I CAN'’T WAIT FOR OPENING DAY.

THIS YEAR I DECIDED TO GO TO THE FAIR EARLY.

REALLY EARLY.

I WENT LAST WEEK.

TURNED OUT TO BE A GOOD TIME TO GO.

PARKING WAS EASY.

I PARKED RIGHT NEXT TO THE GATES FOR FREE, NOT IN SOMEBODY'S FRONT YARD A MILE FROM THE HIPPODROME.

GETTING IN WAS FREE, TOO.

MUST HAVE BEEN 'GOOFY DOCTOR DAY,' BECAUSE NO ONE EVEN ASKED FOR A TICKET.

IF YOU WANT TO AVOID CROWDS, IT WAS A REALLY GOOD TIME TO GO.

HARDLY ANYONE WAS THERE.

THE ONLY PEOPLE I SAW LOOKED LIKE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, HAMMERING AND SAWING AND PAINTING, LIKE THE WHOLE FAIRGROUND WAS ONE BIG HOME IMPROVEMENT BUILDING.

FIRST I WENT THROUGH THE ANIMAL BARNS, WHICH WERE UNBELIEVABLY CLEAN THIS YEAR.

NO BARNYARD SMELL, DIDN'T HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU STEPPED.

UNFORTUNATELY, I DIDN'’T SEE ANY ANIMALS, NOT EVEN THE GIANT HOG.

I DON'T THINK IT WANDERED OFF -- THEY CAN'T EVEN STAND UP.

I WENT TO MY FAVORITE FOOD BOOTHS -- MINI-DONUTS, GIANT PEPPER, CORN ON THE COB.

UNFORTUNATELY, THEY WERE ALL CLOSED.

THE FAIRGROUNDS WERE SO CLEAN.

THERE WAS NO TRASH ANYWHERE, WHICH SHOWS HOW THOUGHTFUL MINNESOTANS CAN BE.

THE DNR BUILDING WAS LOCKED, SO I WENT AROUND TO THE BACK AND THREW A PENNY INTO THE FISH POND.

IT MADE A CLINKING SOUND AND ROLLED TO THE BOTTOM.

THE MIDWAY LOOKED LIKE A CONSTRUCTION SITE.

THE ONLY PEOPLE GETTING RIDES WERE ON FORKLIFTS AND TRACTORS.

THE GIANT SLIDE WAS LOCKED UP TIGHT, NO BURLAP BAGS ANYWHERE.

THE SKYRIDE CARS WERE SITTING ON THE GROUND.

I SAT IN ONE FOR A WHILE, GETTING A PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE GRASS AROUND ME.

THE FOOD BUILDING WAS FULL OF PEOPLE BUILDING LITTLE PLYWOOD BOOTHS.

THERE WAS NO FOOD, NOT EVEN WEIRD ITEMS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES.

AND THE AGRICULTURE BUILDING HAD CARS AND TRUCKS STORED ALONGSIDE THE SCARECROWS AND CROP ART.

I WANDERED AROUND MACHINERY HILL, WITH NO MACHINERY, UNTIL SOME MEN DROVE BY UNLOADING PICNIC BENCHES.

I SAT DOWN, TAKING IN ALL THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS AND SMELLS OF OUR GREAT STATE FAIR.

THAT DAY, THERE WEREN'T ANY.

IT WAS A PRETTY QUICK VISIT.

I DID EVERYTHING IN ABOUT 30 MINUTES, MUCH LESS TIME THAN I USUALLY SPEND AT THE FAIR.

BUT I STILL HAD A GREAT TIME.

I MAY GO BACK AGAIN, LIKE MAYBE IN A WEEK OR TWO, JUST TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T MISS ANYTHING THE FIRST TIME THROUGH.