Blue Earth: Jolly Green Giant, Museums and Parks

Blue Earth offers several distinct points of interest to help you plan your trip: the Jolly Green Giant landmark, collections on the county’s history, the Faribault County Fair, and outdoor recreation. If you’re looking for a hotel, you can start by choosing what brings you to the area: Would you like to learn about the statue and canning, attend an event, or set aside time for parks and outdoor activities? The following highlights can help you tailor your trip to your interests.

Jolly Green Giant and Canning

Blue Earth is home to the world’s tallest Jolly Green Giant statue. It was erected on July 6, 1979. There are also different museum exhibits related to the character and canning: the Giant Welcome Center has a museum with Giant memorabilia and a historical video about the canning process. The GIANT Museum displays memorabilia related to the Jolly Green Giant and Little Green Sprout, as well as machinery from a canning factory.

The exhibits have different focuses: the Giant Welcome Center highlights memorabilia and the production process, while the GIANT Museum also features machinery from a canning factory. When choosing places to visit, you can decide whether you’re primarily interested in the characters or also in the technical side of canning production.

Museums and History

The Etta C. Ross Museum is one of Blue Earth’s historic sites. It houses historical artifacts, genealogical records, and Faribault County records. This makes it a good choice if you’re interested in the region’s past or family history.

The James B. Wakefield House is now the County Historical Museum. The two museum sites offer different points of interest: at the Etta C. Ross Museum, you’ll find genealogical and county records, among other things; the James B. Wakefield House is designated as the County Historical Museum. During the Faribault County Fair, tours of the History Lane buildings are only available if they’re offered on your chosen date. Check in advance whether tours are offered on your chosen date.

Faribault County Fair

The annual Faribault County Fair is an event held in Blue Earth. Its exhibits include livestock, art, and horticulture; there are also events on the grandstand stage. The program also includes magic shows, bingo, dinosaur encounters, barns with farm and domestic animals, and Auto Cross. The offerings range from exhibits to a variety of stage events and activities.

If the Fair is the reason for your trip, check the dates for your travel year before planning. This lets you focus your hotel search on the event dates without assuming a specific date. Consider the History Lane buildings as a possible part of the program, and check in advance whether tours are available during the Fair on your chosen date.

Parks and Outdoor Recreation

The Unity Trail is three miles long and paved; you can use it for walking or biking. Putnam Park is home to the municipal swimming pool and disc golf course. The park also has tennis courts, a picnic shelter, play equipment, and restrooms. This park therefore offers a variety of recreational options.

Blue Earth’s Dog Park has an area where dogs can run off leash and play with other dogs. Piano Park is a neighborhood park with play equipment in a quiet setting. Blue Earth Area Middle/Elementary School Park has newly renovated play equipment. Free Notes Harmony Park offers another unique play opportunity: it has six oversized instruments that children and adults can play and try out.

These places offer different experiences: the Unity Trail provides a specified route for walking and biking, while the parks focus on particular facilities, play opportunities, or a peaceful setting. You can plan your leisure time according to whether you’d like to follow a trail, play sports, or try out instruments and play equipment.

Camping as a Separate Travel Option

Blue Earth City Campground is located within the Faribault County Fairgrounds and has 14 sites with full hookups for 50/30 amps. The campground and fairgrounds have ball fields, play equipment, a walking and biking trail, and restrooms with showers; the showers are for campers. If you’re looking for a hotel, the attractions and events described above can instead help you decide what to focus on during your stay in Blue Earth.

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