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Nancy Rzeszutek stood in line before dawn Thursday waiting to enter the 2016 Minnesota State Fair, carrying a photo of her mom Rosemary's face — on a stick, appropriately enough. When the gates opened, she strode through with her mom in hand.


"She's 82 years old, and I have gone every year with her. I'm 45. And she's not sure she's coming this year," said Rzeszutek, of Minneapolis. "She's taken me to the fair every year... even when she was pregnant with me I've been to the fair.. So I brought her on a stick, to make sure she gets here."

Spam sushi and candied bacon donut sliders

State Fair


Rzeszutek said she'd be carrying her mom-on-a-stick around the first day of the fair, taking pictures and snapping selfies to keep the tradition going — a snapshot of the place the State Fair has held in the hearts of millions of Minnesotans, dating back to 1859.


Nearly 1.8 million of them have come to the fair each of the last few years, looking for the old and new, cheek-by-jowl. The Ye Old Mill is running again for its 101st year, the Giant Slide is marking its 49th, the fair's mascot 

 and scores of others are bringing folks back year after year.


There's also a variety of new attractions this year. The fair is offering a "recipe card roundup," which will feature a giveaway of six blue-ribbon winning recipes from 2015. 


Deputy manager Renee Alexander said the fair is also expanding its online ticketing offerings this year, including senior and kid's tickets available on the web and on phones. The fair kicked off online entry ticket sales last year, but only offered full price adult tickets.

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The fair has been a special place for millions of Minnesotans since 1859. Heartfelt stories and wide smiles were easy to find Thursday morning as the gates swung open on Day One, 2016.

Ties that bind: It's Minnesota State Fair time again

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Courtney Larson with her rabbit "Girly Girl"

A bag gets checked at the State Fair entrance

Ties that bind: It's Minnesota State Fair time again

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