Minnesota State Fair schedule: Thursday, Aug. 27

THRIFTY THURSDAY: Reduced admission–Adults (13–64) $11; Kids (5–12) $8. Special ride & game promotions are offered at Mighty Midway and Kidway all day. Many merchandise and food vendors offer special Thrifty Thursday bargains for all fair guests.

MUSIC

GRANDSTAND: Def Leppard: With Styx and Tesla. 7 p.m.

4H BUILDING: Plymouth Rockers Senior Chorus: 11 a.m., noon & 3:30 p.m.; i like you: 6 p.m.

DNR PARK: Darlene & the Boys: 10 a.m., noon, 2 & 4 p.m.; Ecuador Manta: 7 p.m.

EDUCATION BUILDING: Young Fiddlers Association of Minnesota: 10, 11 a.m. & noon;

FAMILY FAIR/BALDWIN PARK: Justin Roberts with Liam Davis: 10:30, 11:30 a.m. & 3 p.m.

LEINIE LODGE BAND SHELL: The Willis Clan: 10:30 & 11:45 a.m.; Tonic Sol-fa: 1 & 2:30 p.m.; Caitlyn Smith: 3:30 & 4:45 p.m.; Gaelic Storm: 8:30 p.m.

MINNESOTA WINE COUNTRY: Mike Salovich & Worldbeat: 6:30 p.m.

RAMBERG SENIOR CENTER: The Mellow Fellows: 10:30, 11:45 a.m. & 1 p.m.; The Parisota Hot Club: 3:15, 4:30 & 5:45 p.m.

WEST END MARKET: Reina del Cid: 11 a.m., noon & 1 p.m.; The Good Intentions: 2:30, 3:30 & 4:30 p.m.; Tina & Lena: 6 p.m.; Charlie Parr: 8 p.m.

FAMILY FARE

AGRICULTURE/HORTICULTURE BUILDING: The Seed Queen: The Handmade Legacy of Lillian Colton: A puppet show. 10, 11 a.m. & noon. Living in a Food Desert: 4 p.m.

CAROUSEL PARK: STEM Day: Minnesota STEM network organizations pre­sent activities. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Physics Force: 9 a.m., noon & 2 p.m. Bakken Museum Presentations: 10 a.m., 1 & 4 p.m.; Fun With Chemistry: 11 a.m. & 3 p.m.

CATTLE BARN AND ANNEX: Moo Live: 11 a.m., 12:45 & 3 p.m.; Moo Booth: Video Presentations: Noon, 1:30 & 2 p.m.; Moo Quiz Show: 5:30 p.m.

DAIRY BUILDING: Butter Sculptures: Princess Kay and her court will each have their likeness carved into 90-lb. blocks of butter by a sculptor. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

DNR PARK: DNR Fire Tower: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Fish Pond Talks: 9:45a, 10:45a, 11:45 a.m., 12:45, 1:45, 2:45 & 3:45 p.m.; Smokey Bear: 11 a.m. & 1 p.m.; Emerald Ash Borer Costumed Character: Noon & 2 p.m.; Bee Dance Party: 1 p.m.; Batty About Bats: 3 p.m.

FAMILY FAIR/BALDWIN PARK: Great Big Sandbox: 8 a.m.-9 p.m.; Alphabet Forest: Meet authors and alphabet activities. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Math On-a-Stick: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sean Emery: 12:30 & 5 p.m.; Break-Shop Bump'N: 1:30, 4 & 6 p.m.; Minnesota State Fair County Fair Talent Contest: 7 p.m.

FINE ARTS CENTER: Fine Arts Exhibition: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Studio: Here: Each day of the fair, a practicing Minnesota artist will create artwork and interact with fair guests. 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; Be a Fine Arts Detective: Use clues to find specific pieces throughout the fine arts exhibition and earn a ribbon for finding all the pieces. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR: West of the Grandstand, following the Grandstand show.

GIANT SING ALONG: On the south side of Murphy Av. between Underwood and Cooper Sts. 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

HEALTH FAIR 11: Information on food allergies, flu shots, blood pressure checks, glucose readings and more. On the southwest corner of Dan Patch and Cooper St. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

INTERNATIONAL BAZAAR: Afro-Peruvian Festejo Dancers: Noon, 1:30, 3 & 4:30 p.m.

LASERTAINMENT'S LASER HITZ SHOW: Outdoors at the intersection of Cosgrove St. and Randall Av. 9:15 p.m.

LEINIE LODGE BAND SHELL: Opening Ceremony: Executive Vice President Jerry Hammer and President Al Paulson declare the State Fair officially open at the Opening Ceremony with the national anthem and a flag raising by State Fair Police. 10:15 a.m.; Minnesota State Fair Amateur Talent Contest: 6 p.m.

LITTLE FARM HANDS: A hands-on agricultural education exhibit for children. 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Seed Survivor: An interactive exhibit that explains what plants need to grow. 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

MINNESOTA NEWSPAPER MUSEUM: On the east side of Cosgrove St. on the street level of the 4-H Building. 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

MIRACLE OF BIRTH CENTER: Nursery of Knowledge: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Thank a Farmer Magic Show: Noon, 4 & 6 p.m. FFA Awards Program: 2:30 p.m.

NORTHWOODS: All-Star Stunt Dogs Splash: 11 a.m., 2 & 4:30 p.m.; Timberworks Lumberjack Show: Noon, 3, 5:30 & 7 p.m.

STATE FAIR MALL PARADE: The parade route begins near the Haunted House, heads north on Cosgrove Street, west on Randall Avenue and south on Underwood Street. 2 p.m.

SWINE BARN: Oink Booth: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Pig Tales: 11 a.m.

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DRIVEN TO DISCOVER: Stop by the U's research building to participate in studies by a variety of departments, talk with researchers and learn about their work. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

WARNER COLISEUM: Minnesota State Fair Horse Show: 9 a.m., 1 & 6 p.m.

WEST END MARKET: Minnesota Historical Society's History on-a-Schtick: 9:30 a.m. Stages Theatre Company: 10:30, 11:30 a.m., 12:30 & 1:30 p.m.; Duniya Drum & Dance: 3, 4, 5 & 6 p.m.

DEMONSTRATIONS AND PROGRAMS

CATTLE BARN AND ANNEX: 4-H Livestock Demonstrations: 8 a.m., 4 & 6 p.m. Milking Demonstrations: At the Moo Booth. 10 a.m., noon, 2, 4 & 6 p.m.; Hand Milking: At the Moo Booth. 11:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.

CREATIVE ACTIVITIES AND ANNEX: Weavers' Guild of Minnesota: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

PET CENTER: Pet Surgery: 10 a.m., noon, 2 & 4 p.m.; Tricks & Temperament by Smith the German Shepherd: 5:45 p.m.; St. Paul Police K-9 Demonstrations: 7 p.m.

PROGRESS CENTER/ECO EXPERIENCE: ReUSE DIY Project Demos: 10 a.m., 1, 3:30 & 6:30 p.m. Agriculture: From First Peoples to New Immigrants Cooking Demonstration: 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m.

WISER LIVING: An interactive exhibit designed to help visitors learn about products and services to maximize independence. On the east side of Cosgrove Street, on the street level of the 4-H Building, outside 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

THE X-ZONE: Skateboard and BMX Bike Demonstrations: Noon, 1:30, 3, 4:30 & 6 p.m.

JUDGING

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

CREATIVE ACTIVITIES AND ANNEX: Gold Medal Flour "Best Pie" Contest Judging: 2 p.m.

SHEEP AND POULTRY BARN: 4-H Rabbit Judging Contest: 8 a.m. 4-H Poultry Judging: 1:30-5 p.m.; 4-H Poultry Showmanship: 6:30-9:30 p.m.

WARNER COLISEUM: FFA Safe Tractor Operator's Contest: 9 a.m.

ANIMALS

HORSE BARN: Aisle of Breeds: A showcase of different breeds and types of horses. 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

MIRACLE OF BIRTH CENTER: CHS Miracle of Birth Center: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

PET CENTER: Siberian Husky Club of the Twin Cities: 9, 10, 11 a.m., noon, 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 p.m.

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

HOME AND HOBBIES

AGSTAR ARENA: FFA Dairy, General Livestock Judging Contest: 8:45 a.m; 4-H Breeding Heifer Show: 3:30 p.m.

CREATIVE ACTIVITIES AND ANNEX: Minnesota Knitters Guild: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Needlework Guild and Embroiderers Guild of Minnesota: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

DNR PARK: Double the Birds at Your Feeders: 11 a.m. & 3 p.m.