

2:45 p.m. - Everyone loves a parade. This one starts at 2 p.m. each day and includes marching bands, mascots, Princess Kay and an astronaut.

- Eleanor Hildebrandt

- Jennifer Brooks

2:15 p.m. - “You guys are going to make me cry!” Davina of Minneapolis’ great southern-boogie band Davina & the Vagabonds said, after the first burst of applause from a large midday audience bursting at the seams. The retro jazz/blues groovers perform again at 2:30 p.m. at the Bandshell and have two more gigs there Friday.

Other free live music at the fair for its first two days includes retro rockabilly/surf-rock vet Deke Dickerson at the West End Market Stage at 8 p.m., Joe Cruz’s Sounds of Santana tribute at the International Bazaar at 8 p.m. and New York’s “Fight Song” pop hitmaker Rachel Platten at the Bandshell at 8:30 p.m.

- Chris Riemenschneider

2:02 p.m. - Unclear which of these arrived first at the fair...

1:35 p.m. - Curious about the State Fair’s newest rides? The Thunderbird carries fairgoers 180 feet into the air and swings them in a circle for a few minutes. Captain Iconic, the voice of the ride, said the ride gives fairgoers “the best view of the State Fair.” The ride was not as popular as the Turbo Jump trampoline next to it. Children must be 48 inches to ride it.

- Eleanor Hildebrandt

1:20 p.m. - Surprise hit: Deep-fried black olives ($12) are crunchy, cheesy and when dipped in marinara, really hit. Lovers of mozzarella sticks will really like these. From the Fried Fruit & Fried Olive Stand.

- Nancy Ngo

1:05 p.m. - Does it feel crowded to you? There’s no avoiding the crowds, but opening day is — shockingly! — often one of the lowest-attended days of the run of the fair. An average of 111,000 fairgoers have visited on this day since 2013, but it has been gradually becoming more popular. Last year’s first day broke 2019’s record with 138,875 die-hards spilling through the gates. The weather was a comfortable 76 degrees.

- C.J. Sinner

12:45 p.m. Minnesota Nice: free range ASL interpreters.

- Jennifer Brooks

12:35 p.m. Ready for some Minnesota milk? The all-you-can-drink milk stand by Midwestern Dairy is celebrating 70 years. To ring in the anniversary, the stand is offering a new deal: two glasses of milk for $5. The regular price is one glass for $3. The refill line is already longer than the payment line, as many fairgoers bring their Sweet Martha’s cookies to dunk in the milk.

- Eleanor Hildebrant

- Anna Boone

12:10 p.m. - Stop by the Minnesota Star Tribune booth to pick up some free lip balm and you’ll see Strib staff on the stage. Editor Kathleen Hennessey was joined by columnist Eric Roper this morning. Full stage schedule here.

- Laura McCallum

11:55 a.m. - Pronto Pups being made at the Bakalars booth.

- Alex Kormann

- Eleanor Hildebrandt

11:34 a.m. - State fair butter sculptor Gerry Kulzer works FAST.

- Jennifer Brooks

11 a.m. - Visitors packed the Agriculture Horticulture Building, eager to catch a glimpse of this year’s crop art and scarecrow exhibitions. This year, 451 entries lined the walls, 100 more than last year. While most of the pieces hail from Twin Cities artists, submissions also arrived from Hackensack and Washington state. There are six Melissa Hortman tributes, including two for her golden retriever Gilbert.

Longtime crop artist Christy Klancher, who started the beloved crop art Facebook group, has four pieces. “This is where the real art is — the art of the people,” she said.

10:50 a.m. - The longest line of the day so far was at Beans & Beignets. Wonder if it will continue to be 50+ deep during the length of the fair.

— Taste team

10:41 a.m. - Must we bring politics into the State Fair? There’s really no wrong answer to the question this delicacy-on-a-stick poses.

— Jennifer Brooks

10:30 a.m. - One of the advantages of coming to the fair early: barely a line for our sappiest lip balm yet at the Minnesota Star Tribune booth. More Norway Pine for me!

10:20 a.m. - New vendor: Greater Tater. Five flavors, but they were sold out of the breakfast tots. Reuben, cheesy, jalapeños — and the sauce game was on point. Anyone who brings Top the Tater to the big game is a winner in our book. Our fave was the Reuben.

— Taste team

10:15 a.m. - The weather is great, but traffic is not. At 10 a.m., Snelling Avenue, the main throughfare running directly in front of the fairgrounds, was at a near standstill between Larpenteur Avenue and Como Avenue. Many other streets around the fairgrounds were plugged up, with Joe and Marla McPherson saying they spent 45 minutes stuck in traffic.

Nearby mainline routes, Hwy. 36 and I-94, appear to be moving well, but you’ll find traffic jams on Hamline Avenue.

— Tim Harlow

— Tim Harlow

10 a.m. - Miracle of Birth Barn status: Miraculous. The first lambs were born last night and they are excellent.

— Jennifer Brooks

9:56 a.m. - Nick Hacker juggles baseballs as he waits for players to step up to his game booth.

— Alex Kormann

Signs on Asbury Street read “Fast & Easy” parking payments, but the couple ran into a snag when the app sent back a message saying “can’t carry out the request.” Buffaloed by the technical problems, the couple tried the text option with no luck.

Eventually, Marla took over the phone, tried the website option and finally got it to work. “Not the way we wanted to start the day,” Marla said. Then there were Shannon Dury and Joan Kinsley of Minneapolis. They’d parked in the neighborhood for 20 years on opening day, only “now we are paying for it,” Kinsley said. It took Kinsley a couple tries, but eventually “I’m there. I got it,” she exclaimed as her order went through.

Lemuel Taylor, in from Iowa, said he used the text option to get a link. He completed his transaction in 45 seconds.

“Fast and easy,” said Taylor. “I’m golden.”

— Tim Harlow

— Taste team

9:35 a.m. - Through clouds of smoke from the Porkchop on a Stick booth, the morning crowd assembles.

The weather currently in the low 70s, creating the perfect conditions for the first day.

— Jennifer Brooks

9:15 a.m. - Pro-tip: Lulu’s Public House’s Caprese Curds are a surprisingly refreshing bite with fresh cut produce & herbs. A nice break from all the sweets.

8:51 a.m. - Grandma Doreen’s Dessert Dog gets the prize for most portable ice cream dessert. And there’s a sweet story behind it. The coffee cake that the ice cream is sandwiched between is a recipe from Grandma Doreen of Elgin, Minn.

— Taste team

8:32 a.m. - The Blue Barn introduced sweet squeakers this year. The cheese curds with berry sauce and lemon-scented whipped cream are sweet, crispy, fruity and delicious. The Barn nailed it this year.

— Taste team

8:22 a.m. - Weird, but yum: cheese curd tacos (Richie’s), pickle roll crepes (French Creperie); Hot Honey Jalapeno Popper Donut (Fluffy’s).

7:55 a.m. - Is it ever too early for an ice cream cone? Magdalena’s Chimney Cakes with vanilla ice cream, Nutella, sprinkles, oreo and caramel are among the new fair foods this year.

It’s turning out to be a sweet start to the fair. We’ve already had seven desserts. Oreos a stong theme so far.

— Taste team

7:45 a.m. - There are new parking rules to keep in mind this year at the fair.

Falcon Heights will charge visitors $25 for a parking spot on the street.

— Tim Harlow

7:31 a.m. - The tallest portable swing in North America and a space exploration exhibit are some of the hottest additions to the Minnesota State Fair. There are also a number of freebies available, from Voyageurs National Park to Bush’s Beans.

Find a full list of what’s new at the fair this year here.

— David Taintor

7:25 a.m. - Malorie Thorson, who grew up on a dairy farm in rural Wright County, was crowned the 72nd Princess Kay of the Milky Way on Wednesday evening just before the fair kicked off.

— Elliot Hughes

7:09 a.m. - First bite of the day was the Mr. Peg. Think pickle breakfast sandwich in a delicious way. Top-notch slaw. Great start.

— Taste team

7:05 a.m. - The gates are officially open and the 2025 Minnesota State Fair has begun.

— David Taintor

— Taste team

6:47 a.m. - It’s STEM Day at Dan Patch Park, with SciMathMN leading hands-on, interactive science, technology, engineering and math experiences. The University of Minnesota’s Raptor Center and the Science Museum of Minnesota have performances in the park during the day.

Journey to Space, a new exhibit at the North End Event Center from the Science Museum of Minnesota, opens today. The exhibit shows fairgoers what it would be like to visit the International Space Station and will be open until Labor Day. During the first four days of the fair, NASA will have a few of its own exhibitions and guests, including a moon rock from the Apollo 15 mission and space suits.

Click this link for more happenings on the first day of the fair.

— Eleanor Hildebrandt