Our photographer set out to find the shadow side of the sunny fairgrounds. She came back with a photo essay not of the seamy underbelly of the fair (is there one? Maybe an assignment for another Strib reporter), but of some familiar activities and spots at Minnesota’s big end-of-summer party.
Shadows at the fair: People ride the swings at the Midway at the Minnesota State Fair on Friday, August 22, 2025 in Falcon Heights, Minn. ] RENEE JONES SCHNEIDER • renee.jones@startribune.com (Renée Jones Schneider/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Fairgoers ride swings over the Mighty Midway on Friday.
Shadows at the fair: A girl holds her arms up as she rides the Big Slide the Minnesota State Fair on Friday, August 22, 2025 in Falcon Heights, Minn. ] RENEE JONES SCHNEIDER • renee.jones@startribune.com (Renée Jones Schneider/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
A girl flies down the Giant Slide, with its bright yellow peaks and valleys.
Shadows at the fair: Girls’ feet dangle from the swings at the Midway at the Minnesota State Fair on Friday, August 22, 2025 in Falcon Heights, Minn. ] RENEE JONES SCHNEIDER • renee.jones@startribune.com (Renée Jones Schneider/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Two riders almost touch down on the swings at the midway, which takes riders high in the air for a stellar view of the fairgrounds.
Shadows at the fair: Minnesota State Fair Mounted Patrol Officer’s horses Blade and Jake stand in the street guiding traffic at the Minnesota State Fair on Friday, August 22, 2025 in Falcon Heights, Minn. ] RENEE JONES SCHNEIDER • renee.jones@startribune.com (Renée Jones Schneider/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
A mounted police patrol directs traffic at the fair, with horses Blade and Jake also open to pats from the public when they’re not working.
Shadows at the fair: Fairgoers walk through the Minnesota State Fair on Monday, August 25, 2025 in Falcon Heights, Minn. ] RENEE JONES SCHNEIDER • renee.jones@startribune.com (Renée Jones Schneider/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Despite perfect weather on Monday, there was room on the sidewalk for shadows to be seen.
Shadows at the fair: Fish swim in the DNR Fish Pond at the Minnesota State Fair on Sunday, August 24, 2025 in Falcon Heights, Minn. ] RENEE JONES SCHNEIDER • renee.jones@startribune.com (Renée Jones Schneider/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
The lunkers in the DNR Fish Pond cast shadows you might not care to see if you were swimming in a lake.
Shadows at the fair: A woman walks two two corndogs at the Minnesota State Fair on Sunday, August 24, 2025 in Falcon Heights, Minn. ] RENEE JONES SCHNEIDER • renee.jones@startribune.com (Renée Jones Schneider/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
A fairgoer double-fists it after a stop at a corndog stand.
