The Minnesota State Fair opens tomorrow, August 27, with a landmark addition: the America Wheel, a 230-foot observation ride that replaces the longtime Great Big Wheel and stands as the world’s largest traveling Ferris wheel. The fair will also debut 36 new foods across nine new vendor booths, continuing a tradition of culinary innovation that draws crowds to the 12-day Great Minnesota Get-Together through Labor Day, September 7.
The America Wheel towers 75 feet above its predecessor and offers panoramic views extending up to 14 miles on clear days, according to the Minnesota State Fair’s official announcement. The ride features 45 enclosed gondolas, each representing one U.S. president, with additional displays honoring the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the nation’s parks—all themed to celebrate America250, the country’s 250th anniversary.
The wheel operates daily from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. (closing at 8 p.m. on Labor Day) and costs $7 per ride. It sits in the same location as the Great Big Wheel, at the southwest corner of Randall Avenue and Cooper Street on the fairgrounds’ North End.
The 36 new foods reflect a trend toward global fusion and creative combinations. Among the standouts are Pickle Pie from LuLu’s Public House, described as pie crust filled with chopped pickles, pickle juice and cream cheese, topped with homemade savory whipped frosting made with ranch and Cholula Hot Sauce. Urban Glow Mocktails debuts “Dill with it, Cookie!”—white chocolate chips, finely chopped dill pickles and fresh dill baked into a cookie and finished with sugar and Maldon sea salt.
Other new offerings span multiple cuisines: Lumpia City offers Longanisa Cheese Curd Lumpia, featuring homemade Filipino longanisa pork sausage combined with Wisconsin cheese curds, stuffed in a lumpia wrapper and deep-fried. Cafe Caribe serves a Surf ‘N’ Turf Burger with lobster tossed in garlic-herb butter stacked on a seasoned grilled beef patty topped with pepper jack cheese. Afro Deli & Grill debuts a Peri-Peri Bowl with fried peri-peri hot chicken seasoned with African Bird’s Eye chili peppers, combined with mini beef sambusas and fried sweet plantains.
A New Era for the Fair’s Iconic Wheel
The America Wheel’s arrival marks a significant shift after years of the Great Big Wheel serving as a fixture on the fairgrounds. The previous wheel, which stood 155 feet tall, had become an iconic symbol of the fair’s midway. Its replacement reflects the fair’s ongoing effort to modernize attractions while honoring the nation’s bicentennial celebration.
The Minnesota State Fair, first held in 1859, has grown into one of the largest and most-attended state fairs in the United States. The fair’s attendance record stands at 2,126,551 visitors in 2019. General admission is priced at $20 for adults and $18 for seniors and children ages 5–12, with free entry for children 4 and under. The fairgrounds span 322 acres and host hundreds of food stands, shops, and attractions alongside the new rides and vendors.
Sources
- Minnesota State Fair official website — confirmed opening date of August 27, the 36 new foods, nine new vendors, America Wheel specifications (230 feet tall, 45 gondolas, world’s largest traveling observation wheel, operating hours, $7 cost), and admission prices
- ECIKS.org — reported the 36 official new foods with detailed descriptions of Pickle Pie, Dill with it Cookie, Longanisa Cheese Curd Lumpia, Surf ‘N’ Turf Burger, and Peri-Peri Bowl, plus nine new vendors and 14-mile panoramic views
- Twin Cities Pioneer Press — confirmed America Wheel is 230 feet tall, approximately 75 feet higher than the Great Big Wheel, located at southwest corner of Randall Avenue and Cooper Street, and features 45 gondolas each representing a U.S. president
- CBS Minnesota and Fox 9 News — confirmed America Wheel details including height, gondola count, and world’s largest traveling observation wheel status
- St. Cloud Times — reported America Wheel as world’s largest traveling observation wheel and confirmed replacement of Great Big Wheel
