Let me start by making a bold statement: State Fair is a fairy tale. Friends and families travel near and far to enter a world where the children swirl around on tipping cups, the animals speak in several languages, and the food is prepared and propped on stick. Enter the tale of two fairs.
A long long time ago, in a land far far away, a family by the name of O’Gara opened their Irish pub in the food building at the Minnesota State Fair. In 2010, the family packed up and settled at a new location on the fairgrounds, establishing themselves on the corner of Dan Patch and Cosgrove. There, today, you will still find O’Gara’s at the Fair. Fast-forward three years and they have entered a new age: the age of technology.
O’Gara’s at the Fair channels both traditional Irish aesthetic and modern digital technology. This year, with the help of The Social Lights, fair goers can grab an OGARA card and participate in the Shenanigans Scavenger Hunt around the fairgrounds. One lucky person will win the pot of gold – a private party with 40 of their friends at O’Gara’s Bar & Grill on Snelling Ave. this fall.
For the social-savvy, the OGARA Card is just thumbs tap away. Visit ogaras.com on your smartphone and subscribe to O’Gara’s new Mobile App. The OGARA Card is accessible by the click of the OGARA button.
To join the conversation with O’Gara’s at the Fair, visit their Facebook Page and tweet them your fair-y tales @OGarasBarGrill #ogaras.
In another land far far away, there was excitement all around the countryside. Everyone gathered at the Iowa State Fairgrounds to see which hog would be crowned the Biggest Boar of them all. As Fred Hoiboar approached the scale, he squealed, “Scale, scale, please don’t fall, who’s the biggest boar of all?”
Though Fred Hoiboar was not named the biggest boar of all (third place at 1,019 lbs), he was a boar with special power. The power to raise money for Camp Odayin, a summer camp for children with heart disease. Through his quest to Bring Home The Bacon, he was able to raise over $10,000 for the charity.
We enjoyed participating in the Opening Day at the Iowa State Fair and the Minnesota State Fair, and hope that you get a chance to share in the real – life fairy tale.
