Hamline Dining Hall celebrates 120 years at Minnesota State Fair
FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. (KMSP) - The Hamline Church Dining Hall is celebrating 120 years at the Great Minnesota Get-Together this year, making it the oldest food vendor at the entire fair.
On Friday morning, Gov. Mark Dayton and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman issued proclamations recognizing Hamline’s 120th anniversary. The dining hall has been a staple at the Minnesota State Fair since 1897, although it’s moved locations several times.
Over the years other dining halls, once a state fair staple, have faded away from a lack of volunteers. But at Hamline, which needs 60 people a day to run, they keep coming back.
The stand is still known of its hamloaf and meatballs – but the cranberry wild rice meatballs with lingonberry sauce are shaping up to be one of the standout new foods at the fair this year.