State Fair Programming

MNHS and the Minnesota State Fair Foundation are increasing awareness and knowledge of Minnesota history by providing quality programming for visitors to the Great Minnesota Get-Together. In 2015, the partners added new visual and written content for the Minnesota State Fair History Walking Tour brochure. Audio and visual content was available with the smartphone tour component, and staff presented audio/visual content via social media throughout the fair. Some 40,000 brochures were distributed throughout the fairgrounds during the run of the fair. History-on-a-Shtick, an original, vaudevillian romp through Minnesota's past with sing-alongs, trivia, and prizes, debuted in 2015 with daily performances on the Schell's Stage at the Schilling Amphitheater. MNHS worked with Minnesota playwright Beth Gilleland and a group of actors to create the production, which filled the 200-seat venue each day. One visitor called it the "highlight of the fair" and asked for it to be presented throughout the day in future years.