Dad's Eye View

School has already started in Minneapolis, and is about a week away for most other students; the days are still warm, but cool nights hint at the return of autumn; and the Minnesota State Fair has rolled into St. Paul, summer’s glorious dessert course that also means the summertime party is coming to a close.

Even though the State Fair announces summer’s end, it’s hard not to look forward to it. Everything fun seems to descend on the fairgrounds for the last week of August and the first week of September: midway rides, food on a stick, games of skill and chance, baby animals, Sweet Martha’s cookies, lots of music, and so much more!

Everyone has their favorite fair attractions that they have to visit every year. For me, it’s the gondola ride above the fairgrounds, the river raft ride, and a bucket of warm cookies that melt into a great lump of butter and chocolate. Kelly likes the coffee on a stick from the Farmers Union, and the boys like the dragon roller coaster at the Kidway and the foot-long corn dogs washed down with root beer. In fact, I think the boys, who are now great connoisseurs of root beer, had their first taste at the fair.

What’s your can’t-miss fair attraction?