Issue: 53 | March 29, 2022 |
|
Ta-Dah! Free Entertainment for May's Kickoff to Summer Event Is Announced!
|
Sitting outside enjoying live music and fun entertainment at the one-of-a-kind State Fairgrounds – doesn’t that sound divine?! We can hardly wait! Kickoff to Summer at the Fair, the slice-of-fair event May 26-30, is just around the corner. Here's a rundown of what’s planned – all FREE with your admission.
Three stages!
- Visitors Plaza Stage on Dan Patch Ave. (VP)
- Family Fun Stage sponsored by Cal Spas at DNR Park (FF)
- Christensen Farms Stage on Judson Ave. near CHS Miracle of Birth Center (CF)
Thursday, May 26, 4:30-9:30 p.m.
Alexi Rossi Band (VP); Saddle Sores (FF); Zumba® Fitness (CF)
Friday, May 27, 4:30-9:30 p.m.
Shalo Lee & Northern Southern (VP); Javier Trejo & Caballo Cosmico (FF); Miss Shannon’s Sock Hop (CF)
Saturday, May 28, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Swamp Poppas (VP); Jerry Frasier, Comic Magician (FF); Come Square Dance (CF)
Saturday, May 28, 4:30-9:30 p.m.
High & Mighty (VP); Rion & Carolyne Naomi (FF); Dance & Entertainment Studio (CF)
Sunday, May 29, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Miss Myra & The Moonshiners (VP); The Dollipops (FF); Art of Dance Studio (CF)
Sunday, May 29, 4:30-9:30 p.m.
The Shaw Brothers (VP); Wain McFarlane (FF); Rhythm & Swing (CF)
Monday, May 30, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tom Hunter Band (VP); 204th Army Band (FF); O’Shea Irish Dance (CF)
FREE activities and entertainment at all timeslots include:
- Pub-style trivia games hosted by none other than Trivia Mafia (yes, there are prizes), located in the Grandstand, lower level
- Fair-themed games for kids and adults - of course, there are prizes (CF)
- Yard games and board games
- DJ Entertainment sponsored by Adagio Djay Entertainment
- Kids activities provided by Ramsey County 4-H
And, there’s more! Raise a glass and nosh on fair favorites from 30 food & brew vendors. Find unique merch at 20 specialty merchants. Ride the Giant Slide! Check out our website for a complete list of Kickoff vendors and happenings.
|
|
Don't Miss Out! Kickoff to Summer Tickets Are On Sale Now to the Public!
|
To make this event experience extra special, attendance to Kickoff to Summer at the Fair is limited for each timeslot, and some timeslots may sell out. Tickets are $12.50 (fees included); children 4 and under are free. Visit our website for more information and to buy tickets.
Choose an event timeslot to attend:
- Thursday, May 26, 4:30-9:30 p.m.
- Friday, May 27, 4:30-9:30 p.m.
- Saturday, May 28, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Saturday, May 28, 4:30-9:30 p.m.
- Sunday, May 29, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Sunday, May 29, 4:30-9:30 p.m.
- Monday, May 30 (Memorial Day), 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sign Up to Win!
Winners, randomly selected from ticket buyers who opt in to enter at the time of purchase, will receive amazing door prizes, sponsored by Minnesota Rusco.
Join in the Minnesota State Fair Community Gives Together
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we’re honored to highlight three local nonprofits that support the mental health of veterans, first responders, frontline medical staff and others, along with their families:
- Believet Canine
- Invisible Wounds Project
- Magnus Veterans Foundation
|
|
Celebrating Generations of Minnesota Family Farms |
This year, 78 farms will receive the distinguished honor of being named a Century Farm by the Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Farm Bureau. Qualifying farms must be 50 acres or more and currently involved in agricultural production. Since the Century Farm program began in 1976, nearly 11,000 Minnesota farms have been recognized for continuous family ownership of at least 100 years.
Among this year’s honorees is the O’Brien Farm in Aitkin County. Jeremiah O’Brien (shown in this undated sketch provided by the O’Brien family) was born in New Brunswick, Canada. Working as a logger, he followed the trade, which brought him to Aitkin County, where he and Mary Jane married in 1890. They farmed potatoes and food for their family of 12 children. In the 1930s, ownership of the farm was taken over by their youngest child, Russell, who was a logger, World War II veteran and dairy farmer. In 1989, Russell’s grandson, Benjamin Jr., purchased the farm, and his family currently resides on the original homestead. In addition to potatoes, through the generations, the four generations of O’Briens have also farmed hay crops and dairy and beef cattle.
Information on all Century Farms will be available at the Minnesota Farm Bureau exhibit during the 2022 Minnesota State Fair. A database of all Minnesota Century Farms is also available at fbmn.org.
|
|
Get More FairWear for Less! |
|
Our online State FairWear store is doing a little spring cleaning to make room for new designs and inventory! Select sweatshirts, T-shirts and novelties are on sale now while supplies last.
|
|
New Lighting Brightens Fairgrounds Buildings |
When you return to the fairgrounds, you'll be treated to new, energy efficient LED lighting in the Robert A. Christensen Pavilion (pictured, formerly the Swine Barn) and the lower level of the Grandstand building. In the Christensen Pavilion, old, inefficient incandescent fixtures are being replaced and emergency lighting is being upgraded. In the Grandstand, the new fixtures will replace obsolete 8' fluorescent lamps and ballasts.
|
|
Hiring for Summer Jobs Has Begun! |
To help us get ready for the big get-together and other non-fair events, we’re hiring dozens of seasonal/summer staff who work approximately June to early September. Current openings include background check assistant, concessions & exhibits office assistant, employment services assistant, Foundation summer assistant, graphic design intern, greenhouse assistant, grounds & facilities assistant, police officer, reserve officer, and ticket office intern. You can view these postings at the career portal.
When you join our summer team, you’ll get unforgettable perks unlike any other company you'll work for: A unique behind-the-scenes opportunity to be a part of the team that puts on one of the biggest and most popular events in North America; get-togethers for full-time and summer staff to hear fair news and participate in (if you dare!) contests you'll have only at the fair; pre-fair kick-off pancake breakfast; employee MVP and All-Star recognition programs; free fair admission; endless fun fair facts to impress your friends and family; and more.
The top reason our summer staff say they love working for the Great Minnesota Get-Together is the friendships and memories they make - we hope you can join us!
Fair-Time Employment News
If you're interested in working the 12 days of the fair, look for registration information on our website beginning June 1. Get hiring news in your inbox by signing up for our employment email list.
|
|
Fund Established to Share Fair Joy With Guests of All Abilities |
After Jack and Leila Nessen’s daughter, Shayla, attended the fair in 2000 with a group from Courage Center, she wrote about her experience in the Disabled Dealer. “I never paid attention to the accessibility of the fair before my injury, but now I live with that need (to use a wheelchair) … I know there are quite a few people who share the same importance of going to the fair every year as I do …. and I would like to thank you all for helping to put that joy in mine and others’ lives!”
Jack and Leila were among the First 100 donors who helped establish the Minnesota State Fair Foundation 20 years ago. One of their favorite volunteer activities is selling Blue Ribbon Bargain Books at the West End Market. While they volunteer, they enjoy watching people’s faces light up with excitement as they come onto the fairgrounds. With the establishment of the Jack and Leila Nessen Fund for Accessibility through the Foundation, they want to help ensure that this same happiness is accessible for people of all abilities. This endowed fund supports facility improvement, enhanced programming and increased accessibility for people with physical, sensory or cognitive disabilities.
Photo by Andrew L. Xiong: At the 2021 State Fair, accessibility guest services included providing ASL interpretation on stage during the daylong Hmong Minnesota Day at Dan Patch Park.
|
|
|
|
Thursday, Aug. 25, 5:30 p.m.
$79 (general admission pit); $62, $53, $36 (reserved seating)
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, Aug. 30, 7 p.m.
$94, $79, $59, $39 (all reserved seating)
|
|
|
|
Friday, Sept. 2, 7 p.m.
$194 Golden Circle, $106, $96, $75 (all reserved seating)
|
|
|
|
Saturday, Sept. 3, 7 p.m.
$60, $51, $34 (all reserved seating)
|
|
Tickets on sale now online at Etix or by calling 800-514-3849.
Watch for more Grandstand concert announcements coming soon!
|
|
Minnesota State Fair Scholarships Recognize Outstanding Youth |
Invested in the educational endeavors of high school graduates, the Minnesota State Fair established a scholarship program in 1994 that is open to those who live in greater Minnesota or are enrolled in an agriculture program; who anticipate participating in the upcoming Minnesota State Fair; and who are attending or are planning to attend a post-secondary school in the current year, among other requirements.
This year, the program will award up to 22 scholarships of $1,000 each funded by the Minnesota State Fair Foundation. Since the program’s inception, more than $500,000 has been awarded. Applications are due Aug. 1, and recipients will be notified by Aug. 15, 2022. Learn more and access the application here.
Photo credit, New Ulm Journal: Leading up to last year’s State Fair, 2021 Minnesota State Fair Scholarship recipient Sophia Portner of Sleepy Eye took home the Champion Senior Showperson award and, with her Brown Swiss “Tundra,” won Champion Senior Dairy Cow honors at the Brown County Open Class Dairy Show.
|
|
Celebrate Family, Friends and Special Moments
|
Looking for the perfect way to proclaim your love for the State Fair or commemorate a special person or a treasured occasion? Add your story to the State Fairgrounds with a personalized recognition bench or table. An 8.5” x 7” plaque can be attached to the bench or table to share more about the people or events you’re celebrating.
Recognition benches and tables are available through the Minnesota State Fair Foundation. To have a bench in place for the 2022 State Fair, donations must be received by June 1, 2022.
|
|
Spring Gift-Giving Made Easy!
|
On the hunt for an easy Easter basket surprise, Mother's Day gift or springtime birthday present? Give a day of endless fun at the Great Minnesota Get-Together! Pre-fair discount admission tickets are on sale now for just $14. Buy online and choose the print-at-home option for an instant gift while saving on service fees. Tickets are also available by calling Etix, 800-514-3849. Visit our website for a print-at-home greeting card to accompany your gift!
|
|
Longtime Fair Participants Sought for 50 Year Award |
The 50 Year Award is presented annually to individuals who have actively participated in the Minnesota State Fair for 50 years as an employee, exhibitor, vendor or volunteer. These years do not need to be consecutive. (Unfortunately, attending as a guest is not a qualification for this honor.) Recipients are recognized in a special award ceremony during the fair, and their names are added to a permanent plaque located in the State Fair’s Administration Building. More than 350 people have been honored since the program began in 1979.
|
|
Coming to the Fairgrounds |
|
Event Spotlight: Body Mind Spirit Celebration
Explore the best in alternative health, wellness tools, products and resources at this holistic living festival Saturday & Sunday, April 23 & 24, in the North End Event Center. Plus, expand your insights and take in learning sessions and presentations featuring psychics, experts and holistic practitioners at the top of their fields. Find out more at the Body Mind Spirit Celebration website.
|
|
Event Spotlight: Animal Humane Society Walk for Animals
This beloved celebration of second chances and making a difference for animals in need comes to the International Bazaar on Saturday, April 30. For information on participating, fundraising, making a donation, volunteering and becoming a vendor, visit the Walk for Animals website.
|
|
Other Upcoming Events
April
- 2-3: Gopher State Timing Association 64th Annual Rod & Custom Spectacular Car Show at Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum
- 12, 19, 26: Machinery Hill Criterium Series Cycle Races at the State Fairgrounds
- 14-16: Minnesota Horse Expo at the Livestock Area and Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum
- 21-24: Munchkin Markets Children’s Consignment Sale at the Education Building
- 23: Minnesota Half-Arabian Horse Association WSCA/Schooling Show at Compeer Arena
- 23-24: Minneapolis-St. Paul Military Show at the Progress Center
- 23-24: Body Mind Spirit Celebration at the North End Event Center
- 23-24 Antique Spectacular Show & Flea Market at the Grandstand and Infield
- 29-May 1: Sahara Sands Spring Classic Arabian Horse Show at Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum
- 30: 51st Animal Humane Society Walk for Animals at the International Bazaar
May
- 1: Northland Vintage Toy, Train, Advertising & Pop Culture Show at the Progress Center
- 1: Gopher State Buick Spring Extravaganza Car Show & Swap Meet at Machinery Hill and the North Lots
- 3: Machinery Hill Criterium Series Cycle Races at the State Fairgrounds
- 5-8: Friends of the American Saddlebred Horse (FASH) Horse Show at Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum
- 6-8: Friends School Plant Sale at the Grandstand
- 7: Twin City Model Railroad Hobby Show & Sale at the Education Building
- 14-22: Twin Cities Auto Show at the State Fairgrounds
- 22: Riders & Ribbons Horse Show at Compeer Arena
- 26-30: Kickoff to Summer at the Fair at the State Fairgrounds
June
- 5: General Motors Car Clubs Association Car/Truck Show & Swap Meet at the State Fairgrounds
- 7: Machinery Hill Criterium Series Cycle Races at the State Fairgrounds
- 8-12: Region 10 Arabian Horse Association Championship Horse Show at Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum
- 10-11: Viking Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America National Show & Swap Meet at the State Fairgrounds
- 11: St. Paul Summer Beer Fest at the International Bazaar
- 11-12: Minnesota Autosports Club MOWOG #3 Autocross at the Robin Lot
|
|
Have a hobby you’ve been perfecting? Or a masterful creation you want to share? There are dozens and dozens of State Fair competitions in Ag-Hort-Bee, Creative Activities, Fine Arts and K-12 categories – and entry registration begins May 2. We’ll be posting competition information on our website in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!
Photo by Street Factory Media: The Shore family meticulously works on their 2019 crop art entries at their dining room table.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
