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Day 1: Thrifty Thursday

August 23, 2013 at 2:36AM

Lauren Smith, 2, of Hugo, enjoyed her romp in the Mr. Bubble attraction last year at the State Fair. (Stan Schmidt — Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Thrifty Thursday: Reduced admission: Adults (13 & over) $10; Kids (5–12) $7. All-day discounts are offered on Mighty Midway and Kidway rides, games and concessions. Many merchandise and food vendors offer special Thrifty Thursday bargains for all fair guests.

MUSIC

GRANDSTAND: Dana Carvey, Dennis Miller and Kevin Nealon: 8 p.m., $38.

4-H BUILDING: 4-H State Arts-In Musical Performances: 11:30 a.m., 5 & 7:30 p.m.

DNR PARK: Axiom: 10 a.m., noon, 2 & 4 p.m.; Snakes Alive!: 11 a.m.; A Hardwoods Home Companion: 1 & 3 p.m.; Ecuador Manta: 7, 8 & 9 p.m.

EDUCATION BUILDING: Young Fiddlers Association: 9 & 11 a.m.

HERITAGE SQUARE: The Roe Family Singers: 10:30, 11:30 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.; The Harris Brothers: 2, 3 & 4 p.m.; Lucy Michelle & the Velvet Lapelles: 7 p.m.

INTERNATIONAL BAZAAR: Dirty Shorts Brass Band: 10:45 a.m., noon & 1:15 p.m.; Six Appeal: 3:15, 4:30 & 5:45 p.m.; Socaholix: 7:30 & 8:45 p.m.

LEINIE LODGE BANDSHELL: Mountain Heart: 10:30 & 11:45 a.m.; Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band: 1 & 2:30 p.m.; Dale Watson: 3:30 & 4:45 p.m.; Sunny Sweeney: 8:30 p.m.

PROGRESS CENTER/ECO EXPERIENCE: Clearwater Band: 10 a.m.

RAMBERG SENIOR CENTER: Mark Stillman: 10:30, 11:45a.m. & 1 p.m.; Ramm Band: 3:15, 4:30 & 5:45 p.m.

FAMILY FARE

4-H BUILDING: Wiser Living: Smart Solutions for Aging at Home: An interactive exhibit showcases innovative product solutions and services that help support independent living.

CAROUSEL PARK: STEM DAY: More than 30 science and math organizations will have hands-on activities and interactive demonstrations for children, families and teachers. 8 a.m.

CATTLE BARN AND ANNEX: Moo Quiz Show: 5:30 p.m.

CREATIVE ACTIVITIES AND ANNEX: Studio: Here: A practicing Minnesota artist will create artwork and interact with fair guests. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

DAIRY BUILDING: Princess Kay and all members of her court will have their likenesses carved into 90-lb. blocks of butter. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

DNR PARK: Fish Pond Talks: Quarter to the hour. 9:45 a.m.-3:45 p.m.; Last Chance Forever: The Bird of Prey Conservancy: 11 a.m., 2 & 4 p.m.; Meet Smokey Bear: 11 a.m. & 1 p.m.; Naturalist Tent: Stop by this touch-and-learn area filled with fur pellets, snakes and rocks. Kids can make and take home an animal track and get a nature tattoo. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Emerald Ash Borer: Shake hands with a costumed character, noon & 2 p.m.

EDUCATION BUILDING: Square Dance ABC: 10 a.m.

FAMILY FAIR/BALDWIN PARK: 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.; Kidsdance: 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.; Alphabet Forest: Take pictures with fair letters, create alphabet Ferris wheels, add words to the Fair Dictionary and more! Meet a different author each day in the Alphabet Forest at the Minnesota's Homegrown Author Showcase. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Great Big Sandbox: Dig, scoop and burrow your way through this sandbox for kids. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Pianos on Parade: "Artistically transformed" pianos that encourage visitors to spontaneously engage in art and music.

HERITAGE SQUARE: James Wedgwood: 5:30 p.m.; ShenaniGuns Comedy Wild West Show: Located east of Heritage Square and north of the Skyride, noon, 3 & 6 p.m.

HORSE BARN: EquiMania!: A comprehensive horse exhibit featuring full-size skeletons and anatomy models, dental tools, tail-braiding and leg-wrapping activities and more.

LITTLE FARM HANDS: A hands-on agricultural experience for children. 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

NORTHWOODS: Timberworks Lumberjack Show: 11 a.m., 1:30, 5 & 7 p.m.; Ron Schara's Minnesota Bound: 10 a.m. & 3 p.m.

PARADE: A 14-block route through the fairgrounds, featuring a high school marching band competition, visiting royalty, floats and special attractions. 2 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.-9 p.m.; Luminarium Exxopolis: A walk-through sculpture of winding paths. Located at Cooper St. and Murphy Av. 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m. $4; under 5 free.

PROGRESS CENTER/ECO EXPERIENCE: Farm-to-School Films: 7 p.m.

SHEEP AND POULTRY BARN: Bunny Booth: Visit the exhibit and distinguish the variations of sizes, shapes, fur types, colors, tails and ears.

VISITOR'S PLAZA: Fairchild & Fairborn Mascots: Free photo opportunities and autograph sessions. 11 a.m. & 4 p.m.

THE X-ZONE: 3rd Lair Skatepark at the X-Zone: Athletes demonstrate their skills on skateboards, in-line skates and BMX bikes, noon, 1:30, 3, 4:30 & 6 p.m.; Flippenout Extreme Trampoline Show: 11 a.m., 1, 4 & 5:30 p.m.

DEMONSTRATIONS AND PROGRAMS

AGRICULTURE/HORTICULTURE BUILDING: Looking in the Beehive: 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: Milking Demonstrations: 10 a.m., noon, 2, 4 & 6 p.m.; Moo Sample Station: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; 4-H Livestock Demonstrations: 10:30 a.m., 12:30, 2:30, 4:30 & 6:30 p.m.

CREATIVE ACTIVITIES AND ANNEX: Specialty Meals From Your Garden's Bounty: 10:30 a.m., noon & 2 p.m.

DNR PARK: Fire Tower: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

HERITAGE SQUARE: Blacksmith Demonstrations: 9 a.m., noon, 3 & 6 p.m.; Woodturner Demonstrations: 9 a.m., 1, 4 & 8 p.m.

JUDGING

AGSTAR ARENA: FFA Dairy Cattle and General Livestock: 8:45 a.m.; 4-H Beef Cow/Calf, Prospect Market Calf Show: 1:30 p.m.; 4-H Breeding Heifer: 4 p.m.; FFA Safe Tractor Operator's Contest: 9 a.m.

CATTLE BARN AND ANNEX: Make It Better With Butter Contest: 10 a.m.

MIRACLE OF BIRTH CENTER: FFA Awards Ceremony: 2:30 p.m.

SHEEP AND POULTRY BARN: 4-H Poultry: 1 p.m.

WARNER COLISEUM: English Horse Show: Performance Class: 9 a.m., 1 & 6 p.m.

ANIMALS

CATTLE BARN AND ANNEX: Moo Booth: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Hand Milking Demonstrations: 11:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.

MIRACLE OF BIRTH CENTER: Learn about animal agriculture production, veterinary science and the birthing process. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Nursery of Knowledge Presentations and Displays: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

PET CENTER: Pet Surgery: 10 a.m., noon, 2 & 4 p.m.; St. Paul Police K-9 Demonstrations: 7 p.m.

SHEEP AND POULTRY BARN: Baa Booth: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

SWINE BARN: Oink Booth: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

HOME AND HOBBIES

AGRICULTURE/HORTICULTURE BUILDING: Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild Exhibit: Sample flights of Minnesota craft beers from more than 30 brewers. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Also educational stations and interactive stage programs at 3 and 6 p.m. Minnesota Wine Country: Presentations and tastings of the finest wines Minnesota vineyards and wineries have to offer. Daily scheduled programs from area winemakers, chefs and experts. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Ask the Apple Grower: 10 a.m.; Starting Violets from Scratch: 10 a.m.; Ask the Grape Grower: 11 a.m.; Holiday Pots of Distinction: 11 a.m.; Helping Beautiful Bees in the Garden: noon; Bringing Birds, Bees and Butterflies Into Your Garden: 1 p.m.; Mushrooms 101: 2 p.m.; Hello Functional Landscapes, Goodbye Ornamentals: 3 p.m.; Grow and Show Vegetables: 4 p.m.; Learn to Grow a Straw Bale Garden: 5 p.m.

CREATIVE ACTIVITIES: An exhibition of needlework, crafts, baking and canning by Minnesota residents. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

PROGRESS CENTER/ECO EXPERIENCE: Healthy Local Food Cooking: 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m.; Vertical Gardening: noon; Learn to Ferment for Your Health and the Earth's: noon; Efficiency of Air Source Heat Pumps: 2 p.m.; Clean Air Choices: 4 p.m.; Creating an Allergy-Free Home: 5 p.m.; Beautiful Flooring Options From Sustainable Materials: 6 p.m.