What’s in my Fair Bag?

Friends and strangers often ask me how I can spend 12+ hours at the fair multiple days. The answer is a well stocked fair bag, good company, and a great pair of shoes. I’m going to assume you all know how to select appropriate footwear and will focus on my fair bag in this post.

Last year the fair had a bag search in effect and I expect they will continue this into 2018. Be prepared to open your bag for a search.

My Fair Bag

I actually have two tried and true fair bags that I may switch between over the 12 days of the fair based on my daily needs. Bag 1 is a sturdy black backpack with multiple pockets and plenty of room to carry water and shopping purchases. Bag 2 is a slender, light weight Eddie Bauer bag that carries my essentials and small purchases.

This post focuses on bag 1 – the essentials. If you will be doing any shopping you should carry a bag with extra room to accommodate small purchases.

Here is a list of items in my fair bag and an explanation of why I carry each item.

• Blue Ribbon Bargain Book – I spend enough time at the fair to make the bargain book worth my money and time.
• Rain poncho – I actually prefer a day of light rain at the fair (it keeps the crowd down), but I hate to be soggy. My go-to fair poncho is the cheap poncho from Northern Tool and Equipment. Yes, this poncho is bright yellow, plastic, shapeless and a bit ridiculous, but it is my go-to fair poncho. I prefer a cheap poncho for several reasons. 1. The poncho is large enough to keep me and my fair bag dry. 2. The poncho is easy to slip on and off as the weather changes. 3. The poncho is cheap and disposable. I usually keep a poncho year to year, but if it ends up with ketchup on a sleeve or a bit of mildew I toss it with no regrets. 4. The poncho can conceal your fair food from rain until you get to a dry location suitable for consuming food. TIP: if it rains on day 1 of the fair the available ponchos will sell out and are not re-stocked.
• Norwex travel sized EnviroCloth – tables at the fair are often sticky. I use my travel EnviroCloth to wipe down tables and sitting surfaces. The cloth is small and easy to transport. The beauty of Norwex is the cloth only needs water to be effective. If you are interested in Norwex you can purchase from me here: Brandi’s Norwex Site.
• Large zip lock bags – I actually carry these to offer to strangers that are about to disrupt my peaceful bus ride. If you buy a bucket of cookies and head directly to the bus Metro Transit will not be happy. To board a bus you need to cover your cookies with the provided lid. There are 2 dozen cookies above the lid! Here is where I offer you a bag to deposit cookies into. I also carry a zip lock bag to store my giant Diet Coke cup! I buy ALL of my Diet Coke from Mac’s Grille in the food building because they offer lids AND straws AND cheap refills. The cup is only good for the day purchased. The initial 33 oz. of soda is $3.00
• Target bag – it is cheap, doesn’t take up space or add weight, and can be used for many purposes. I always have one in my fair bag. I use it to sit on if I can’t find a dry spot, to store food if necessary, or to hold water bottles.
• Cheap reusable grocery bag – I hate sitting on grass and refuse to let grass touch my bare skin. I carry a cheap grocery bag with me to sit on for the parade and if I want to find a quiet place away from the crowds. If you don’t already have a reusable grocery bag you can pick one up at the fair at multiple locations. The most reliably offered are in the HealthFair building next to the food building.
• Small wallet – I don’t carry my full complement of credit cards to the fair and I don’t bring my daily wallet. I carry a small wallet with a zipper that I can easily grab and run off to buy food with.
• Sunscreeen – if this isn’t self-explanatory, I can’t help you.
• Lip balm – I don’t go anywhere without Burt’s Bees lip balm or a SPF lip balm.
• Cooly towel – it is often hot at the fair and I have a cooling towel that I pack to help keep me cool. The towel has to be dipped in water to function. If you don’t have a cooly towel one can be purchased in the Grandstand Mr. Cooley Towel.
• Paper Towel – I use very little paper towel in my life, but I carry a few in my fair bag at all times. My Norwex cleans any surface, but after a heavy rain it is wet and will leave a mild wet surface. I’m picky and don’t want to sit on a mildly wet surface so I have paper towel to completely dry any surface I’m going to sit on.
• Socks – nothing sucks worse than having wet socks. I ALWAYS carry an extra pair of socks. If it rains my poncho covers me to the knees but will cause water to leak down my leg.
• Pen and paper – most of you can rely on your phone to take notes. I have an iPhone 5 on its last legs. I use my pen and paper to take notes on vendors I want to revisit and potential purchases to make later on in the fair.
• Mela Gel – this is a Melaluca product that I always carry for quick treatment of bug bites, scrapes, burns, and cuts.
• Adhesive Bandages –  you need these for blisters, stings, or fried food mishaps. If you find yourself in need of additional medical care the MN State Fair has a well staffed and stocked first aid booth just outside of The West End. I sought treatment last year for a bee sting and was impressed with the setup and services provided.
• Daily Schedule – I always pick up a printed daily schedule and carry it in the accessible side pocket of my backpack.
• Map – I don’t need a map, but a lot of people do. I often get asked for advice or directions because people overhear a conversation. I like have a map I can show people or hand off to them as needed.
• Advil – 20,000+ steps per day demands attention, I use Advil you should pack whatever you use
• TUMS – you’ve seen the list of food I’m going to try, no further explanation needed.
• Nail Clipper -because a snagged nail or hang nail are the worst. Also, because this can be used to cut tags off of purchases.
• Extra Hair Ties – I will be rocking a pony tail 100% of the time at the fair. I always carry extra hair ties.
• Isagenix Amped Hydrate – I use Isa products for many reasons. I carry Hydrate with me to add to my drink once per day if I feel I need a pick-me-up or am losing too much water.
• Plastic Fork, Spoon, and Knife – we share a lot of food at the fair and some of it needs to be cut. Some food vendors only supply 1 fork or spoon, most will supply an extra if you ask, but not all.

I’m sure I’m forgetting something; I’ll post an update Thursday if I left anything out of my fair bag.