Steampunk at the Great Minnesota Get Together
The Minnesota State Fair is a tradition in my house. My husband and I love the fair so much, we planned our wedding over the State Fair because we knew that weekend would have great weather.
The Great Minnesota Get Together is a great opportunity to get all kinds of different goods in one place and fill your tummy at the same time. For my husband and I, it is our favorite unexpected time to shop and see a lot of new things. Not only can you see a lot of unique Minnesota-made things but fine art too!
Each year, I feature a new vendor to the fair. I showcase some of the new foods as well!
Machine Agehttps://machineagelamps.com/ Lamps
Steampunk has come to the State Fair. Shawn Carling is the owner of Machine Age Lamps. He started making these unique functional art pieces as a hobby at his home in Lakeville.
His first piece was a table for his father for Christmas. He wanted to give him something personal that was reminiscent of his time on the farm. He built the lamp with gas gauges, gears, and other industrial parts. He got such a positive response from friends and family he made a few more.
It wasn’t until he was offered an early retirement from his corporate job that he became a full-time artist. He took his hobby and made it into a business. The things he is turning out are remarkable works of art.
Everything he makes is made from parts from salvaged Americana. Shawn looks for pieces that have etched writing, iron faces, and Minnesota logos and turns them into new tables and lights.
All of his pieces have a unique character to them. To this day he has produced over 1,000 different pieces. Shawn continues to source materials from historic sites across Minnesota.
He features his work online at MachineAgeLamps.com and at different art festivals around the state. He continues to participate in the Minnesota State Fair in the West End Market. If you are like me and are concerned about how I would get one of these pieces out of the fair, he’s got you covered. He offers to ship everything to you or if your car’s close, he has a dolly too.
If you are looking for something to do at the fair, that is not on a stick, check out this machine-age art.
Need Tickets to the State Fair?
Are you wondering how to get tickets? You can purchase discounted admission tickets via the official Minnesota State Fair website or at your local Cub Foods before the start of the fair. After that, you can purchase tickets directly at the fair gates. From a seasoned veteran, I highly recommend purchasing them beforehand to avoid the lines.
Need Tickets to the State Fair?
Are you wondering how to get tickets? You can purchase discounted admission tickets, and Blue Ribbon Bargain Books (while supplies last) via the official Minnesota State Fair ticket office or at select retailers before the start of the fair. After that, you can purchase tickets directly at the fair gates. From a seasoned veteran, I highly recommend purchasing them beforehand to avoid the lines.
The Minnesota State Fair typically runs from late August to early September each year. For 2025, check the official website for exact dates and events, as the 2025 fair has concluded by November.
