The 2025 Minnesota State Fair was my 20th year working at the Great Minnesota Get Together. From what I recall over the last two decades, 2025 had the best weather. The mornings had a chill in the air, high temperatures didn’t really get above 80 degrees and we weren’t interrupted with rain or power outages like in 2024.

The 2025 Minnesota State Fair was also one of the hardest. On August 27, a person entered Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis and started shooting during Mass before taking their own life. As a result, the lives of two children ended that day and many others were hospitalized. With two kids in my house, one who started school that very day, this hit close to home. I was in our control room when KSTP’s news coverage began, and breaking news continued throughout the day. My stomach sank as I watched colleagues cry on air as they shared horrifying details.

The subsequent days had press conferences, updates and unknowns. We redesigned multiple broadcasts from the Fairgrounds to create the right tone with how Minnesotans were feeling.

Yes, the Fair provides a place to escape, but the news sat heavy, not only with me, but with many Minnesotans. The Fair would have to wait when something so important and sad occurred in our backyard.

What I do love about the State Fair is that it provides a place for us to celebrate and gather as a community. We can bond over foods on a stick, run into high school classmates in front of Ye Old Mill and highlight the businesses, musicians and organizations based here in Minnesota. In a time when our hearts are heavy, this opportunity to gather and unite is what we need.

For this year’s State Fair, I did not go in-depth sampling their 33 official new foods, with the exception of a few that I really wanted to try. Sticking with tradition, I want to share the list of the 9 best foods and beverages I had at the 2025 State Fair to help you plan your way eating through next year’s Get Together, which begins Thursday, August 27, 2026.

9 best foods and beverages at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair

1. Onion rings from Danielson and Daughter’s

Outside the Food Building

Once again, the onion rings from Danielson and Daughter’s makes the top of my State Fair foods list. This booth continues to be one of the best kept secrets on the Fairgrounds. They are made and served to you right on the spot. These onion rings are like nothing you’ll try at a restaurant or bar. They’re skinny and the onion doesn’t pull out when you bite into them. I add a couple dashes of salt. They’re best when you’re sipping on a beer. They traditionally have a coupon in the Blue Ribbon Bargain book, too.

2. (Mint) malt from Gopher Dairy Bar

Outside the Moo Booth

This year, the Gopher Dairy Bar, which is outside the Moo Booth, switched out their popular mint malts for orange dreamsicle. However, when I stopped by on the second Thursday of the Fair, a sign read “Today only: mint malts” and it made my day. These are like having a McDonald’s shamrock shake without feeling horrible afterwards. It’s refreshing and perfect on a hot day. If you’re not into mint, no problem, they have other flavors, too. It’s a great alternative to the Dairy Goodness Bar in the Dairy Building, which can see long lines.

3. Wild rice cheeseburger from Wild Rice Specialties

Food Building

This has made my top fair foods list for years and is another underrated State Fair item. The wild rice cheeseburger available in the Food Building is made with wild rice in the patty. But the catch is that you can’t taste the wild rice at all and this burger comes out incredibly juicy. I get it with cooked onions and add some of the aioli they have. They also have a coupon in the Blue Ribbon Bargain Book.

4. Deep-fried cookie dough pie from Minneapple Pie

Outside the Dairy Building

Joanne and her brother, George, are some of the nicest people working at the Minnesota State Fair. They have multiple flavors of deep-fried pie, which originally started with apple and have expanded to include pumpkin and my favorite, cookie dough. That deep-fried cookie dough isn’t too sweet and honestly, beats getting a bucket of cookies. Each pie comes with a generous scoop of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream. Beware: they come out hot.

5. Fresh French Fries

Multiple locations

Overall, my favorite food is French fries, and there’s something about these fries that makes them so good. Maybe because they’re coming to you fresh from the fryer. Perhaps it’s because the potatoes are Minnesota grown. Or it could be that they’re salty. It doesn’t matter. I love these fries and they’re a must get. Note when you plan out your day: they offer a $17 deal on the medium size bucket and two 20 oz beverages.

6. Beergarita from Tejas Express

The Garden

The beergarita, which is a mix of beer and margarita mix, is a refreshing adult beverage that’s been at the State Fair for years. It’s not sweet thanks to the beer cutting it and comes out refreshingly cold. I always get the original flavor (they also have strawberry). It’s served with a lime, too, so you look a bit classier walking around the Fairgrounds. Tejas Express is inside The Garden, not far from the main gates.

7. Cheese curds from The Mouth Trap

Food Building

After splitting cheese curds with friends this year, I needed to add these to my list. There aren’t many places that can do cheese curds better than the Minnesota State Fair. You only need a few, so it’s good to go in as a group and get one bucket.

8. Cheeseburger (and a beer) from Midway Mens Club

Near Visitors Plaza

The Midway Mens Club is a hidden gem spot on the Fairgrounds. I make an effort to go there at least once for happy hour. If you go behind the building, they have tables and folding chairs set up. Their booth, which is run by volunteers, is known for its cheeseburgers made to order along with some of the cheapest tap beer on the Fairgrounds. Best of all, proceeds from their booth is distributed to 100+ organizations and nonprofits across Ramsey County.

9. Deep-fried ranch from LuLu’s Public House

West End Market

This new food in 2024 rounds out my list of my favorite foods and beverages for 2025. The Minnesota State Fair is known for its unique, quirky food creations, and the deep-fried ranch from LuLu’s Public House checks all the boxes. These 3D triangles are stuffed with Hidden Valley Ranch and have more ranch sprinkled on them. It’s served with a hot honey, but honestly, you don’t need it. Warning: these are very hot and they squirt when you bite into them, so be careful!