What to do Wednesday at the Minnesota State Fair

Kathy Berdan, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.
·2 min read

Sep. 1—Wednesday, Sept. 1 > Kids Day

Today's Deals: Reduced admission — Kids (5-12) $11. Special ride and game promotions are offered for everyone at Mighty Midway and Kidway all day.

The full daily schedule is available at the State Fair information booths or at mnstatefair.org. Beyond the barns and corn dogs, here are ...

THREE TO SEE (ideas for your day at the Fair)

Have an Arts A'Fair — Twin Cities arts groups are doing free performances every day at the Fair. Today on the North End, Black Storytellers Alliance will perform at 10 and 10:45 a.m., and 12:15 and 1 p.m.; Mixed Precipitation presents its Pickup Truck Opera at 3, 3:45, 5:15 and 6 p.m. On the KSTP Heritage Plaza at West End Market, Collide Theatrical Dance Company performs at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m., and 12:30 and 1:30 p.m.; Duniya Drum and Dance is at 3:30, 4:30, 5:30 and 6:30 p.m.

We llove it — The 4-H Llama and Alpaca Costume Contest has become so popular that it was moved to a larger building this year. The costumed creatures and their costumed handlers can be found in Warner Coliseum at 6 p.m.

Butter up — The "Butterheads," likenesses of dairy royalty Princess Kay and her court sculpted in butter, are nearing completion. The sculpting in a rotating refrigerated cooler started with Princess Kay on the first day of the Fair, so by now there are a lot of yellow carvings to see in the corner of the Dairy Building. The run of sculptor Linda Christensen is nearing an end, too. After 50 years wielding the butter knife, this is her last at the Minnesota State Fair.

Music at the Fair

In the Grandstand: Country star Tim McGraw returns to the Grandstand for the sixth time and first since 2014. The 54-year-old Louisiana native's many No. 1 hits include "Don't Take the Girl," "I Like It, I Love It," "Unbroken," "Live Like You Were Dying," "Last Dollar (Fly Away)," "Felt Good on My Lips" and "Humble and Kind." Midland opens. 7:30 p.m.; $88-$60.

Free at the Fair: The Legendary Wailers are one of two bands that keep the music of the late reggae icon Bob Marley alive. This one is led by guitarist Julian "Junior" Marvin, who played with Marley from 1977 to his death in 1981. 8:30 p.m.; Leinie Lodge Bandshell.

Attendance

Attendance at the Fair on Monday was 91,568.

The attendance record for the Fair on the first Monday was 144,504, set in 2017. Attendance in 2019 was 96,716.