Categories
2012
Triple Dip!
We just made a spontaneous decision to go to the State Fair for the third time this year today! Go team Fabrizio! Beyond excited!
In 2012, Sep 03, 2012Early Signs of a Budding Obsession
Katie is very serious about planning her day at the fair. Just overheard: “I’m intrigued by the rabbit agility demonstration, I am adding it to the list, along with extreme trampoli...
In 2012, Aug 23, 2012A Love Affair Begins...
Me and Katie are planning our trip to the MN state fair tomorrow! Beyond excited!
In 2012, Aug 23, 20122013
2013 in Sum
The 2013 Minnesota State Fair is drawing to a close. The Fabrizios’ final tally: 3 visits. Food list:
In 2013, Sep 02, 20132014
A Glimpse of 2014
Trip number two to this year’s MN State Fair is in the books. Tonight’s food tally: prime rib taco, Korean BBQ shoulder, chicken in a waffle, pronto pup, Turkey-to-Go sandwich, root ...
In 2014, Aug 26, 20142015
The 1st Annual Fran's Fair Awards for 2015!
And that’s a wrap for Minnesota State Fair 2015. Today’s pictures added to the album. Without further ado, I present the completely subjective, heavily biased 1st annual Fran’s Fair...
In 2015, Sep 07, 2015Minnesota State Fair 2015
Couldn’t resist visiting the piglets right when we got there.
In 2015, Sep 07, 2015
2015 State Fair Visit #3
Team Fabrizio mobilizing for one last visit to the Fair! Any last minute tips for must do (or must eat) things that people discovered this year?
In 2015, Sep 07, 20152015 State Fair Visit #2: Fran's Solo Visit
Quick trip over to the Fair at lunch today, this time solo. Had too many foods I still wanted to try! Finally got to the Farmer’s Union for breakfast, and it was amazing. Also caug...
In 2015, Sep 01, 20152015 State Fair Visit #1
First visit to the fair is in the books. Food tally: Turkey to Go (w/ chopped bacon and sweet glaze this time, was good), roasted corn, mini donut beer, Kiwanis malt, pronto pup, Man...
In 2015, Aug 28, 2015Anticipation Builds for Fair 2015!
The Minnesota State Fair starts tomorrow! In a tremendous display of restraint, Katie Richards Fabrizio and I will not be making our first visit until Friday. And then again Sunday....
In 2015, Aug 26, 20152016
The 2nd Annual Fran's Fair Awards for 2016!
Without further ado, I present the completely subjective, heavily biased 2nd annual Fran’s Fair Awards:
In 2016, Sep 05, 20162016 State Fair Visit #5
Fifth and final trip to the Fair today. We took Henry one more time and said a great, long goodbye to the 2016 State Fair! This won’t be the last post, though - I still have to do m...
In 2016, Sep 04, 2016
The Pronto Pup IS a Corn Dog!
I just had a State Fair myth busted. The Pronto Pup -is- in fact a corn dog. http://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/09/02/definitive-guide-to-pronto-pup-corn-dog I’ve had so many natives...
In 2016, Sep 03, 20162016 State Fair Visit #4
Fourth trip to the Fair last night! Katie gave me tickets to see Garrison Keillor and The Minnesota Show at the Fair Grandstand for my birthday. We went a little early for some more f...
In 2016, Sep 03, 2016
2016 State Fair Visit #3: Fran's Solo Trip
Last year I took a 1/2 day off of work and made a quick trip over to the Fair. I enjoyed it so much I did it again this year. I use the trip to eat some of the things I missed and d...
In 2016, Aug 31, 2016
2016 State Fair Visit #2
Second visit to the Fair is in the books. This one was all about Henry’s favorite things and classic Fair food. We went with his cousins and family and put on a solid seven hour Fair...
In 2016, Aug 28, 2016
It's not all Fried!
Except for two bites of a corn dog, I did the entire Fair visit yesterday without eating fried food! I could have eaten even healthier, I still have to get my annual peach from the p...
In 2016, Aug 27, 2016
Somehow, the Reuben Pickle Dog Works
Another new food… Reuben pickle dog. Pickle, sauerkraut, thousands island dressing, cream cheese, wrapped in pastrami. To be honest, we were skeptical, but it was very good!
In 2016, Aug 26, 2016
#1 New Food?
Number 1 new food according to many reviewers… Did not disappoint! Strawberry compote ice cream in fish shaped Miso waffle topped with graham cracker crumble.
In 2016, Aug 26, 2016
Peterson's Pork Chop: An Every-Year Must-Have
Peterson’s pork chop… Must have every year!
In 2016, Aug 26, 2016
It's Official, State Fair 2016 is Underway!
It’s official! State Fair 2016 is underway! Starting with breakfast… Rustic beef pastry and cinnamon currant scone from French Meadow, banana nutella crepe from the crepe place.
In 2016, Aug 26, 2016
2017
The 3rd Annual Fran's Fair Awards for 2017!
And now, to wrap up the 2017 Minnesota State Fair, I present the completely subjective, heavily biased 3rd annual Fran’s Fair Awards:
In 2017, Sep 05, 20172017 Minnesota State Fair - Visit #5
Today we took Henry back to the Fair and met up with family for one last day of fun at the Fair!
In 2017, Sep 03, 2017
2017 Minnesota State Fair - Visit #4
Katie and I headed to the fair last night for our second date night at the Fair!
In 2017, Sep 01, 2017
2017 Minnesota State Fair - Visit #3
This morning I made my annual solo trip to the Fair. I had breakfast and an early lunch there, and explored in between.
In 2017, Aug 29, 2017
Minnesota State Fair 2017 - Visit #2
Katie and I made a quick Saturday night trip to the Fair. Thanks to the rainy weather earlier in the day, it was cool and it wasn’t crowded - perfect for covering a lot of ground in a...
In 2017, Aug 26, 2017
MN State Fair 2017 - Visit #1
Today was opening day for the 2017 Minnesota State Fair, and I went with Katie Richards Fabrizio, Henry, and Sally Richards. Lots of fun and food!
In 2017, Aug 24, 2017
Fair Warning (Get It?!)
5 days until the Minnesota State Fair!!! If you just became Facebook friends with me this year, this is a heads up that Fair season gets a little crazy on my feed. ð Four visits pl...
In 2017, Aug 19, 20172018
The Post-Fair Weigh-In
For those of you who ask me about this every year… this year I did a pre-Fair and post-Fair weigh-in. I lost 1 pound over the course of the Fair this year. See, it really isn’t that m...
In 2018, Sep 05, 2018The 4th Annual Fran's Fair Awards for 2018!
And now, I present to you the 4th annual Fran’s Fair Awards for 2018!
In 2018, Sep 03, 2018MN State Fair 2018 - Visit #5
At last, we’ve reached journey’s end. Our last visit to the 2018 Minnesota State Fair, always bittersweet.
In 2018, Sep 03, 2018
MN State Fair 2018 - Visit #4
Katie and I headed to the Fair after work on Thursday for a quick date night visit. With Katie Richards Fabrizio
In 2018, Sep 01, 2018
MN State Fair 2018 - Visit #3
Katie Richards Fabrizio and Fran return for day 2 with Pat Rivera and Steve Barden.
In 2018, Aug 29, 2018
MN State Fair 2018 - Visit #2
We introduce Steve and Pat to the Fair! With Katie Richards Fabrizio Steve Barden Pat Rivera
In 2018, Aug 28, 2018
MN State Fair 2018 - Visit #1
We hit the Fair on day 1 with Henry for a family day! With Katie Richards Fabrizio
In 2018, Aug 23, 2018
2019
2019 MN State Fair - Visit #5
Ok, so there was really very little doubt that I would, in fact, be making my 5th trip to the Fair today for Day 12, the last day of the Great Minnesota Get-Together!
In 2019, Sep 03, 2019
The 5th Annual Fran's Fair Awards for 2019!
And now, without further ado (and because I really need to get to bed and go to work in the morning!), I present the 5th annual Fran’s Fair Awards for 2019!
In 2019, Sep 03, 20192019 MN State Fair - Visit #4
Fran and Katie visit with our friend Ali and her daughter Madison, in what may turn out to be our last visit of the year.
In 2019, Aug 30, 2019
2019 MN State Fair - Flowers
A bonus photo album - flowers of the Fair! These are not competition flowers, just flowers planted around the Fairgrounds. I had my nice camera with me on my solo trip to the Fair, so...
In 2019, Aug 29, 2019
2019 MN State Fair - Visit #3
Fran goes solo and covers the Fair in 8 hours and 16,000 steps!
In 2019, Aug 28, 2019
2019 MN State Fair - Visit #2
In which Katie scooters all over the Fairgrounds!
In 2019, Aug 25, 2019
2020
It's not the Fair, but We'll Take It
In a normal year, right about now the Fabrizios would be in our final planning for many visits to the Minnesota State Fair, which would have been our 10th in a row since I first disco...
In 2020, Aug 21, 20202021
2021 Visit #2: Fran's Solo Visit
Every year I try to do a solo weekday morning trip to the Fair to hit up some favorites and off the beaten path things. I wasn’t sure I’d do it this year, but decided to go for it! I ...
In 2021, Sep 01, 2021
2021 Visit #1: A Tentative Pandemic Visit to the Fair
The Minnesota State Fair is back! Of course we’re in the middle of a Covid spike which made the choice of whether or not to go to the Fair this year a really tough one. Obviously we a...
In 2021, Aug 28, 2021
2022
2022 Visit #4: Our Traditional Labor Day Sendoff
Fair trip #4, our traditional family Labor Day Fair sendoff!
In 2022, Sep 06, 2022
2022 Visit #3: Fran's Solo Visit
Fair visit #3, Fran’s traditional solo visit. (Tagging Katie anyway, but it was just me this time!) This is the trip when I can linger at my own pace, check out all the random corners...
In 2022, Sep 03, 2022
2022 Visit #1: The Whole Family Back after Three Years!!
Finally, after three years, the Fabrizio family was once again all together at the Minnesota State Fair! This was visit #1 for 2022, last Friday morning.
In 2022, Sep 01, 2022
2023
2023 Visit #4: Chris Goes Back for More!
After a 13 hour Fair day that included a return home after midnight, we were a bit worn out and moving slowly the next morning. Katie, in a wise stroke of self-preservation, opted to ...
In 2023, Sep 01, 2023
2023 Visit #3: Introducing Chris to the Fair!
After a few days off from the Fair to manage Henry’s start of the school year, it was time to return. This visit was extra special because our friend Chris had flown in from Rhode Isl...
In 2023, Aug 31, 2023
2023 Visit #2
We awoke in the camper refreshed and ready to go again! The boys started the day on a breakfast run while mom stayed back for a more relaxing morning.
In 2023, Aug 25, 2023
2023 Visit #1: Our Most Epic Fair Day Ever?
With the advantage of being at the campground (and having a child who wakes up at 6am!), we hit the Fair on Day 1 early and often! With easy all-day come-and-go access to the Fair, th...
In 2023, Aug 24, 2023
We're Camping the Fair!
It’s that time again… The Minnesota State Fair! We did something a little different this year - we camped AT the Fair for the first two days!
In 2023, Aug 23, 2023
Welcome to FAIRly Obsessed!
Hello, and welcome to FAIRly Obsessed, our new blog for all of our Minnesota State Fair adventures!
In 2023, Aug 01, 2023
2024
The 7th Annual Fran's Fair Awards for 2024!
Late but not forgotten, here at last are the 7th Annual Fran’s Fair Awards for 2024!
In 2024, Sep 03, 2024
2024 Mid-Fair Check-In
Yesterday marked Day 6 of the Fair - the halfway point! I thought I’d do a quick check-in midway through.
In 2024, Aug 28, 2024
New Drinks Announced - More Hot Takes!
We’re entering the home stretch in the leadup to the Fair, and the new drink list came out today, with 63 new specialty drinks debuting this year. I won’t go as deep as I went on the ...
In 2024, Jul 09, 2024
New Foods Announced - Here are my Hot Takes!
The new foods have been announced and I have opinions!
In 2024, Jul 09, 2024
2024 Ticket Flash Sale - One Day Only!
2024 MN STATE FAIR TICKET FLASH SALE ALERT!
In 2024, Nov 21, 2023
2025
Featured
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The 7th Annual Fran's Fair Awards for 2024!
In 2024, -
The 6th Annual-ish Fran's Fair Awards for 2023!
In 2023, -
2020 State Fair Food Parade Wrap-Up
In 2020, -
The 5th Annual Fran's Fair Awards for 2019!
In 2019, -
The 4th Annual Fran's Fair Awards for 2018!
In 2018, -
The 3rd Annual Fran's Fair Awards for 2017!
In 2017, -
The 2nd Annual Fran's Fair Awards for 2016!
In 2016, -
The 1st Annual Fran's Fair Awards for 2015!
In 2015,