Great Minnesota Get-Together is just days away

More than 1,000 vendors are working hard to set up for the Minnesota State Fair, which starts its 12-day run on Thursday.

Fair spokeswoman Danielle Dullinger said Sunday that the fairgrounds in Falcon Heights were a whirlwind of activity, ahead of the fair that draws nearly 2 million visitors each year.

"Rides moving in on trailers, and vendors delivering their stuffed animals, and food deliveries — it's just packed, and people are setting up tents," she said. "It's wild and I never understand how (on) Wednesday it looks the way it does and Thursday it opens and it's completely ready to go."

Among the new attractions this year: Part of the north end of the fairgrounds has been converted into a destination for food and craft beer, called the Hangar. It's in renovated space in what had been the Pet Center building, which in turn had previously been home to the fair's aircraft show.

Dullinger said the new food and beer venue stemmed from the requests of fair visitors; she said the fair's full-time staff of 80 people starts working immediately after the state fair wraps up each year to plan for the following year.

"We take into consideration attendance, what fair guests are doing at the fair — so we noticed there that were really only a couple beer vendors north of Dan Patch Avenue," she said. "(So we thought), 'Well, let's add another one up there, it's clearly what they're asking for.' "

The Pet Center has moved to an open-air pavilion. Find more new Minnesota State Fair attractions here.

There also are 27 new fair foods for 2018.

The fair runs from Thursday through Labor Day.

MPR will be at the fair with special programming and activities; find more information here.