State’s best fair set to offer ‘good vibes’

Minnesota’s largest county fair is ready to roll for another year and continue its rich tradition of being the biggest and best.

Beginning on Tuesday, the Steele County Free Fair will kick off its six-day run in Owatonna, while poised to offer fairgoers “Good Vibes in 2025.”

As Dan Deml, long-time president of the fair, looks at this year’s fair, three things stick out above everything else. Perhaps, the largest project, yet the most unnoticeable to the average fairgoer, will be the completion of a $1 million electrical project that has been in the works for many years.

The grounds have been rewired with new electrical lines and buried underground, ending the decades-old practice of dangling lines. “Everything that had been hanging from the poles was getting older,” Deml said. “We had old lines and many of the newer food stands are demanding more current. We were maxed out.”

While new electrical lines aren’t necessarily something for fairgoers to get excited about, it comes with a hidden advantage. “It’s just a safety factor,” Deml said, adding the potential existed that an accident could have caused havoc on the grounds.

One big change that fairgoers will visually notice is the completion of the Steele Saloon, which began as a tent about six years ago and quickly evolved to a permanent structure that was constructed last year. However, the interior was not completed until this summer.

“We will now have a beautiful new building on the grounds,” said Deml of the Saloon. “It will be an asset to the community for year-round use,” he added.

The third project Deml is excited about is the “huge roller coaster,” which is expected to provide great fun for thrill seekers. He said it will take up to five semi loads to get the ride to the fair. The Arctic Blast will be installed this week with the aid of a crane and other large equipment, including forklifts.

“It’s the only stop in Minnesota this year,” Deml said. “We were lucky to get it because we are the biggest county fair, and we have the room for it on the south end,” he said, noting most county fairs simply wouldn’t have enough space to accommodate such a ride.

Adding to the excitement of this year’s fair is the first ever Christian concert. Acknowledging that the fair has dramatically suffered with its Wednesday night grandstand entertainment for years, Deml hopes Christian music will spark something the fair hasn’t seen before.

Big Daddy Weave is a contemporary Christian band currently touring the U.S. The band is known for its honest songs and personal stories of freedom in Christ. Their music focuses on themes of redemption and faith. The Wednesday night concert will be presented in partnership with Owatonna Area Christian Radio. 

Deml said Christian concerts have proven to be successful at other county fairs, including Freeborn. “We hope this will be a whole new audience that we haven’t attracted before,” he said. “We always hold our breath with something new.”

For those craving to try new foods, there will be no less than 22 new delicacies offered at this year’s fair, including several with various ethic ties. Deml said there will be no shortage of food choices as 100 vendors will be spread out over the grounds.

While there are many different entertainment options and new things in store for fairgoers, one thing that hasn’t changed is the fair’s free admission. Deml said the most frequently asked question he gets, especially from other fairs around the state, is “How the heck do you do it?”

One of the key answers to that question lies in the strong support from vendors and the greater community. “In order to make a free fair work, you need a huge amount of revenue from vendors and sponsorships,” Deml said.

Steele County charges the highest vendor rates in the state because of its attendance, which is estimated to be in excess of 300,000 every year. “Because of our attendance, they feel it’s a good investment to pay that rate,” he said.

At past meetings with vendors, Deml said, they have been adamant about “don’t you dare charge at the gate” and are willing to pay higher rates to be a vendor. He pointed out how many fairs that charge gate admission have people coming once, maybe twice. “In Steele, they come every day,” he said, adding they are generally going to spend more money with vendors because they didn’t get hit with gate admission.

Deml also points to the physical layout of one area in particular for the overall success of the fair. Fair Square Stage offers free entertainment with picnic tables surrounding it and then those tables are surrounded by food vendors. “Everything revolves around Fair Square Stage,” Deml said. “Everything seems to work perfect. When you go to other fairs, everything is scattered all around. It makes you scratch your head and wonder why things aren’t together in one place.”

In Deml’s eyes, Steele County is something truly unique. “We have a fabulous reputation,” he says. He noted how many people from outside the county don’t go to their local fairs or even the Minnesota State Fair but come to Steele County.

“Everybody likes to be a part of something fun,” he said. “This fair is something for everybody.”