If you live in Minnesota or are just a huge fan of state fairs you would probably really enjoy the Minnesota State Fair. Second only to Texas in size “The Fair” as the kids like to call it, is twelve days of the most unhealthy food you can imagine, faded rock stars, haunted houses, and live local television news. Basically a midwestern paradise. And Minnesota had been doing it up right for a long time.

If you decide to make the pilgrimage out to the fairgrounds be sure to keep your eye out for some pretty cool items that I help develop.

Historic State Fair walking tours will be going on during the twelve day event. At each stop there will be a marker like the one above to indicate a person, place, or moment in Fair history. I illustrated the signs and have to admit they are quite catchy. I’d stop and read it.

Not only do they have the tour but they also developed a pamphlet that you can get all over the fair that is a historic marker check off list. You can also pick up your calendar of historic events going on during the Autumn season.

Finally, one of the coolest things going on this year, and something ever artist aspires to have happen to their artwork, you can get flattened pennies with historic designs on them. I designed the historic sites earlier this year while working on a previous Minnesota Historical Society project. Just find the Kare 11 news station and bring along some pennies and you can go to town. Collect all four, they’ll at least be worth a penny!

Brent