Your complete guide to Day 5 at the Minnesota State Fair

Each summer, there are dozens of new foods to tempt your taste buds at the Minnesota State Fair. On Monday, Amelia Santaniello, Frank Vascellaro, Chris Shaffer and Mike Max made a new, blue ribbon-worthy sandwich at the Minnesota Farmers Union Coffee Shop.

Whether you've visited for decades, or it's your first trip, odds are you have a few questions about the Minnesota State Fair.

Beyond the wealth of food and fun at the fair are 10 hubs housing what some have called professional know-it-alls.

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The Minnesota State Fair is one of the most unifying events of the year. And on Monday, that sentiment is strong for several new Minnesotans.

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The fair marks a lot of milestones, and for one man, it also marks a special day. Loring Nelson is celebrating his 95th birthday Monday at the fairgrounds with a beloved birthday malt.

He and his wife, Marilous, still live on their farm in Rush City and maintain the property. Loring Nelson told WCCO he first came to the fair when he was 10 years old and looks forward to it every year.

"I've always enjoyed the fair. I've been here every year except the years they didn't have it. It'd be kind of foolish to go when they didn't have it," he said.

Those years he missed were for World War II and COVID-19.

The cattle barn is a must-stop for the Nelson family; they used to raise cattle on their farm. Like a lot of us, Loring said he loves the people-watching too.

From the sights and the sounds to the crowds, the Minnesota State Fair can be an overwhelming place. This is especially true for people with autism or other sensory processing challenges.

For that reason, fair officials wanted it to be a more inclusive place, so they tried something new this year -- a sensory-friendly morning at the Kidway and Mighty Midway.

"This morning, we have all our lights and sounds minimized to only safety-related and operational noises," fair spokesperson Maria Hayden said.

The Martins family, visiting from Oklahoma, have learned the importance of coming prepared.

"I like that it's being all-inclusive, and everyone can come out and have a good time," Jennifer Martins said.

For those needing a break, the Fraser Sensory Building offers a calming oasis. It has sensory kits, activities, and a quiet room.

"Come, use it for what you need it for, take a little break, then go out and enjoy the rest of the fair," Fraser assistant director of marketing Mary Arneson said.

There's also air conditioning, making it the perfect place for a much-needed break for Maren Lee's family. She has two children with special needs.

"There's a tendency for children with special needs to stay home and not go out, because it is extra challenging. And I think helping our children get out in public is important for them but also important for the general public," she said. "Sometimes it's about changing your expectations to make it more manageable. Then it becomes a more manageable day, not a miserable day."

If you want to avoid the larger crowds, the fair recommends coming early in the mornings on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.

WCCO's Erin Hassanzadeh is a tad obsessed, shall we say, about the very State Fair-like fashion accessory that is otherwise known as the fanny pack.

So she went around the fairgrounds Monday to see what other fairgoers had in their own fanny packs. Spoiler alert: Many were carrying keys and cell phones. But others ... well, we'll let you see for yourself.

Here in Minnesota, the closest thing we have to royalty is Princess Kay of the Milky Way. Counties in Minnesota first crown their own dairy princesses. Then, those princesses compete for the title of Princess Kay.

A new princess was crowned a few days ago, replacing Rachel Rynda from Montgomery. This year's new Princess Kay is Emma Kuball.

See both the outgoing and incoming princesses talk about what the honor means to them in Derek James' story above.

Each year at the fair, Minnesota artists get the opportunity to exhibit and receive awards and recognition for their works. Fairgoers are able to enjoy a mix of art styles and subject matter as unique and varied as the Fair itself. 

Watercolor artist Catherine Hearding is a long-time participant. She's had 18 pieces in the fair. This year, she presented a piece inspired by Yellowstone National Park.

"We were sitting there in a picnic area and I was talking to my husband but all the sudden I stopped talking to him and started looking at the light," she said.

"Light on Lava Creek" earned a fourth-place award among watercolors this year. Hearding credits the Minnesota Watercolor Society for nurturing her interest in entering her watercolor paintings in competitions, including the State Fair.

On the other end of the spectrum, there's emerging acrylic and mixed media artist Corey McGuire. This was his first year submitting a piece for consideration, but he wasn't chosen.

"I'll keep resubmitting until I get in here, and get to look at my art," he said.

In 2022, a total of 2,227 pieces were submitted, and 338 works were accepted. You can visit the Fine Arts Building every day of the fair from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

If you've seen this year's official poster for the Minnesota State Fair, you know that it pays tribute to the fair standby that is seed art.

Artist Liz Schreiber stopped by The 4 to share how long it took her to create this year's one-sheet. Hint: It was a very, very long time.

If you've been a grade school student in the state of Minnesota, you know that the arrival of the Minnesota State Fair is also, unofficially, the end of summer break, as the last day of the fair -- Labor Day -- is typically also the last day before classes are back in session.

Joining WCCO's The 4 to talk about the upcoming school year Mondayt were St. Paul Public Schools' Superintendent Dr. Joe Gothard, along with Bobby Arnold, who is a senior at Johnson High School.

Year in and year out, Minnesotans go out of their way to sample the new foods available at the Minnesota State Fair.

But new foods alone are an unknown commodity. No, what really gets people back at the fair year after year after year are the foods that we grew up with, the ones that we indulge in once per year, the ones that draw lines around the block rain or shine.

We're talking your cheese curds, your mini donuts, your fresh-roasted corn. These are the staples, the stalwarts, the perennials. And Team WCCO is happy to share our personal favorites with you now.

Click here to see what our annual obsessions are.

Day 4 at the Minnesota State Fair was not a record-breaking, and not by a long shot. But it was still a huge improvement on the prior two years' Sunday figures.

You'll note that Day 4 is the only day with an attendance record that goes further back than the last half-dozen years. Somehow, 209,969 admissions were tallied on the first Sunday of the fair back in 1994.

Eating the food is one of the best parts of the state fair, and every year, there are new options to try.

There are nearly three dozen new foods this year, with a handful of brand-new vendors. 

We're really excited about the foods available from Afro Deli, inculding their delicious sambusas and their Somali tea! Here's a preview of what they have on offer:

For more things to get you salivating, we've made you a guide reviewing the newest state fair foods. Check it out here.

If you're looking for a unique gift with local flare, look no further.

Tyler from GoodThings dropped by WCCO's fair booth to present the myriad things available for your early holiday shopping.

When you think about State Fair food, dog treats may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But if you're over in the Pet Pavilion that's exactly what you'll find.

Must Be Ruff is in its second year of selling homemade bakery items for your pets at the fair.