By Matt Mikus

MPR News/90.1 FM

If you want the Minnesota State Fair experience, but would prefer to avoid all the people, your best bet is to go on the first Thursday.

On average, the first Thursday, often the first day of the state fair, draws about 109,655 people. That’s the lowest number of daily visitors during the fair’s 12-day run, according to attendance figures from the past seven years.

The highest number of daily visitors, on average, is the last Saturday of the fair, with an average of 238,787. In 2018, the fair set a new single-day attendance record, with 270,426 visitors on the last Saturday of the fair.

The previous single day record? That was in 2016, with 260,374 visitors. And yes, it was on the last Saturday.

If Thursday is booked up and you can’t make it over to Falcon Heights, your next-best days to visit are Tuesday, Wednesday, then the first Friday. Those days draw in a range of around 119,000, to 120,000 people.

Six BBB tips for safe State Fair shopping

Austin Daily Herald

newsroom@austindailyherald.com

BURNSVILLE — The Minnesota State Fair starts Thursday and runs through Sept. 2. Among the freshly baked cookies and corn dogs will be hundreds of opportunities to buy goods and services from State Fair vendors.

In such a fun-spirited, carefree environment, it can be easy to get carried away in the excitement, but Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota reminds consumers to keep a sound mind when making non-food related purchases at the fair.

BBB offers these six tips for state fairgoers:

• Research companies at BBB.org on the go using your smartphone. Free BBB Business Profiles are optimized for smartphones. Additionally, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, you can call 800-646-6222 to speak to live operators for guidance.

• Before you pay, ask to see the company’s refund and exchange policies in writing. Also, ask about any guarantees or warranties.

• Collect the company’s physical location and telephone number in case you need to return or exchange an item after the event.

• Try to resist the pressure to buy immediately. After the demonstration or sales pitch, walk around to other vendors before making your purchase to ensure you’re making a good choice.

• Ask the vendor if a sale price will be honored after the State Fair. If so, you will not feel pressured to purchase the item on the spot.

• Keep in mind the Federal Trade Commission’s “cooling off rule,” which allows consumers three days to cancel a purchase, does not apply to the following purchases at fairs:

• Purchases under $25

• Goods or services not intended for personal, family or household use

• Insurance, securities or real estate

• Motor vehicles

• Arts and crafts

The BBB booth will be available during the State Fair in the Education Building.