Falcon Heights,MN (KROC AM News) -  It’s already that time of the summer. Workers, vendors and others will be busy the next few days getting ready for the opening of the Minnesota State Fair.

It begins Thursday and will run through Labor Day. The opening day headliner at the grandstand is Nickelback.

One of the new attractions this year is the Great Big Wheel. The 15 story tall ride is the tallest traveling ferris wheel in North America.

The fair, described as the Great Minnesota Get Together, dates back to 1859.

The first fair was held at a site that later became downtown Minneapolis. The event was actually moved from city to city in its early years. Among the cities where it was held during that era were Rochester, Red Wing, Owatonna and Winona.

It was finally given a permanent home at its current site in 1885.

 

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