Reduced admission–Adults (13 & over) $11; Kids (5–12) $8. All-day discounts are offered on Mighty Midway and Kidway rides and games. Many merchandise and food vendors offer special Thrifty Thursday bargains for all fair guests.
MUSIC
Use these guides to explore the fair
GRANDSTAND: Toby Keith: With Colt Ford. 7:30 p.m.
DNR PARK: Darlene and the Boys: 10 a.m., noon, 2 & 4 p.m.; Ecuador Manta: 7 p.m.
EDUCATION BUILDING: Young Fiddlers Association: 10 & 11 a.m.
INTERNATIONAL BAZAAR: Axis Mundi: 10:45 a.m., noon & 1:15 p.m.; Spanish Flamenco Guitar and Dance: Noon, 1:30, 3 & 4:30 p.m.; Los Conocidos: 3:15, 4:30 & 5:45 p.m.; Hitchville: 7:30 & 8:45 p.m.
LEINIE LODGE BAND SHELL: The Railers: 10:30 & 11:45 a.m.; Tonic Sol-Fa: 1 & 2:30 p.m.; Chad Brownlee: 3:30 & 4:45 p.m.; Blood, Sweat and Tears Featuring Bo Bice: 8:30 p.m.
RAMBERG SENIOR CENTER: Mark Stillman: 10:30, 11:45 a.m. & 1 p.m.; Pop Wagner and Bob Bovee: 3:15, 4:30 & 5:45 p.m.
SCHILLING AMPHITHEATER: Sarah Morris: 10:30, 11:30 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.; The Rockin' Pinecones: 2, 3 & 4 p.m.; Chastity Brown: 7:30 p.m.
FAMILY FARE
4-H BUILDING: 4-H State Arts-In Musical Performance: 11:30 a.m., 5 & 7:30 p.m.; 4-H Chef for a Day Cook-Off: 2 & 6 p.m.
CAROUSEL PARK: Chemistry with Alpha Chi Sigma: 9 a.m. & 1 p.m.; Physics Force: 10 a.m., noon & 2 p.m.; The Bakken Museum: 11 a.m. & 3 p.m.; University of Minnesota Raptor Center: 4 p.m.
CATTLE BARN AND ANNEX: Moo Booth: Cow milking, fun & educational activities, dairy and beef cattle showcase, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; My American Farm: 11 a.m.; Moo Live: 11:30 a.m., 12:45 & 3 p.m.; Video Presentations: Noon, 1:30 & 2 p.m.; Moo Quiz Show: 5:30 p.m.; Moo Sample Station: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
DNR PARK: Fish Pond Talks: Quarter to the hour. 9:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.; Last Chance Forever: The Bird of Prey Conservancy: 11 a.m., 2 & 4 p.m.; Animals Nobody Loves: 11 a.m.; Adopt-a-River Trash Sculpture: 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Smokey Bear: 11 a.m. & 1 p.m.; Emerald Ash Borer: Noon & 2 p.m.
EDUCATION BUILDING: High School Robotics Competition: 10 a.m., noon & 3 p.m.; Minnesota Square Dance Federation: Noon; Duniya Drum & Dance: 10:30 & 11:30 a.m., 12:30, 1:30 p.m.; Collide Theatrical Dance Company: 3, 4, 5 & 6 p.m.
FAMILY FAIR/BALDWIN PARK: Alphabet Forest: Alphabet activities for all ages. Take pictures with Fair Letters, create alphabet Ferris wheels and more. Daily author appearances, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Great Big Sandbox: Dig, scoop and burrow your way through this sandbox for kids. 8 a.m.; Heebie Jeebies Family Comedy Music Show, 10:30, 11:30 a.m., 3 p.m.; Sean Emery: 12:30 & 5 p.m.; Break-Shop Bump'N: 1:30, 4 & 6 p.m.; Minnesota State Fair County Fair Talent Contest, 7 p.m.; Lasertainment's Laser Hits Show: High-powered aerial laser beams dance above guests while colorful images light up a gigantic screen — all choreographed to music. Located outdoors at the intersection of Cosgrove St. and Randall Av. 9:15 p.m.
HORSE BARN: EquiMania: An interactive education center for horse lovers. 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
LEINIE LODGE BAND SHELL: Amateur Talent Contest, 6 p.m.
LITTLE FARM HANDS: A hands-on agricultural experience for children. 8 a.m.; Seed Survivor: An interactive exhibit that encourages children to understand the elements plants need to grow. 8 a.m.; Old Iron Show: Rare, valuable and fully operational antique farm equipment is displayed. Located on Lee Av., north of Little Farm Hands. 8 a.m.
STATE FAIR MALL PARADE: A 14-block route through the fairgrounds and features a high school marching band competition, visiting royalty, floats and special attractions. 2 p.m.
MIRACLE OF BIRTH CENTER: Career Opportunities in Veterinary Medicine: In the Nursery of Knowledge. 10 a.m., 4 p.m.; Thank a Farmer Magic Show: Noon, 4 & 6 p.m.
NORTHWOODS: Extreme Canines Stunt Dog Show: 11 a.m., 2 & 4:30 p.m.; Timberworks Lumberjack Show: Noon, 3, 5:30 & 7 p.m.
PET CENTER: Giant Sing Along: A participatory public art installation that invites guests to belt out tunes. On Murphy Av. across from the Pet Center. 9 a.m.
PROGRESS CENTER/ECO EXPERIENCE: Healthy Local Food Films: 7 p.m.
SCHILLING AMPHITHEATER: Ventriloquist James Wedgwood: 5:30 p.m.
SWINE BARN, MINNESOTA STATE FAIRGROUNDS: Oink Booth: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Pig Tales: 11 a.m.
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DRIVEN TO DISCOVER: Choices, Choices, Choices: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Distracted Driving Simulator: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fitness After 55: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Gopher Kids Study: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Make the Grade in Diabetes Control: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; R U @ Rsk 4 T1D? 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Spill the Beans Study: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; The Kid Talk Study: How Do Kids Think About Language?: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Learn Your Lipids for Prevention of Familial Heart Disease: 3 p.m.-9 p.m.; Familial Cancer Testing Study: 3 p.m.-9 p.m.; Understanding Fitness' Function in Determining Activity Study: 3 p.m.-9 p.m.
VISITORS PLAZA: Fairchild and Fairborne Mascot Appearances: Free photo opportunities and autograph sessions. 11 a.m. & 4 p.m.
WEST END MARKET: Open Eye Figure Theatre: 10, 11 a.m., noon & 1 p.m.; Theatre Unbound: 3:30, 4:30, 5:30 & 6:30 p.m.
THE X-ZONE: Skateboard and BMX Bike Demonstrations: Noon, 1:30, 3, 4:30 & 6 p.m.
DEMONSTRATIONS AND PROGRAMS
AGRICULTURE/HORTICULTURE BUILDING: Looking Inside the Hive: 10:30 a.m., 12:30, 2:30, 4:30 & 6:30 p.m.; Cooking with Honey: 11 & 11:30 a.m., noon; Harvesting Honey: 1, 2, 4 & 5 p.m.
CATTLE BARN AND ANNEX: 4-H Livestock Demonstrations: Barn Stage, 8 a.m., 4 & 6 p.m.; Milking Demonstrations: 10 a.m., noon, 2, 4 & 6 p.m.; 4-H Livestock Demonstrations: Land O Lakes Stage, 10:30 a.m., 12:30, 2:30, 4:30 & 6:30 p.m.; Hand Milking Demonstrations: 11:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
DNR PARK: Fire Tower: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
PET CENTER: St. Paul Police K-9 Foundation Demonstration: 7 p.m.; Siberian Husky Club: Demonstrations at the top of each hour, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
PROGRESS CENTER/ECO EXPERIENCE: ReUSE Room Demonstrations: 10 a.m., 1, 3:30 & 6:30 p.m.; Renewing the Countryside Cooking: 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m.
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DRIVEN TO DISCOVER: Cooking with Kids in Rural Minnesota: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
JUDGING
4-H BUILDING: 4-H Judging and displays: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
AGSTAR ARENA: FFA Safe Tractor Operator's Contest: 9 a.m.; 4-H Beef Cow/Calf, Prospect Market Calf Show: 1:30 p.m.; 4-H Breeding Heifer Show: 4 p.m. CATTLE BARN AND ANNEX: Make it Better with Butter Contest: 10 a.m.
MIRACLE OF BIRTH CENTER: FFA Landscape Design and Construction Competition: 8 a.m.
SHEEP AND POULTRY BARN: 4-H Poultry Interviews and Quiz: 7:30 a.m.; 4-H Poultry Show and Showmanship: 1 p.m.
WARNER COLISEUM: Hunter Performance Classes: 8 a.m.; Jumper Performance Classes: 6 p.m.
ANIMALS
HORSE BARN: Aisle of Breeds: Horse Breed Showcase: 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
MIRACLE OF BIRTH CENTER: Urban Chick Farming: in the Nursery of Knowledge. 2 p.m.
PET CENTER: Pet Surgery: 10 a.m., noon, 2 & 4 p.m.
SHEEP AND POULTRY BARN: Baa Booth: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
HOME AND HOBBIES
AGRICULTURE/HORTICULTURE BUILDING (9 a.m. to 9 p.m. unless noted): The Common Table: 9 a.m.; Minnesota Department of Agriculture: 9 a.m.; Floralpalooza's "Zoo-Tanical": 9 a.m.; University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Science: 9 a.m.; Minnesota State Horticultural Society Cactus, Succulent, Potted Plant Show: 9 a.m.; African Violet Society of Minnesota Show: 9 a.m.; African Violet Information and Growing Tips: 10 a.m.; Ask the Grape Grower: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; What About Me, the Mason Bee? Talk for Kids: 11 a.m.; Beyond Apples: Growing Fruit in Minnesota: Noon; Gardens of the Night: 1 p.m.; Tips on Exhibiting and Growing Veggies and Flowers: 2 p.m.; Sustainable Yards, Home to Birds, Bees and Butterflies: 3 p.m.; Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild: 3 & 6 p.m.; Pruning Grapevines: 4 p.m.; Mushrooms 101: 5 p.m.
CREATIVE ACTIVITIES AND ANNEX (9 a.m. to 9 p.m. unless noted): Minnesota Knitters Guild: 9 a.m.; Minnesota Lace Society: 9 a.m.; Weavers Guild of Minnesota: 9 a.m.; Blue Ribbon Winners Reveal Baking Secrets: 10:30 a.m., noon & 1 p.m.
DNR PARK: Naturalist Tent: Discovery activities and kids projects. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wildlife in Your Backyard: 1 & 3 p.m.
MINNESOTA WINE COUNTRY: Unique Factors and Flavors of Minnesota Wine: 3:30 & 5 p.m.
PROGRESS CENTER/ECO EXPERIENCE: Eating Sustainably: 10 a.m.; Can We Overcome Our Consumption Addiction?: Noon; Bee-Friendly Landscapes: Noon; Easy, Eco-Friendly Gardening Tips: 2 & 5 p.m.; Wilderness Inquiry: 4 p.m.
