Why Some Visitors Go Commando at the Minnesota State Fair

The Minnesota State Fair runs from August 21st through Labor Day, and nearly two million people are expected to attend; many will be going commando.

The Great Minnesota Get Together has been named the best state fair in the country and is always one of the most attended. People come for the delicious fair food, the rides and attractions, the animals and exhibits, and to take off their underwear. 

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Why would anyone take their underwear off at the Minnesota State Fair?

Surprisingly, there are some health benefits. A person attending the fair on a hot August day will no doubt be sweaty. According to Healthine, ditching your underoos will reduce the chances of fungal or yeast infections and help with odor.

But that's not why people are taking their underwear off at the fair. This is actually a weird tradition that started over 20 years ago.

ALSO READ: NASA and New Rides at The Minnesota State Fair

The SkyGlider is a ride at the Minnesota State Fair that looks like a ski lift. For a few bucks you can hop on and enjoy an aerial view of the fair.

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Sometime around 2000, people started dropping things from this ride, and more often than not, these things end up on the Kemps Little Farm Hands building.

Beth Schuldt, an education specialist at Little Farm Hands, told Bring Me the News:  "It's a prank, people having fun, I guess. And it's a challenge – what can you get up there, and how long will it stay?"

The most popular thing to drop? Underwear. Every year, photos surface online showing piles of bras and underwear that end up on the roof by the end of the fair.

Are people stripping mid-ride? Or are they bringing extra pairs just to toss? Either way, it’s a weird tradition that’s somehow become a quirky part of the fair’s appeal.