Minnesota State Fair schedule: Thursday, Sept. 3

SENIORS DAY: Seniors (65+) admitted for $8. Early Bird Specials are offered until 1 p.m. on Mighty Midway and Kidway rides & games. Many merchandise and food vendors offer special Seniors Day bargains for all fair guests.
MUSIC

GRANDSTAND: Lynyrd Skynyrd: With Collective Soul. 7:30 p.m.

4-H BUILDING: Florian Chmielewski & His Funtime Band: 11 a.m., noon & 3:30 p.m.; Tall Paul and DJ Kool Akiem: 6 p.m.

CAROUSEL PARK: The Pearl Brothers: 9 & 11 a.m. Jovonta Patton & DFY: 11:30 a.m.

DNR PARK: BLT Band: 10 a.m., noon, 2 & 4 p.m.; Ali V: 6 p.m.; Ecuador Manta: 8 p.m.

EDUCATION BUILDING: The Show'd Up Band: 4:30, 5:30 & 6:30 p.m.

INTERNATIONAL BAZAAR: The Robert Everest Expedition: 10:45 a.m., noon & 1:15 p.m.; Fin Hall Band: Noon, 1:30, 3 & 4:30 p.m.; Blindado Norteño: 3:15, 4:30 & 5:45 p.m.; Lost Highway: 7:30 & 8:45 p.m.

MINNESOTA WINE COUNTRY: Dean Magraw: 6:30 p.m.

RAMBERG SENIOR CENTER: The River Breeze Band: 10:30, 11:45 a.m. & 1 p.m. Jim Berner's Music Legends: 3:15, 4:30 & 5:45 p.m.

WEST END MARKET: Kris and the Riverbend Dutchmen: 11 a.m., noon & 1 p.m.; The Barbary Coast Dixieland Showband: 2:30, 3:30 & 4:30 p.m.; Haley Bonar: 8 p.m.

FAMILY FARE

4-H BUILDING: Meet PBS Kids Characters: 9 a.m.; 4-H State Arts-In Musical Performance: 11:30 a.m., 3:30 & 5 p.m.; 4-H Performing Arts: 5:30 p.m.; 4-H Chef for a Day Cook-Off: 6 p.m.

CAROUSEL PARK: Seniors Day: Live music, comedy and activities. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; 13th Annual Senior Stretch and Stroll: 10 a.m.; Hmong Peace Dancers: 12:15 p.m.; Grupo De Danzas Colombianas: 1 p.m.; Somali Youth Dancers: 1:45 p.m.; Larry Yazzy & Native Pride Dancers: 2:15 p.m.; Aztec Dance Group: 3 p.m.; Duniya Drum & Dance: 3:45 p.m.; Gotta Dance Line Dancers: 4 p.m.

CATTLE BARN AND ANNEX: Moo Booth: Video Presentations: 9, 10 a.m., noon & 1:30 p.m.; Moo Live: 11:30 a.m. & 12:45 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: 9:45, 10:45, 11:45 a.m., 12:45, 1:45, 2:45 & 3:45 p.m.; Smokey Bear Appearance: 11 a.m. & 1 p.m.; Emerald Ash Borer Costumed Character: Noon & 2 p.m.; Reptiles & Amphibians Live: 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m.

EDUCATION BUILDING: A showcase of educational exhibitors. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Robot Demonstration: 10 a.m., noon & 3 p.m.; Tango Society of Minnesota: 10, 11 a.m. & noon; Zorongo Flamenco: 10:30, 11:30 a.m., 12:30 & 1:30 p.m.; ABC Square Dancing: 1 & 3:30 p.m.; Children's Theatre Company: 3, 4, 5 & 6 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.; Alex Clark: 10:30, 11:30 a.m. & 3 p.m.; Sean Emery: 12:30 & 5:30 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: 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: Best Awards Ceremony: 10 a.m.

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

LEINIE LODGE BAND SHELL: Flag-raising Ceremony: 10:25 a.m.; Outstanding Senior Citizens Award Ceremony: 10:30 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.

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.-2 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.

VISITORS PLAZA: State Fair Mascot Appearances: 11 a.m. & 4 p.m.

WEST END MARKET: Minnesota Historical Society's History on-a-Schtick: 9:30 a.m.; In The Heart of the Beast Puppet & Mask Theatre: 10:30, 11:30 a.m., 12:30 & 1:30 p.m.; Theatre of Fools: 3, 4, 5 & 6 p.m.; Jared Sherlock: 6 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: Summer Series Championships: Noon-3 p.m.

DEMONSTRATIONS AND PROGRAMS

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

MIRACLE OF BIRTH CENTER: An Introduction to Veterinary Medicine: 10 a.m. & 4 p.m.; Aquaponics - Raising Fish and Plants Together: 2 p.m.

PET CENTER: Canine College: 10 a.m., noon, 2 & 4 p.m. 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: 4:30 & 6 p.m.

JUDGING

CATTLE BARN AND ANNEX: Make It Better With Butter: 10 a.m.; Agrilympics: Celebrity Butter Carving Contest: 12:20 p.m.

WARNER COLISEUM: Dairy Cattle Open Class: Supreme Champion: 10 a.m.

ANIMALS

CATTLE BARN AND ANNEX: Moo Booth and Milking Parlor: 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

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

PET CENTER: Northstar Rottweiler Club: 9, 11 a.m., 1, 3 & 5 p.m.

SHEEP AND POULTRY BARN: Baa Booth: 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

HOME AND HOBBIES

AGRICULTURE/HORTICULTURE BUILDING: Minnesota State Floral Association Floralpalooza: Florists Helping Communities Thrive: Local florist members present handmade fresh, floral interpretations of noteworthy nonprofit organizations in Minnesota. Located in the Agriculture Horticulture Building Rotunda. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Federated Garden Clubs Inc. of Minnesota Standard Flower Show: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Professional Designer of the Year Semifinals: 9 a.m.; Ask the Apple Grower: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Lazy Gardening: 10 a.m.; Looking Inside the Hive: 10:30 a.m., 12:30, 2:30, 4:30 & 6:30 p.m.; Growing Grapes in Minnesota: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Organic Lawncare: 11 a.m.; Cooking With Honey: 11, 11:30 a.m. & noon; Edible Landscapes: Noon; Learn to Grow a Straw Bale Garden: 1 p.m.; Harvesting Honey: 1, 2, 4 & 5 p.m.; Organic and Indigenous Food: 2 p.m.; Promoting Healthy Plants Through Proper Care: 2 p.m.; Worksite Giving Gardens: 3 p.m.; Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild Talks: 3 & 6 p.m.; Professional Designer of the Year Finals: 4 p.m.

CREATIVE ACTIVITIES AND ANNEX: Baking Norwegian Specialties for Socializing: 10:30 a.m., noon & 1:30 p.m.