Air conditioned spaces at the MN State Fair
August 28, 2012 8:05 AM Subscribe
Where are the air conditioned spaces at the MN State Fair?
Going to the MN State Fair with the family on Thursday. Forecast is hot. Where can we get out of the heat to cool off for a bit?
Going to the MN State Fair with the family on Thursday. Forecast is hot. Where can we get out of the heat to cool off for a bit?
I love the fair and probably spend in excess of 24 hours there each year. That said, I'm not aware of any truly public space that ever feels air conditioned. Your best bets are to stay in shady places with cool drinks and maybe a fan. If you do get in distress, I believe the first aid/public safety building by Pioneer Square is air conditioned, but it's not really setup as a place to cool down.
Pies and jams are refrigerated at our fair, but the Creative Activities building just feels hot. They do have fans running against the outside of the cases to keep the condensation under control, but it's not a great place to cool down. The top floor of the Grandstand often has a breeze that feels heavenly, but if it's really busy, the building will still feel plenty hot.
posted by advicepig at 8:34 AM on August 28, 2012
Pies and jams are refrigerated at our fair, but the Creative Activities building just feels hot. They do have fans running against the outside of the cases to keep the condensation under control, but it's not a great place to cool down. The top floor of the Grandstand often has a breeze that feels heavenly, but if it's really busy, the building will still feel plenty hot.
posted by advicepig at 8:34 AM on August 28, 2012
The butter sculptures are actually in their own 38-degree rotating glass box, which holds both the sculptor and the sculptures themselves.
I can't remember specifics for actual air conditioned places, but any of the indoor halls will be comparatively decent for cooling off. Just getting out of the sun will be key.
What might help you tremendously (read: don't be like me!) is planning out a route beforehand. Specifically, the Bucket of Cookies was nowhere near All the Milk You Can Drink, and I nearly keeled over trying to a) remember where it was and b) get back there.
Another good place: the Agriculture pavilion, with the seed art and flower arranging (that's probably cooler than most places) AND the frozen cider.
posted by Madamina at 8:37 AM on August 28, 2012
I can't remember specifics for actual air conditioned places, but any of the indoor halls will be comparatively decent for cooling off. Just getting out of the sun will be key.
What might help you tremendously (read: don't be like me!) is planning out a route beforehand. Specifically, the Bucket of Cookies was nowhere near All the Milk You Can Drink, and I nearly keeled over trying to a) remember where it was and b) get back there.
Another good place: the Agriculture pavilion, with the seed art and flower arranging (that's probably cooler than most places) AND the frozen cider.
posted by Madamina at 8:37 AM on August 28, 2012
You can always swing through some of the animal barns, and linger in front of the big ol' fans blowing on the beasts.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:26 AM on August 28, 2012
posted by wenestvedt at 9:26 AM on August 28, 2012
I don't know about the MN state fair, but the Topsfield fair in MA had an air conditioned trailer for nursing mothers, if that's an option for some of your family. (Men and children who were not nursing weren't allowed in the trailer).
That said, one thing I learned working at an amusement is to wear a baseball cap -- specifically a baseball cap because it is lightweight, brimmed, and made of good material for this. Get the baseball cap sopping wet in water whenever possible. Put baseball cap on head. Yes, you will be wet, but you will also be cool and it works for quite awhile! Also, bring handkerchiefs or bandanas, douse them in cold water when given the opportunity, rub behind he knees, inside the elbows, on the back of the neck, tie around head. This too will keep you cool.
Drink plenty of water, keep to shady places, and don't rush. Also, remember that everyone should wear sunscreen! Always, always, always wear sunscreen!
posted by zizzle at 9:46 AM on August 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
That said, one thing I learned working at an amusement is to wear a baseball cap -- specifically a baseball cap because it is lightweight, brimmed, and made of good material for this. Get the baseball cap sopping wet in water whenever possible. Put baseball cap on head. Yes, you will be wet, but you will also be cool and it works for quite awhile! Also, bring handkerchiefs or bandanas, douse them in cold water when given the opportunity, rub behind he knees, inside the elbows, on the back of the neck, tie around head. This too will keep you cool.
Drink plenty of water, keep to shady places, and don't rush. Also, remember that everyone should wear sunscreen! Always, always, always wear sunscreen!
posted by zizzle at 9:46 AM on August 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
I usually spend around 60 hours a year at the MN State Fair (but only 18 hours so far this year). I know of NO place to go that is air conditioned. It's always possible that I missed some obscure, random place that is cooler, but I don't think so.
Thursdays aren't horrifically busy there, so you may be able to hang out in a building out of the sun, unless everyone has the same idea, then it will heat up just from body heat. Of course the last place to look is the food building, as all the grills heat up the place like its own furnace.
All the possible places mentioned above from people who have never been there are incorrect. Everything that needs to be chilled is in its own refrigerator or freezer--the building itself wouldn't be cooled.
posted by TinWhistle at 11:14 AM on August 28, 2012 [3 favorites]
Thursdays aren't horrifically busy there, so you may be able to hang out in a building out of the sun, unless everyone has the same idea, then it will heat up just from body heat. Of course the last place to look is the food building, as all the grills heat up the place like its own furnace.
All the possible places mentioned above from people who have never been there are incorrect. Everything that needs to be chilled is in its own refrigerator or freezer--the building itself wouldn't be cooled.
posted by TinWhistle at 11:14 AM on August 28, 2012 [3 favorites]
I was there on Friday when it was in the high 80s, I'm pregnant, and I can tell you there is NO air conditioned space to just hang out in at the fair.
We spent a long time in the agricultural and creative arts buildings, and as much time as possible next to the butter sculpture case (the dairy building itself is not cool, but next to the display there's some spillover air and I remember a fan nearby too). We spent a lot of time in the shade with cool drinks. Last year we rode the water ride to get soaked which helped a lot.
Personally, with the heat warning for Thursday, I would avoid the fair if you can go another day or go early in the morning and head out when it really steams up. Last Friday was miserable; I can't imagine adding another 15-20 degrees.
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 1:51 PM on August 28, 2012
We spent a long time in the agricultural and creative arts buildings, and as much time as possible next to the butter sculpture case (the dairy building itself is not cool, but next to the display there's some spillover air and I remember a fan nearby too). We spent a lot of time in the shade with cool drinks. Last year we rode the water ride to get soaked which helped a lot.
Personally, with the heat warning for Thursday, I would avoid the fair if you can go another day or go early in the morning and head out when it really steams up. Last Friday was miserable; I can't imagine adding another 15-20 degrees.
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 1:51 PM on August 28, 2012
I haven't been for several years, and I don't know whether it's air-conditioned or not. But, I agree with others here that the Agriculture building is one of the more comfortable places to hang out. Less crowded than other buildings, and as I recall more benches than other places. And good apples for sale, or at least I remember this from the past. Fine Arts building is also a little cooler than other places and has lots of interesting things to look at, but its not so good for sitting. If I'm hot and need to cool down, sitting needs to be part of the equation. The Hippodrome has lots of seating and often has horses to watch.
posted by marsha56 at 9:46 PM on August 28, 2012
posted by marsha56 at 9:46 PM on August 28, 2012
Just there yesterday and the best way for us to cool off was to find a breeze. Stand inside the doors on the south side of the Grandstand and there's a really strong breeze and you're still shaded. There are benches inside, too.
Other than that, my advice is to stay in the shade and get plenty of water.
posted by Coffeemate at 9:24 AM on August 29, 2012
Other than that, my advice is to stay in the shade and get plenty of water.
posted by Coffeemate at 9:24 AM on August 29, 2012
I was just there yesterday and I'm pretty sure I got some kind of mild heatstroke from being in the direct sunlight for several hours. I finally felt like I was going to pass out and had to find somewhere that I could just sit comfortably in the shade asap. I ended up going into the park behind WCCO right next to the grandstand ramp and found a tree where I could lay on my back in the shade underneath it for awhile. The ground under the tree was surprisingly cool and that and the breeze helped to bring my body temp to a more manageable level. Lots of other people had the same idea and when my family caught up with me some of them opted to sit on the ground rather than at a picnic table right next to us because it was cooler.
Be careful. That really snuck up on me yesterday where I suddenly realized I had a pounding headache, wasn't sweating anymore and felt like I was going to pass out. Usually I'm okay in the sun.
posted by triggerfinger at 8:27 PM on August 30, 2012
Be careful. That really snuck up on me yesterday where I suddenly realized I had a pounding headache, wasn't sweating anymore and felt like I was going to pass out. Usually I'm okay in the sun.
posted by triggerfinger at 8:27 PM on August 30, 2012
Oh, and now that I think of it, the Miracle of Birth barn has these huge, powerful fans that blow really cool air. The downside is that you have to stand right in front of them and you obviously can't stand there forever, but they're great for some quick relief.
posted by triggerfinger at 8:30 PM on August 30, 2012
posted by triggerfinger at 8:30 PM on August 30, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
Generally speaking, the buildings that house food events (jam judging, pie judging, etc.) will have air conditioning.
Here's the link to the official guide and daily schedule. They might have more info.
posted by cooker girl at 8:18 AM on August 28, 2012