Food Critics Will Skip State Fair Over Lack Of Vax, Mask Policy

TWIN CITIES, MN — The staff of Heavy Table, a Twin Cities-based food and drink magazine, say they're skipping the 2021 Minnesota State Fair because fair organizers won't enforce a COVID-19 vaccine or mask mandate.

On Wednesday, fair organizers announced that while they strongly recommend them, the fair will not require fairgoers to wear a mask or be vaccinated this year.

Heavy Table called the decision "disappointing" in an editorial published Thursday.

"The announcement this week that the Minnesota State Fair would make no effort to enforce masking, distancing, vaccination, attendance limits or anything whatsoever that might help slow the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19 represents a disappointing pivot from the Fair’s foundational roots," the magazine's staff writes.

"We would love to go to the Minnesota State Fair, and our decision not to cover its new foods this year is collectively breaking our hearts. But until the Fair shows itself to be safe and committed to public health, we can’t in good conscience endorse or promote it."

Fair organizers Wednesday acknowledged that some Minnesotans will skip the fair this year due to its vaccine and mask-optional approach.

"We understand that by urging rather than requiring people to follow current guidance, many of our usual fair fans will not be comfortable attending," fair organizers said in a statement. "We ask that those who attend do so because they are willing to follow our health guidance – not because it's mandated, but because it's the right thing to do."

The Minnesota State Fair starts on Aug. 26 and ends on Labor Day, Sep. 6.

Read more about the fair's 2021 health guidance here.