FALCON HEIGHTS — With just one day to go until the Minnesota State Fair opens, vendors are putting the final touches on their booths in preparation for the 7 a.m. opening on Thursday. Spokesperson Maria Hayden reassures that everything will be ready, and highlights the new Official Minnesota State Fair app, which features interactive maps, a new foods list, vendor locations, and daily schedules to help visitors plan their day.
Despite some restrictions due to bird flu, the Miracle of Birth Center will still feature live births, though there will be limitations on live dairy calf births. Hayden explains, “There may still be calf births at the Miracle of Birth Center, it just won’t be lactating dairy cows… there may be beef cows that you can see there.” However, she assures that the average visitor won’t notice any difference. The exhibit will also showcase live births of sheep, pigs, and poultry.
Meanwhile, the DNR’s outdoor fish pond is stocked and ready, featuring 35 to 40 species of mid- to large-size fish native to Minnesota. Fisheries supervisor Genevieve Furtner highlights some of the standout species: “We’ve got our really fun big ones like the paddlefish, the sturgeon, the gar, some big muskie as well… some nice bass in here, some perch, some panfish as well.” The DNR’s live fish exhibit has been a fair staple since 1905.
Today (Wednesday) marks the last chance to purchase pre-fair discount tickets for the “Great Minnesota Get-Together.”
