Ten Tips for Families to Have a Safe and Healthy Great Minnesota Get-Together (the State Fair)
The Minnesota State Fair is back in St. Paul starting TODAY! Whether you’re the type to map out every stop ahead of time or prefer to wander and see where the day takes you, now is the time to start making your plans. That is… if you plan to attend 🙂 
As therapists, we hear about State Fair experiences in sessions every year—the memorable ones, the stressful ones, and everything in between. The Fair can create so much fun and connection, but it can also bring heat, crowds, sensory overload, tired kids, and the occasional family meltdown and physical stress on bodies. So, from our perspective as child therapists, teen therapists and family therapists, we put together a few practical tips to help you make the most of your day—and hopefully head home with some good memories!
- Hydrate before you go. Bring a refillable water bottle and take regular water breaks, especially on hot or humid days. Drink water before you arrive and continue to drink while you are there. Don’t love the bathrooms there? Find one you don’t hate and frequent it regularly. Sorrynotsorry.
- Have a meeting spot. Pick a spot some of you already know about (if you’re meeting up with friends or older/non-kid family members).
- Talk about a plan for getting lost. If you have kids with you, make sure they know who they can ask for help and what to do if they can’t find you. Adults, consider sharing your location with one another for the day.
- Take sensory breaks. The Fair can be loud, crowded, hot, and overwhelming. Build in time to step away from the crowds and reset if you need that type of down time (Hint: many of us do!). There are designated Sensory Friendly Buildings at both the Fraser and KaiBi Family Care Center. Other quiet and calm spots include the Fine Arts Building, Steichen’s Food Market Patio, The Warner Coliseum, The State Fair Gardens and the 4-H Building.
- Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll likely walk much more than you expect and because of that we recommend walking/running/tennis shoes. Don’t get cutesy and wear some new sandals. Functionality is the name of the game at the MN State Fair.
- Eat regularly. With so many exciting food options, it’s easy to forget to eat a balanced meal. Keep snacks handy and pay attention to hunger cues. Consider going light on foods that generally don’t sit well in your tummy. Overindulging in State Fair treats can definitely lead to an upset stomach and other stressors!
- Protect your skin. Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat can make a big difference during a long day outside. We are mental health folks at Sentier, but overall health is always our priority!
- Respect everyone’s limits. Not everyone needs to ride every ride, try every food, or stay until closing. Give kids (and adults!) permission to say, “I’m done.” Parents: Pushing kids too hard to do too much may results in difficult bedtimes. Just saying. Kids don’t need to do an entire bucket list of State Fair activities to enjoy themselves and leave on a good note.
- Keep phones charged. A charged phone can be especially helpful for communication, directions, and coordinating with your group or other families and friends you may meet up with.
- Focus on connection, not perfection. You don’t have to experience everything. Pick a few things ev
eryone is excited about, slow down, and enjoy being together. If kids can’t agree on what to do, parents can pick a few ideas and go from there. The kids are newer to this, after all 🙂
Any hard moments that warrant follow up discussion can happen after everyone is rested. Meaning: Save the hard conversations and relational repairs that may be needed after a potentially long and overstimulating day for tomorrow! Best to have some of these conversations when everyone is rested.
A good State Fair day isn’t measured by how much you fit in—it’s measured by how everyone feels when you head home (hopefully the feelings are not just TIRED!). So have fun, everyone! We can’t wait to hear your stories next week in session!
Blog written by Sentier therapist and owner, Megan Sigmon-Olsen, MSW, LICSW
