Best Bets for Groups at the Great Minnesota Get-Together! Welcome to the Great Minnesota Get-Together! The State Fair features the best of Minnesota’s industry, agriculture, entertainment, innovation, fine arts, food and merchandise. It’s all packed into 320 acres and 12 fun-filled days.

See last page for corresponding map areas!

Use this “Best Bets Guide” to help plan your day at the State Fair. Dividing the fairgrounds into areas—map areas A through F—the Best Bets Guide features the best things for groups to do in each area. After all, it would be impossible to cover the entire fairgrounds in one day! Use the following guide, in partnership with a daily schedule (found at any information booth or at mnstatefair.org), to plan your group’s itinerary of must-sees. The daily schedules feature specific times for many activities and attractions you’ll read about in this Best Bets Guide. Enjoy your day together at the Minnesota State Fair!

Map Area A 1.

3rd Lair SkatePark • BMX bikers and skateboarders flip, kick and perform daring high-air stunts at noon, 1:30, 3, 4:30 & 6 p.m. (Aug. 25-28 and Sept. 2-5) and noon to 3 p.m., 4:30 & 6 p.m. (Aug. 29-Sept. 1).

2.

Pet Center • Opportunities to meet dozens of canine breeds • Live pet surgery demonstrations • Action-packed dog agility and police K9 shows outside on the demo lawn

3.

Giant Sing Along • Get your group together to sing together to popular music karaoke-style in a field of microphones.

4.

Little Farm Hands • The littlest fair fans become farm hands at this agricultural education exhibit. The entire agricultural process comes to life as kids help with farm chores, collect goods to sell at the farmers market and spend their earnings at the grocery store.

5.

The North Woods • Shows taking place at The North Woods: • Captivating canines conquer big-air stunts and race through weave poles in the All-Star Stunt Dogs Splash daily at 11 a.m., 2 & 4:30 p.m. • Limber lumberjacks race up poles and saw through logs with lightning speed in the Timberworks Lumberjack Show daily at noon, 3, 5:30 & 7 p.m. • Many food and merchandise options

6.

Eco Experience • Interactive exhibits on energy saving, recycling, organic food and farming, alternative fuels, wind energy and sustainability

Map Area B 7.

Family Fair at Baldwin Park • Comedy, music and dance performances from 10:30 a.m. to 9:15 p.m. each day • Interactive educational exhibits like Alphabet Forest and Math On-a-Stick include crafts, learning and fun for families • Kids can dig, burrow and scoop in the Great Big Sandbox from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

8.

Fine Arts Center • See Minnesota’s largest juried art exhibition featuring the work of more than 300 of the most talented artists in our great state. • View the original 2016 Official State Fair Commemorative Art by Michael Sweere on display all 12 days.

9.

Kidway • More than 30 attractions provide itty-bitty thrills for the littlest fair fans!

10. 4-H Building • View artwork, technology and other projects created by talented Minnesota 4-H students. • Demonstrations, shows and live competitions on stage throughout the day 11. Education Building • Freebie alert! Free bags, hats and other goodies from select exhibitors • Learn about education in Minnesota from the colleges, schools and other exhibitors represented here. • Robot demonstrations and ribbon-winning work of K-12 students on display daily • Arts A’Fair performances just outside at the courtyard feature the best of Minnesota performing arts each of the fair’s 12 days. 12. Creative Activities • View the handwork of Minnesota’s finest amateur cooks, bakers, crafters and artisans. • Don’t miss the Creative Activities Annex. More than a dozen shops and merchants offer options for home décor, culinary convenience and more!

Map Area C 13. Leinie Lodge Bandshell • Musical performances all day, every day from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. • Bandshell Tonight! shows start at 8:30 p.m. each night and feature country, pop and rock performances by national touring acts, and it’s all free with fair admission. 14. Agriculture Horticulture Building • View the finest in Minnesota agriculture, horticulture and bee culture all 12 days of the fair. • The Common Table: Minnesota Eats exhibit teaches fair visitors about sustainable, community-based food systems and how to create them. • Don’t miss a Minnesota State Fair tradition – crop art! Artists use Minnesota-grown seeds and crops to create masterpieces. 15. International Bazaar • Take a trip around the world – all in a day at the fair with food, shopping, cultural demonstrations and music. • On-stage music, dance and cultural performances from 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Map Area D 16. DNR Park • Information, demonstrations and displays on Minnesota’s forests, rivers and wildlife • Demonstrations, performances and music each day of the fair on DNR Park Stage 17. Ramberg Senior Center • Oldies, polka and banjo performances beginning at 10:30 a.m. each day • View the beautiful quilts and other artisan work of Minnesota seniors on display. 18. Dairy Building • Watch butter sculptor Linda Christensen carve the likeness of a dairy princess out of a 90-pound block of butter. • Find cool dairy treats (yogurt, sundaes, malts or cheese) from Minnesota’s dairy industry. • Plenty of shops and merchandise vendors 19. CHS Miracle of Birth Center • Watch the animal agricultural process literally come to life as nearly 200 calves, lambs and pigs are born right here during the fair’s 12-day run.

Map Area E 20. Livestock Complex & Barns • Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum - Shopping and food vendors fill the concourse. The arena features the free Minnesota State Fair Horse Show with live competitions and performances every day of the fair. • AgStar Arena - Fast-action judging of cattle, llamas, goats, sheep, horses and more • See the animals up close at the Cattle, Swine, Horse and Sheep Barns. 21. Moo Booth, Oink Booth and Baa Booth • Hands-on activities and presentations help fair guests learn more about agriculture in Minnesota and how food gets from the farm to your table. • See cows being milked in the Cattle Barn’s Milking Parlor. 22. Mighty Midway • More than 30 world-class attractions, 60 games of skill and many concessions for thrill seekers 23. West End Market • Music and comedy performances all day on the Schell’s Stage at Schilling Amphitheater • Dozens of crafters, artisans, food options and merchandise vendors • Don’t miss the History & Heritage Center, showcasing the State Fair’s more than 150-year history, with artifacts, photos and interactive displays.

Map Area F 24. Grandstand • More than 200 merchandise vendors offer kitchen goods, clothing, home décor and more. • 12 nights of premier entertainment. Visit mnstatefair.org for lineup and ticket information. 25. Adventure Park • High-flying attractions and extreme experiences provide massive thrills for the bravest thrill seekers in your group. 26. Carousel Park • Demonstrations and performances on stage throughout the day. Each day has a different theme offering a whole new experience for visitors. 27. FAN Central • Memorabilia and merchandise from local sports teams • Interactive games and exhibits provide a stellar fan experience, and maybe a prize or two!

Other - The following can be found all around the fairgrounds! Shopping • Vendors offering merchandise and services are all over the fairgrounds. Some shopping hubs include the Grandstand, Merchandise Mart, Creative Activities Annex, Warner Coliseum, West End Market and International Bazaar. Food • Visit one of the more than 300 concessionaires serving up more than 500 different foods, approximately 80 of which are on-a-stick! • The Food Building houses nearly two dozen concessionaires in one central location. • Stop by any information booth to pick up a New Foods Brochure to find your way to the 32 fresh cuisine options debuting in 2016. Parade • Beginning and ending at the Haunted House, the daily parade takes place at 2 p.m. • The best place to watch the parade: Leinie Lodge Bandshell or at Family Fair at Baldwin Park where all parade participants are announced. Media • More than 30 radio and television stations broadcast live from the Minnesota State Fair every day. Meet local celebrities, get autographs, snag some freebies and be part of a live audience. History Walking Tour • Take a self-guided walk through the fairgrounds to learn about the Great Minnesota Get-Together’s past and present. Pick up a brochure at any information booth or History Walking Tour stop. • Great exercise: the whole tour is about a 2-mile walk!

BUFFALO LOT

CAMEL LOT Bicycle Lot

HOYT AVE

HOYT AVE

Pet The X-Zone Center Demos 2

Expo Place

OWL LOT

COOPER ST

UNDERWOOD ST

DAN ELMER WAY

SkyGlider

Giant Sing Along

A

3

$

Old Iron Show

4

LEE AVE

4

5

Little Farm Hands

Eco Experience Progress Center

The North Woods

D FOR BU

$

6 Lasertainment’s Laser Hitz Show

18 RANDALL AVE

L AVE

L RANDA

Bicycle Lot

COSGROVE ST

MURPHY AVE

$

3

Campground

7

Pedestrian & Service Vehicle Entrance

8

Math On-A-Stick Great Big Sandbox

Fine Arts Center

Family Fair Baldwin Park

CHARTER BUSES ROBIN LOT

10

Alphabet Forest

tH

16

$

23 Arts

West End Market

$

Historic Streetcar Arch

22

25

$

Horse Barn

West Barn

Aisle of Breeds

STEVENS ST

$

Libby Conf. Center

$

Cattle Barn

280

Cattle Annex

$

W

C D

$

DNR Building DNR Park

16

JUDSON AVE

$

Lee & Rose Warner

Coliseum

Exercise Ring

19

W

FFA

14

17

Ramberg Senior Center

18

Go Carts River Raft Ride

LOOP GATE

Dairy Building

$

Haunted House

Employment Center STELLA-COMO PARKING LOT

CATHLIN ST

1880 Como Operations Building

MSF Foundation J.V. Bailey House

$

pe

International Bazaar

15

Pedestrian & Service Vehicle Gate

COMO AVE

Pedestrian Bridge Motorcycle Lot

WEST COMO LOT

Space Tower

de

94

Demo Stage

service drive only

TAXI DROP OFF AND PICK UP

COMO AVE

Admin

Agriculture Horticulture

JUDSON AVE

$

CHS Miracle of Birth Center

Ye Old Mill

Metro Mobility Drop

Employment Center

13

$

Bandshell Skyride

path

CANFIELD ST

Baa Booth

W

W Pedestrian & Service Vehicle Gate

20

W

Admin Too

Libby Conf. Center

W W

Food Building

$

MIDWAY PARKWAY

Merchandise Mart

Health Fair 11

ian

W

W

The Garden

st r

Oink Booth W

Booth

Sheep & Poultry W

12

$

U of M

nly eo riv

21 Moo

Swine Barn

Commissary

W

JUDSON AVE

Visitors Plaza

Giant Slide

Carousel Park

Arts A’Fair

Creative Activities & Annex

Carousel

26

11

d ice

E

Forage

W W W

FAN

Community Stage

$

DAN PATCH AVE

27 Central

Education Building

rv se

TRANSITWAY

Exercise Ring

EquiMania! ™

AgStar Arena

Butterfly SkyGlider House

B Home Improvement

CARNES AVE LIGGETT ST

Mighty Midway

Adventure Park

CHAMBERS ST

Skyride

WEST DAN PATCH AVE

$

24

$

A’Fair

Elevator

Grandstand

Grandstand Plaza & Ticket Office

Kidway

UNDERWOOD ST

History & Heritage Center

$

$

Grandstand Concert Accessible Ramp

9

Wiser Living

E

$

NELSON ST

Schilling Amphitheater

$

F

Hub

CLOUGH ST

Tran sit

Horton Pavilions Entrance at Heffron Park

UNDERWOOD ST

ub

COSGROVE ST

si

COOPER ST

$

Tr an

4-H

WRIGHT AVE

EAST COMO LOT

SNELLING AVE

1

Metro Mobility Drop

ROOSTER LOT

SNELLING AVE

TIGER LOT

SNELLING AV

Each number correlates with the attractions on previous pages.

E SNELLING AV

LARPENTEUR AVE

Bicycle Lot