STEELE COUNTY FREE FAIR
Owatonna, MN
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First of all, it’s free. There’s a great beer garden, rides for the kiddies, dirt-track racing and tractor pulls in the grandstand. Lots of animals of course, with daily pig races. And if the world’s largest steer isn’t enough, there’s also watermelon seed spitting, a women’s nail-driving contest, an animatronic chimpanzee on a bicycle (with training wheels, thank God); an accordion jamboree and a marionette theater. 
And every year, Dave “Cannonball” Smith shoots himself over the Ferris wheel. He’s 63.
So keep your stinkin’ Burning Man. The Free Fair is easier to get to, and nobody expects you to run around naked.
12 responses so far ↓
1 Tim on May 9, 2008 at 3:28 am
Yes, but are there butter sculptures?
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Reply from RemmieBarrow on May 9, 2008:
Yah, you really can’t have a fair without a butter sculpture or two.
2 Onil on May 9, 2008 at 4:53 am
Is this heaven?
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Reply from Tim D on May 9, 2008:
No, it’s Minnesota.
3 Courtney on May 9, 2008 at 7:14 am
Camp Owatonna, we hold you in our hearts? *shields herself from probable slappings*
They should combine Free Fair with Burning Man. Naked Dirt-Track Racing and Naked Pig Races anyone?
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Reply from Tim D on May 9, 2008:
I’ll get the oils! One for the dirt trackers, t’other for the pigs!
4 Au$10 on May 9, 2008 at 7:24 am
I often miss the midwest.
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5 ms chii on May 9, 2008 at 7:44 am
mmmm…..beer. there is also the state fairs at various states. those are always interesting.
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6 AmandaGal on May 9, 2008 at 7:56 am
You just missed Toad Suck Daze here in Arkansas. I think it’s the festival with the best name in the entire nation. It sounds like it’d be much like the Steele County Free Fair and it’s free too.
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7 Lord Bob on May 9, 2008 at 9:09 am
Until ten seconds ago, I did not know there was such a thing as “daily pig races”. Now, I feel I cannot live another ten seconds without seeing one. And then another twenty-four hours without seeing a second.
Thanks, Kevin Murphy. You and Google Maps just killed me. See if I invite you to Bacon Nite now.
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8 Amanda on May 9, 2008 at 10:03 am
Is the beer garden free too? Owatonna has a Cabela’s. That in itself is reason enough to go.
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9 Neb on May 9, 2008 at 10:06 am
Burning Man: naked, sweaty, dehydrated people with black gritty dirt lodged in places that ought to be friction-free. Whee.
I’d rather go to a good county fair any day! Sounds like fun!
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