Today we’re doing our last feature on the Minnesota State Fair. To recap, we’ve featured a broad overview on opening day, a feature on the crazy and delicious foods the next day, and then yesterday we talked about the Midway and Kidway and all the rides. But like all good things, our time talking about the Great Minnesota Get-Together must end. But if you haven’t been there yet, there are several more days to get there and take it all in.
Today we’re gonna just lump everything else under the category of Entertainment. There’s too much to do at the Fair. We could be writing for several more days if we featured every event separately.
First, many of the food and beverage vendors have free shows by performers in their own spaces. Minnesota Wine Country has featured musicians playing Spanish and World-influenced music September 2nd through the 5th, starting at 6 each evening. Famous Dave’s features live blues performers each day of the Fair, and Café Caribe and French Creperie also have live entertainment to see. If you’d rather participate instead of watch, you can strut your karaoke skills at The Garden or Dino’s Gyros, and there are local celebrities making guacamole each day at Tejas Express. Take a peek at the schedule for more info on times and events.
Young and old alike are drawn to the animal and agricultural exhibits and events such as the Agri-lympics.
If watching people and animals in action is more your speed, catch one of the Horse Shows at The Coliseum.
Ecology-minded folks often enjoy checking out the Eco Experience, and taking a cruise down Green Street, a small-scale model of a walkable neighborhood with carbon footprint-reducing transportation initiatives and renewable energy. The model street has a play area, rain garden, community garden, performance space and electric car charging station.
Don’t forget to check out the almost-endless list of free music performances throughout the Fair. There are several stages, and more artists performing than you can shake a stick at. Because, let’s be honest. Nobody has a stick that big.
Have you checkedout the Northwoods Lumberjack Show? Maybe you should, if you’re into that sort of thing.
Teens, students and young adults (or anyone, really) should check out the X-Zone for performances by bands made up exclusively of winners of the high school-aged Battle of The Bands held earlier. There are performances each day at 5:30 and 7pm at X-Zone. Not only that, but also catch the X-Zone Skate Park set up by 3rd Lair for the sickest free-style skateboarding, in-line skating and BMX biking. Watch these dudes get vertical and have a blast. See X-Zone transform into a ginormous, real-life energy drink commercial daily at 11am, 12:30, 2:30, 3:30, 5, 6:30 and 7:30pm.
The Minnesota State Fair is, with good reason, the largest gathering in the State all year. Get out and enjoy some of it.
For more information, visit www.mnstatefair.org.