The only two church dining halls remaining at the Minnesota State Fair will not be dining halls at all during this year's get-together.
Both Hamline Dining Hall and Salem Lutheran Church Dining Hall announced Monday they are closing off the traditional indoor seating areas for the 2021 fair. Both cited health and safety as reasons for the change.
Hamline is scaling things back dramatically.
The church announced Monday it will only be selling ice cream from an exterior pick-up window during the 2021 State Fair, touting its Sno-Cap Mini Waffle Sundae and nine ice cream flavors. All volunteers will be vaccinated and wearing masks, the church added.