New 2013 MN State Fair Attractions: Arts A'Fair

We all know that Minnesota is known for it's diversity and arts culture. All the different music, theater, and performances all make it such an artistic place to live. So, in celebration of all the great arts in Minnesota, fair guests will be entertained by drumming, dance, theater and music in surprise pop-up showcases throughout the fairgrounds. AH sounds fun! This event will be all throughout the fairgrounds and throughout the entire fair days.

The inaugural Arts A’Fair will feature performances by COLLIDE Theatrical Dance Company, Duniya Drum and Dance Company, Green T Productions, History Theatre, In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre, Live Action Set, Mu Performing Arts, Stages Theatre Company, Summerset Theatre, TigerLion Arts, University of Minnesota Centennial Showboat, and Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre & School. You can stop by the Arts A'Fair space in the Education Building if you want to learn more about these groups.

Arts A’Fair is supported by contributions made to the Minnesota State Fair Foundation from individuals and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Thanks to all who made this fun arts event possible!

Minnesota State Fair Season

It was a good Minnesota State Fair this year. I was happy that I went as many times as I did. Next year, I hope to go more times (I say that every year). I enjoyed the food and the people watching and the Minnesota State Fair entertainment is always first class. I am not sure what I am going to do with this Minnesota State fair blog. I don’t really love blogging like I used to, but I want to keep the site. Maybe I will give the site an extreme makeover for next year’s great Minnesota get together! See ya at the fair!

Hot Air at the Fair

I heard on the news that this week is statistically the hottest week of the Summer. If this is true why is it always thousands of degrees hotter at the Minnesota state fair during the end of August? Is it the large crowds of people creating all this heat? Or is it all the hot air coming out of the politician supporters raging about how open minded they are? Despite the heat, there always seem to be a whole lot of people there. Rain or shine, hot or cold (mostly hot) Minnesotans' love the state fair. The lines seem to get longer each year especially waiting in the cheese curd line as the heat engulfs me.

Backstreet Boys at Minnesota State Fair

My 15 year old (one month from 16 year old) niece Katelyn is ecstatic that the Backstreet Boys are coming in concert to the Minnesota State Fair. She knows I have a Minnesota State Fair blog so she asked if she could write something for it about the Backstreet Boys. I, of course, am always open to help on the blog front so here is what she wrote. Thanks Katers!

From anything on a stick to the beautiful weather, the State Fair is one of Minnesota's greatest attractions. I remember being about 12 years old and in love with the Backstreet Boys. My lifelong dream was to go see them in concert. Well, my life long dream will be accomplished on August 23, 2008 because the Backstreet Boys are now larger than life with their new mature look. I can't wait to see them live. I'm sure they will completely rock the Minnesota State Fair Grand Stands.

Want your own Backstreet Boys tickets? check out local brokers like Ticket King for great seats right up until the show date!

Minnesota State Fair Grandstand Announcement

For the third week in a row, the Minnesota Fair has sent me a concert announcement for my Minnesota State Fair blog! The fair board has completed the grandstand schedule for 2008 with the addition of:

Gnarls Barkley will headline at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27.

Paramore (one of my daughters favorite bands) with special guests Jack's Mannequin, Phantom Planet and Paper Route are set to perform at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26.

Additionally, The Black Keys have been confirmed as the special guest for The Black Crowes show at the Grandstand on Aug. 30.

Wow, it is going to be a stellar year for Minnesota State Fair grandstand shows! There is at least four that I am dying to go see, good thing I have some of that tax stimulus money left over, I am going to need it for my Minnesota State fair concert tickets!

Minnesota State Fair in a lull

The Minnesota State fair news bulletins are mighty scarce the last few weeks, but I know if you don’t write in your blogs enough blogger penalizes you so I thought I better write something! Like...it’s finally March and that means spring which means we are one season closer to summer which means Minnesota State Fair time! I can smell the Minnesota State Fair cheese curds already – yummy!

State Fair Music Blog

Here are three years at the fair that will be unforgettable.

2007: Spoon “Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga”: My family took the exact wrong shuttle to take if you wanted to avoid cattle vehicles and other shuttles. We sat on the shuttle for about an hour waiting to get into the fair, giving me the opportunity to hear the funky sounds of this album. “You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb” had its subtle saxophone flourishes entrench themselves in my brain while “Don’t You Evah” evoked the soulful side of Spoon.

2004: Iron & Wine “Our Endless Numbered Days”: This year my family took the U of M shuttle. Sam Beam’s soft voice and lyrics of our bodies’ ashes in “Naked As We Came” provoked existential emotion. “I’m Minnesotan? I’m at the fair, of course.”

200x: The Breeders “Saints”: “I like all the different people / I like sticky everywhere / Look around / You bet I’ll be there.” Kim Deal’s timeless lyrics about fairs are an undeniable ode to the summer classic. It is mandatory listening anytime you get that special carnival polo out.

Summer’s ready when you are.

State Fair and music

The Minnesota State Fair arrives every year, and inevitably there is music in our lives that narrate the coming of the great Minnesota get-together. In one way or another, pop music permeates our everyday lives and contextualizes times in our lives.

The Minnesota State Fair is always a memorable time in my life thanks to the pop music I was listening to at the time. While on State Fair shuttles to the fair, many of us have our ipod on. I decided over the next few weeks on my Minnesota State Fair blog I am going to highlight a few of the years I remember at the fair and the music that comes along with it. Check back next week to see which Minnesota State fair year I chronicle!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year Minnesota State Fair Fans. Now that it is 2008, we can start saying this years Minnesota State Fair, instead of "next years" fair – get it? This years fair is just eight months away! This years fair!!!!

Minnesota State Fair Song

It’s that time of year when I start listening to Christmas music. I just heard the 12 days of Christmas song and I thought to myself…if I was really clever and talented, I would write a parody called the 12 days of the MN State Fair – wouldn’t that be fun and appropriate since the fair lasts twelve days. They do call it the twelve days of fun ending on Labor Day.

How would I start my minnesota state fair song? Hmmm…On the first day of State Fair, my true love gave to me, some sunglasses so I could see…On the second day of State fair, my true love gave to me two corn dogs and some sunglasses so I could see…

I will work on the rest of the verses in time for the 2008 great Minnesota get together! Yes, it’s true, I love the Minnesota State Fair enough to write a song about it! Check back to my blog, you never know what I will think of next!