The Great Minnesota Get-together times three

This was my third trip to the Minnesota State Fair and this time we took Gretchen with us as part of her birthday present (an outing with Gramma and Grampa). We were there last Saturday during the all time one day attendance record of 234,387 people. It was too crowded even to get a picture of it. The lines were so long that for the second time I didn't get the bottomless cup of chocolate milk. Our last time there was Labor Day and there was 100,000 fewer people there and we did get our Chocolate Milk. Finally!


We decided to go to a free park and ride and take the bus to the Fair. Gretchen thought that was the high lite of the day. She said the seats were soft and comfortable. Her eyes were glued to the scenery outside her window. First stop was the Dairy building to get our Chocolate Malt. And while we were there Princess Kay of the Milky Way was there with her court. They begged her to come up and get her picture taken. She didn't want to at first but decided she would, since they were princesses and they are always nice.Next stop was the giant slide. Gigi and I climbed the 103 steps to the top and had a fast ride down. Now This was the best part of the day. I turned around and she was gone and I finally found her (well at least I found her head). She posed for the "Ta-da" picture.
After the flying ride down.
We picked up some Tom Thumb Donuts on the way to the Miracle of Birth to see new born animals. She did pet the piglet but digital photography is slow and she already put her arm down by the time the camera snapped.
And a calf. Both were three days old.
We got our Chocolate Milk (I had my fill) before going to our next stop, "The Kidway" and flying bombers. It was an okay ride. She chose that ride because the teacup ride had just started and she started walking away.
After landing, the teacup ride was stopped and she jumped on, the only one on the whole ride. It was not too busy at the fair.
We then jumped on the "Lady Bug", similar to the "Caterpillar" at Valley Fair but for kids. Now This was her favorite so far. Keeps changing because we planned it that way.
Gigi wanted to ride the unicorn. I could not find one but she led me here and climbed up on the horse with the pink hair.
Our last stop of the day was Shenanigun's Comedy Wild West Show. This was Sheriff Hop-a-long Casually. He's the good guy. Yeahhhhh!
This is Bad Bob. He's the bad guy. Booooo! He broke out of jail and was coming to town to shoot the big, fat, dumb, ugly head off the sheriff. Video at the end.
At the end we got a cast picture with all of them. It was a very funny show. And even though some of the one liners and jokes that they told were way over Gigi's understanding, she was laughing anyway, mainly because of the gesturing and actions.
The bus ride home was just as fun as the ride there. But Gigi said the cowboy show was the best part of the day. We ended up at our house and watched a Tinkerbell movie before taking her home. It was a fun Labor Day
Here is some of the free entertainment at the fair. These guys from South America are there every year and usually play in a corner of a small eatery close to the DNR building but this year they got the DNR stage. There was also a girl band from Sweden at the fair.


Riding the Lady bug.

Then the Carousel and the horse with the pink hair.


A small snippet from the Shenanigun's Comedy Wild West Show.