A sampling of events at the Minnesota State Fair. For a complete schedule, go to mnstatefair.org.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 1
Use these guides to explore the fair
SENIORS DAY: Musical and dance performances, fitness programs and health and wellness programming in Dan Patch Park. Seniors receive discounted fair admission, $12. Deals on merchandise and food for all guests and all-day specials on Mighty Midway and Kidway rides & games. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
MUSIC
GRANDSTAND: REO Speedwagon and Styx: With Levon. 7 p.m.
DNR PARK: Ecuador Manta: 10 a.m., noon, 2, 4 & 7 p.m.
INTERNATIONAL BAZAAR: Dalmar Yare: 10:45 a.m., noon & 1:15 p.m.; Irie Sol: 3:15, 4:30 & 5:45 p.m.; Bad Girlfriends: 8 p.m.
LEINIE LODGE BANDSHELL: Becky Schlegel & the High 48s: 10:30 & 11:45 a.m.; The Jimmys: 1 & 2:30 p.m.; We Banjo 3: 3:30 & 4:45 p.m.; Low Cut Connie: 8:30 p.m.
MINNESOTA WINE COUNTRY: Andrew Spreck and Robert Colbert: 6:30 p.m.
THE NORTH END: Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company: 3, 3:45, 5:15 & 6 p.m.
SCHILLING AMPHITHEATER: Blue Ribbon Baroque: Noon, 1 & 2 p.m.
WEST END MARKET: Turn Turn Turn: 8 p.m.
FAMILY FARE
4-H BUILDING: 4-H Performing Arts Show: 5:30 p.m.
CATTLE BARN AND ANNEX: Agrilympics: Celebrity Butter Carving Contest: 12:20 p.m.
DNR PARK: Church Basement Ladies: 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m.
FAMILY FAIR/BALDWIN PARK: Kenny Ahern: 10:30 & 11:30 a.m.; The Chipper Experience: 12:30 & 3:30 p.m.; State Fair Talent Contest: 7 p.m.
LEINIE LODGE BANDSHELL: Amateur Talent Contest: 6 p.m.
THE NORTH END: Collide Theatrical Dance Company: 10, 10:45 a.m., 12:15 & 1 p.m.
SCHILLING AMPHITHEATER: Wild Goose Chase Cloggers: 4, 5 & 6 p.m.
WEST END MARKET: Mixed Precipitation: 10:30, 11:30 a.m., 12:30 & 1:30 p.m.; Shakespeare & Company: 3:30, 4:30, 5:30 & 6:30 p.m.
HOME AND HOBBIES
AGRICULTURE/HORTICULTURE BUILDING: Men's and Women's Garden Club of Minneapolis Flower Show: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Benefits of a Night Garden: 10 a.m.; Goodbye Lawn, Hello Gardens: 11 a.m.; Support Local Farmers, Eat Good Food: 3 p.m.; Edibles and Decoratives from the Woodland or Backyard: 4 p.m.; Northern Gardener 101: 5 p.m.
ECO EXPERIENCE/PROGRESS CENTER: Fueling Change in Minnesota: 10 a.m.; Green Space Development and Community Gardening: Noon.
MINNESOTA WINE COUNTRY: Minnesota Wine and Food on a Stick: 3:30 p.m.
Everyday Events, Aug. 25-Sept. 5
FAIRGROUNDS HOURS: 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Aug. 25-Sept. 4; 7 a.m.-9 p.m. on Sept. 5 (Labor Day). Many events end earlier on the final day.
FAMILY FARE
4-H BUILDING: 4-H State Arts-In Performance: 11:30 a.m., 5 & 7:30 p.m.; 11:30 a.m. Sept. 5
CATTLE BARN AND ANNEX: Moo Booth: Milking demonstrations, video presentations and interactive programming. 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Aug. 25-26, 29-31, Sept. 3-4; 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 27-28, Sept. 5.; 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 1.
CHS MIRACLE OF BIRTH CENTER: FFA Landscape & Construction Displays: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. daily; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 5.; Meet the Animals and Veterinarians: 10 a.m. daily, except 6 p.m. Aug. 26 & 30; Thank a Farmer Magic Show: 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m.; Ag Champions: 5 p.m.
DAIRY BUILDING: Butter Sculptures: Princess Kay and her court have their likenesses carved from a 90-pound block of butter by a sculptor. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 25-Sept. 4.
DNR PARK: Climb the DNR Fire Tower: 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Invasive Carp Table: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Smokey Bear Appearance: 11 a.m. & 1 p.m.; Ask a DNR Expert: 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; Fish Pond Talks: Hourly from 9:45 a.m.-3:45 p.m. EDUCATION BUILDING: Entries from the K-12 competition, robotics demonstrations, educational institutions and nonprofit exhibitors. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
FAMILY FAIR/BALDWIN PARK: Home to the Alphabet Forest and Math On-A-Stick where guests can pose for photos with fair letters, play games or take a book break. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Monster Shop Bump'n: 1:30, 4:30 & 6 p.m.
FINE ARTS CENTER: Winning artwork on display. Daily featured artists give a glimpse into how art is created. "Be a Fine Arts Detective" sends viewers on an observational hunt to earn a ribbon. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
FRASER SENSORY BUILDING: A calming space for guests with sensory-processing challenges, with activities and educational and employment resources. Wright Av. between Underwood and Cooper Sts. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
GIANT SING ALONG: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. North of Lee Av. between Underwood and Cooper.
HORSE BARN: EquiMania: An award-winning equine educational exhibit with displays on horse topics. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 25, 27 & Sept. 5; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 26; 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Aug. 28; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 29; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Aug. 31; 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sept. 1-4.
LITTLE FARM HANDS: An educational exhibit where kids experience the agricultural process. 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
HISTORY WALKING TOUR: A 2-mile, 12-stop self-guided tour of historical spots on the fairgrounds. Brochures available at any tour stop, J.V. Bailey House or History & Heritage Center. Visit at least eight stops to collect a prize.
MINNESOTA NEWSPAPER MUSEUM: The museum celebrates 35 years with a living history exhibit. 9 a.m.-8 p.m. East side of Cosgrove next to the 4-H Building.
NORTH END EVENT CENTER: Survival: The Exhibition: An immersive wilderness exhibit. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. North of Murphy Av.
NORTHWOODS: All-Star Stunt Dogs Splash: 11 a.m., 2 & 4:30 p.m.; Timberworks Lumberjack Show: Noon, 3, 5:30 & 7 p.m.
OLD IRON SHOW: Learn about the history of machines and farming through displays and demonstrations. Lee Av. between Underwood and Cooper Sts. 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
PET PAVILIONS: Meet the dog breeds, pet surgery suite and canine and training demonstrations. 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
RAMBERG MUSIC CAFE: Blue Ribbon Bingo: Hourly sessions 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
ROBERT A. CHRISTENSEN PAVILION: Oink Booth: A look into the world of pig farming. 9 a.m.-8 p.m. daily, except 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 1.
SCHILLING AMPHITHEATER: Minnesota Historical Society History On-A-Schtick: 10 & 11 a.m.
SHEEP AND POULTRY BARN: Baa Booth: Educational exhibit with sheep displays and hands-on activities. 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Aug. 25-31 except 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 28; 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 1.
STATE FAIR PARADE: Travels a 14-block route beginning near the Haunted House, going north on Cosgrove Street, west on Randall Avenue and south on Underwood Street. 2 p.m.
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DRIVEN TO DISCOVER: Participate in a study by a variety of university departments. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA: Photos & Games with Goldy Gopher: Noon. South side of Dan Patch Av. between Underwood and Cooper Sts.
VISITORS PLAZA: Meet State Fair Mascots Fairborne and Fairchild: 11 a.m. & 4 p.m.
WEST END MARKET: History & Heritage Center: A showcase of the competitions, entertainment, agriculture, food and merchandise that have been the heart of the fair. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
HOME AND HOBBIES
AGRICULTURE/HORTICULTURE BUILDING: Hands-On Ag Literacy Activities: 1:30-3:30 p.m. Straw Bale Gardening: 1 p.m.; Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild: "Brewed in Minnesota," an interactive educational exhibit. Sample flights of craft beers and view stage programming. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Garden Kaleidoscopes: Gaze into kaleidoscopes and see flowers transform into images of color and movement. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. The Common Table: Minnesota Eats: An interactive exhibit that seeks to inspire Minnesotans to get connected to the food they eat. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Harvesting Honey: 1, 2, 4 & 5 p.m.; no 1 p.m. on Aug. 31; Looking Inside the Hive: 10:30 a.m., 12:30, 2:30, 4:30 & 6:30 p.m.; Ask the Apple Grower: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 26-Sept. 4; Ask the Cider Maker: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 26-Sept. 5; Minnesota Grape Growers Association: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Aug. 26-Sept. 5. Minnesota State Floral Association Floralpalooza: Spooktacular: An immersive exhibit of the supernatural. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural & Natural Resource Sciences: Get your gardening questions answered by representatives from the university's Master Gardener Program. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
CREATIVE ACTIVITIES AND ANNEX: View more than 8,000 handicrafts and baked goods along with daily demonstrations and a recipe card roundup. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
ANIMALS
CHS MIRACLE OF BIRTH CENTER: Educational exhibit housing baby animals, and a hen house. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. daily; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 5.
HORSE BARN: Aisle of Breeds: Meet horses and their owners and get answers to equine questions. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 25 & 29; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 26; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 27 & Sept. 5; 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Aug. 31-Sept. 4.
