The lure of the Ag/Hort building is what's inside

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Byline Override

Video (02:43) Seed art, beer and winning crops show up here in a normal year, but this year isn't normal.

James Lileks is a Star Tribune columnist.

james.lileks@startribune.com 612-673-7858

Contests

Fact Frenzy trivia contest
with Eric Roper and Nicole Norfleet

Consider this the Great Minnesota Quiz-Together! From the hallowed grounds of the Minnesota State Fair, we'll be serving up trivia on everything from state history and icons to movie moments and local sports. Play along online at startribune.com/factfrenzy and enter to win bragging rights and a fabulous Star Tribune prize package.
Fact Frenzy: Minnesota Landmarks Edition

Welcome to Fact Frenzy! This round of Minnesota trivia is all about our prized state landmarks. (We promise there's only one question about a lake.)

Published August 27
Fact Frenzy: Minnesota State Fair Edition

The Minnesota State Fair may be canceled, but it lives on in our hearts ...and in this round of Fact Frenzy! How deep is your state fair love?

August 29
Fact Frenzy: Minnesota Sports Edition

This round of Fact Frenzy, we challenge how well you know your Minnesota sports teams. Bring your A game, champ.

August 31
Fact Frenzy: Minnesota Movies and Music Edition

Minnesota stars of the screen and stage abound in this round of Fact Frenzy, the world's greatest trivia game. Time to show us what you know!

September 2
Fact Frenzy: Minnesota Food Edition

Hungry for trivia action? For this round of Fact Frenzy, we've got six questions about classic Minnesota cuisine to test your local food IQ.

September 4
Fact Frenzy: Minnesota History Edition

Pop quiz! Do you know your state history? We'll be judge of that.

September 6

Amateur talent contest

After four rounds of competition, you've chosen the champion from our grandstand final round of nine finalists:

Experiences

DIY State Fair
with Jennifer Brooks

Missing the Fair's unique crafts like carving a princess head out of butter or baking from scratch? We found instructors, including Sweet Martha herself, who can teach you to make Fair classics at home.
Yes, you can carve a princess out of butter

A State Fair master guides us through the sculpting process using a one-pound butter brick.

August 28
Jen Brooks felts a special Fair souvenir

Missing your State Fair souvenirs? Make your own “Blue Ox, Blue Ribbon” keepsake with official Star Tribune felt ornamentalist, Jennifer Brooks.

September 1
Bake with Sweet Martha

No, she won't share the secret recipe, but she does have tips and tricks for making warm, gooey chocolate chip cookies.

September 3
Crack the secret of seed art with these DIY instructions

State Fair seed art champion Jill Moe offers a beginner's guide to making your crop art masterpiece.

September 5

Beer Garden
with Michael Agnew, Sharyn Jackson and Chris Riemenschneider

Star Tribune beer expert Michael Agnew leads a sudsy virtual tasting of some of summer and fall's best brews.
Beer garden summer beer tasting

If it's State Fair time, it's still summer beer season. We chose six to sample, and we hope you'll drink along and make your own tasting notes.

Published August 27
Beer garden fall beer tasting

Fall calls for heartier beers with fuller body. Experience these six selections, curated by the Star Tribune cicerone.

September 3

Fair Minute
With James Lileks

James Lileks walks the now-empty fairgrounds to remind us how its traditions live in the buildings and on the grounds themselves.
The lure of the Ag/Hort building is what's inside

Seed art, beer and winning crops show up here in a normal year, but this year isn't normal.

August 28
Little noticed areas at the Fair reveal its history

Mustering militias and Souza marches are just a sliver of what these grounds have seen.

August 30
What happens on the Midway...

Its skeevy past included rigged games and whoopie shows.

September 1
The Grandstand is more than a stage

During the fair, it bustles above with musical acts and below with retail.

September 3
4H kids are the heart of the fair

A peek behind the scenes, including the barracks.

September 5
Flavors of the Food Building

When the Fair's epicenter for food is packed with people, you never notice this funny feature.

September 7

Star Tribune Stage
Interviews with Minnesota notables, from Gov. Tim Walz to Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve.

Education Commissioner Mary Cathryn Ricker on Minnesota's return to school

August 29
The race to a vaccine with Mayo's Dr. Gregory Poland

August 31
St. Thomas athletic director Phil Esten on the transition to Division I sports

September 2
Lynx head coach and GM Cheryl Reeve on the WNBA's social justice efforts

September 4
Gov. Tim Walz on Minnesota’s future

September 5
Timberwolves President Gersson Rosas on landing the No. 1 pick and what's next

September 6

Mini-Grandstand
Musicians from Lucinda Williams and Lyle Lovett, to the Jayhawks, Dan Wilson and Andre Cymone, perform daily, exclusive concerts on our virtual stage

A voice for the times, Lucinda Williams opens our Mini-Grandstand concert series

The Americana queen plays a special set drawing on her new album "Good Souls Better Angels," which echoes our troubled era.

Published August 27
Prince's old friend Andre Cymone speaks in music to a 'World on Fire'

Aside from its continuing racial problems, "Minneapolis is a beautiful city," says the North Side-bred funk-rocker.

August 28
What pandemic? Twin Cities hip-hop hero Nur-D is busier than ever

He can rock madly or be cuddly sweet, as his set for our Mini-Grandstand demonstrates.

August 29
A voice for healing, Jearlyn Steele is a State Fair veteran who can do it all

The "Prairie Home" favorite and WCCO talk-show host won the fair's talent contest 40 years ago with her family group the Steeles.

August 30
From ‘Colbert’ to Madison Square Garden, guitar star Cory Wong plays it big

But while fiery fretwork has raised his national profile, the hyperprolific Twin Cities musician has nurtured a quieter, acoustic side.

August 31
Minnesota rock heroes the Jayhawks play a fun all-covers set

After releasing their 11th album to widespread praise, the band kicked back in their studio for a set of other people's tunes.

September 1
He may be a hardcore Texan, but Lyle Lovett's got a soft spot for Minnesota

He's played here nearly every year for two-decades-plus. But this year, we get him virtually.

September 2
It's always a great Minnesota get-together with Siama's Afropop

The Congolese guitar player and his American partner make music for dancers and families alike.

September 2
Dan Wilson opens a new chapter with his 'Closing Time' bandmates Semisonic

His solo set for our Mini-Grandstand series precedes the band's first new record in nearly two decades.

September 3
A romance is renewed, as Minnesota gets to hear the Cactus Blossoms once again

Road hounds for nearly a decade, the harmonizing brothers have gone months without playing live.

September 3
Meet Lady Midnight, one of Minnesota's most captivating singers

A riveting presence, she just made City Pages' Best Of issue with her album "Death Before Mourning."

September 4
Not even the coronavirus could stop powerhouse pianist Nachito Herrera

The Cuban-born jazz great was on a heart-lung machine for days, but survived his 2½-week ordeal in intensive care.

September 5
Like a country road, Molly Maher's music takes the long way home

Nature is a theme for the Twin Cities singer, who looks for opportunities to "stop, slow down and reset."

September 6
‘Voice’ finalists Kat Perkins and Nicholas David team up for our Mini-Grandstand finale

Perkins and David met 15 years ago on the local bar-band circuit. But they’ve performed together only once before.

September 7

Virtually There: A 360° view of the Minnesota State Fair

When State Fair nostalgia strikes, immerse yourself in these short 360-degree videos that capture the feel of being at the Great Minnesota Get-Together. Click and drag your cursor on the video screen to look around.

Guides

Daily Fair Food Guides
With Rick Nelson, Sharyn Jackson and Michael Agnew

No Fair, no food? No way! We tracked down where to find the best deep-fried, on-a-stick, flavorful Fair food across the cities, from trucks and stands to grocery store aisles.
Here’s how critic Rick Nelson will get a fill of his State Fair favorites this year

Some of the best food on the fairgrounds is available elsewhere, either in carbon copy form or as a close facsimile.

Published August 27
Twin Cities restaurants with fair food on the menu, part 1

These local restaurants, bakeries and food trucks with outposts at the fair are the places to get fair-style food this summer.

August 28
Twin Cities restaurants with fair food on the menu, part 2

These local restaurants, bakeries and food trucks with outposts at the fair are the places to get fair-style food this summer.

August 29
A taste of wacky Minnesota State Fair beer, elsewhere

State Fair beers are unlike any others. Find out for yourself, though not at the fairgrounds.

August 30
Where to get 10 classic Minnesota State Fair foods around the Twin Cities, part 1

If you’re missing your favorite fair foods, we’ve got a backup plan.

August 31
Where to get 10 classic Minnesota State Fair foods around the Twin Cities, part 2

If you’re missing your favorite fair foods, we’ve got a backup plan.

September 1
Find these 10 fair foods from vendors around the Twin Cities

Get your corn dogs and cheese curds in a parking lot.

September 2
Our Minnesota State Fair food wishlist for 2021

These foods would fit right in at the Minnesota State Fair.

September 3
Where to get corn dogs — and Pronto Pups — in the Twin Cities

Groceries and other stores are helping you bring a taste of the Fair home.

September 4
30 places to get malts, frozen pops and ice cream sundaes

Even without the Dairy Building, there's no shortage of cool treats for these dog days of summer.

September 5
10 chocolate chip cookies in the Twin Cities that’ll satisfy your State Fair cookie craving

Missing Sweet Martha’s Cookie Jar, the state fair’s top-grossing food vendor? Here are 10 Twin Cities chocolate chip cookies that just might satisfy your fairgrounds cookie craving.

September 6
10 State Fair foods you can get at the grocery store

Sweet Martha’s cookies, Nordic Waffles, and more.

September 7

Check out our brand new State Fair merchandise

Showcase your love for the best 12 days of summer with our all-new State Fair items, including a brand new 24-page Fair Favorites Coloring Book, Fair shirts, in-stock and on-demand, and our new Cheese Curd flavored lip balm. Get yours now and celebrate the fair, even if you’re not there!