This Popular Food Mysteriously Vanished From The MN State Fair

It wouldn’t be the Minnesota State Fair without the food, but this year, fans are noticing a glaring gap on the menu. One of the fair’s most popular eats has suddenly vanished, leaving fairgoers buzzing about its mysterious disappearance.

The Minnesota State Fair is one of the largest and best-attended events in the country. (In fact, it was just ranked as the Best State Fair in the U.S. again this year.) Showcasing the North Star State’s finest agriculture, art, and industry, as its website says, 'the Great Minnesota Get-Together is 12 Days of Fun ending Labor Day!'

Our state fair has been a summer tradition here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes for almost as many years as Minnesota has been around. According to the official Minnesota State Fair website, the first Fair was held way back in 1859, just a year after Minnesota itself became a state.

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Speaking of fun, here's a fun fact: Did you know the state fair used to be held at various cities around Minnesota? That's right, before the permanent location on fairgrounds in Falcon Heights (midway between Minneapolis and St. Paul) it used to rotate locations, with various versions having been held in Rochester, Red Wing, Winona, Owatonna, Minneapolis, and St. Paul.

But here's something that's *not* so fun: The popular Nordic Waffles stand is officially MIA at the Fair this year. Nordic Waffles opened in Minneapolis in 2016 and made its debut at the Fair in 2018 says it sold and served over 42,000 waffle sandwiches that year.

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A post on the Nordic Waffles Instagram page from earlier this year explains that while that mascot Gnorman won't be at the Fair because '...he’s onto a bigger adventure! From stocking grocery shelves across the U.S. to meeting new friends, the #wafflelution continues to grow nationwide,' the post said. Its website says you can currently find Nordic Waffles at grocery and convenience stores across Minnesota and other states.

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BringMeTheNews reported that Nordic Waffles isn't the only recently popular food that won't be at the Fair in 2025; five other food vendors who were there last year won't be present this year. That list includes MomoDosa and the Indigenous Food Lab, plus Jammy Sammies by BRIM, Icee, and Smokin' Joe's Smokehouse.

However, this year's Fair, which runs from August 21st through Labor Day, September 1st, *does* feature 8 new vendors and 33 new foods this year. Keep scrolling to take a look at all the new food and drink items that are making their debut at this year's Minnesota State Fair!

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