Gates are officially open at the historic fairgrounds as this year's edition of the Great Minnesota Get Together is underway.
As is usually the case, a handful of super-fans just can't wait and camp out for hours before the gates open which opened at 7:00 a.m.
St. Paul's Clayton Burgett and his family were in line since 3:30 Wednesday afternoon. Why? He says it started with a conversation between he and his wife.
"My six-year old overheard us and she looked at me the other day, confused, and just said 'so daddy, people can go in first to the fair?' And I was like every day. She's like, 'can we on the first day go in first?' And I was going to say nope, it was going to be 100 degrees yesterday," explained Burgett. "We still made it."
They brought with them plenty of water and a tent to try to stay out of the blazing sun, but it's been much more comfortable so far Thursday as more people lined up to get in.
"As the sun went over, we moved the tent back further and further, into the shade. Just working the shade," says Burgett. "Spray bottles with fresh, cold water, gallon of frozen water, six water bottles, just hydration."
It won't be a short day for the Burgett family either. One family member is working at the fair and they're even planning to stay for fireworks. But Burgett says he has only two goals after a long night waiting to get into the fair.
"I want breakfast, coffee, breakfast, sit down, on a cushion for like a half hour," he says.
Ginger Johnson, who lines up to be one of the first in every year, told WCCO's Mark Freie it becomes like a reunion with family.
"I'm meeting up with one of the guys that I met in line 56 years ago," said Johnson. "So we meet up every year, and he's waiting in line to be the first in line in the car lot."
Among the earliest attendees in line were Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D), Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar (D) and Minnesota Senator Tina Smith (D).
And even for Senators, you go to the Minnesota State Fair with a food plan.
"Well, it's always great, I love coming," said Senator Smith. "First, everything is brand new and fresh and you know, you see a lot of the same people who every year line up to be one of the first folks in the gate. And I'm really looking forward to that Fried Green Tomato VLT at the Farmer's Union which I'm going to go have as soon as the gates open."