Twin Cities Daily Planet (https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/tag/minnesota-state-fair/page/3/)
The conditions on Tuesday, August 27 at the State Fair for a concert were far from ideal. The heat index was 99ºF. The setting sun shone full on the Grandstand. Any breeze was minimal. The seats were mostly empty when Bat for Lashes took the stage. Continue Reading
Last year, the Minnesota State Fair premiered Architects of Air’s Luminarium Mirazozo exhibit, a popular stop with fairgoers. This year, Architects of Air return with a new theme on their Luminarium display: Exxopolis. Co-exhibition manager Jayne Willox said lots of people from last year’s State Fair “came right away the first day of the Fair just to see the new Luminarium.”
The Luminarium is a walk-through sculpture of winding paths, private coves and soaring domes of light and color. Inspired by natural geometry, Islamic architecture and Gothic cathedrals, the Exxopolis is constructed of 32,000 square feet of plastic shaped into 9,000 individual pieces joined by nearly four miles of seams.
Alex Gilham, of Nottingham, England, one of the four on-site exhibition managers, said Exxopolis is slightly bigger, and completely different, than the Luminarium of last year. Exxopolis has been called very “cathedral-istic,” said Gilham. Continue Reading
Standing ovations, paparazzi photos and wild applause greeted the Budweiser Clydesdale’s return to the Minnesota State Fair Mall parade on Opening Day. The horse team’s last appearance was in 2006, said Lara Hughes, State Fair Communications Supervisor. A large group gathered ahead of parade start-time, finding the team’s location at the Fair’s greenhouse parking lot. Throngs of people positioned for family photos and videos in front of the horse team and posting on social media that they were with….the Budweiser Clydesdales. The Clydesdales took all of it in stride, seeming to enjoy the spotlight. Continue Reading
The Minnesota State Fair “just got hotter” with the addition of a booth selling the St. Paul Firefighters calendar. The calendar, now in its fifth year, is sold to help raise money for the Children’s Cancer Research fund, according to the Midwest Firefighters website. The St. Paul Firefighters calendar displays physically fit firefighters in shirtless poses. Continue Reading
Barb: The first band to perform were the Gin Blossoms. Lead singer Robin Wilson didn’t let a receding hairline stop his youthful excitement and interaction with the audience, mostly in their 20s and 30s. Wilson’s vocals were youthful as well, with a strong, clear voice. Wilson likes to give away white tambourines to female audience members. The Minnesota State Fair was the first, he said, where he gave one of his famed tambourines to a male, “Because there are no girls up front. I have a lot more tambourines for the girls that want to come up to the stage.”
The lack of female audience members rushing the stage for Wilson’s tambourine giveaways could be because of the low crowd attendance; the Grandstand was about a quarter full. Continue Reading
Polk County dairy princess MarJenna McWilliam, 20, was crowned the 60th Princess Kay of the Milky Way at a ceremony held on the Minnesota Sate Fairgrounds Aug. 21.
Whatever way you are getting to the Minnesota State Fair — Park & Ride; Park Free, Ride Free; bikes; motorcycles,; wheelchairs — here’s what you need to know! The City of Fridley has been added to the 2013 Minnesota State Fair Express bus service Park & Ride route. Approximately every half-hour, the Fridley Express bus will leave the Fridley Station on 61st Ave. and Main Street NE. The cost for all Park & Ride State Fair Express rides is $5 round-trip. Continue Reading
The Budweiser Clydesdales will return to the Minnesota State Fair on Opening Day, Aug. 22, as well as Aug. 23 and Aug. 25 and 26. The last time the Budweiser Clydesdales appeared at the State Fair was in 2006, said Lara Hughes, State Fair Communications Supervisor. Continue Reading
The Minnesota State Fair announced Sheryl Crow, with special guest Dwight Yoakam, is added to the 2013 Grandstand Concert Series. This will be the first Minnesota State Fair concert appearance for both Crow and Yoakam, said Solveig Hommema, of the State Fair public relations department. Their show is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25. Tickets are $39 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Sat. Continue Reading
The Minnesota State Fair joined the online social community Pinterest as a new feature for 2013 fairgoers. “We are hoping to make Pinterest a great resource for fair guests,” said Christine Noonan of the Minnesota State Fair Marketing and Communications department. Noonan said they have 160 followers since going live June 19. The Minnesota State Fair Pinterest board categories include: New Foods 2013, New Attractions & Exhibits, Healthy at the Fair, Little Tykes, Fair on a Budget, Events on the Fairgrounds and Patriotic Cat Photo Contest. The winner of the Patriotic Cat Photo Contest board went to the cat “President Cleo.” Cleo received a winning prize package to the 2013 Internet Cat Video Festival at the State Fair Grandstand Aug. Continue Reading