2011 State Fair Offers a Variety of Values

ST. PAUL, MINN. (08/11/2011)(readMedia)-- The 2011 Great Minnesota Get-Together is just two weeks away. This year's 12 days of fun feature a variety of discounts, special days and bargain-hunting tools.

Before-the-Fair Savings

Pre-fair adult discount admission tickets are $9 (a $3 discount off the regular adult admission price) and are valid any day of the fair. Also prior to the fair, Mighty Midway and Kidway ride & game tickets are $10 for a sheet of 20 (a $5 savings), and Blue Ribbon Bargain coupon books are $4 ($1 off the regular price).

Discounted State Fair admission tickets, Mighty Midway and Kidway ride & game tickets and Blue Ribbon Bargain Books are available through Aug. 24 at the State Fair Box Office, participating Cub Foods Stores and numerous locations in greater Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Discount tickets and Bargain Books may also be purchased at mnstatefair.org until 5 p.m. on Aug. 16. A complete list of sales outlets is available at mnstatefair.org or by calling (651) 288-4400.

During the fair, regular admission is $12 for adults (13-64); $10 for seniors (65 & over); and $10 for kids (5-12). Children (under 5) are always admitted free. Mighty Midway and Kidway tickets purchased at the fair are 75 cents per ticket, $20 per sheet of 28 or $30 per sheet of 44. Throughout the fair, Blue Ribbon Bargain Books are $5 and available at State FairWear Gift Shops and State Fair Foundation Kiosks.

Special Deal Days

The State Fair kicks off with savings for families on Thrifty Thursday, Aug. 25. Discounted admission for adults (13-64) is $10 and kids (5-12) is $7.

Monday, Aug. 29 is Seniors & Kids Day. Seniors (65 & over) and kids (5-12) are admitted for just $7.

Military Appreciation Day (new in 2011) is Tuesday, Aug. 30 when active, retired and veteran United States military with documentation are admitted for $7. (Active military and their families present one document to apply the discount to all immediate family members. Retired military and/or veterans are allowed one discount per person per document.)

Aug. 31 is Read & Ride Wednesday. Guests presenting valid public library cards when purchasing admission at the gate are admitted for the following discounted prices: adults (13-64) $10; seniors (65 & over) $7; and kids (5-12) $7. (One card is required for each discounted admission.)

Seniors Day is Thursday, Sept. 1. Guests ages 65 and over are admitted for just $7.

Labor Day, Sept. 5 is Kids Day when children ages 5-12 are admitted for only $7.

Many vendors feature special day deals on Thrifty Thursday, Aug. 25, Seniors & Kids Day, Aug. 29; Military Appreciation Day, Aug. 30; Seniors Day, Sept. 1; and Kids & Last Chance Day, Sept. 5. Participating vendors will display a special deal sign and are listed in the Deals, Drawings & Giveaways Guide available at all information booths and at mnstatefair.org. Select vendors also feature closeout prices on Kids & Last Chance Day, Sept. 5. Last Chance Day deals will be listed in a special flyer available on Labor Day at State Fair information booths.

More Fun for Less at Mighty Midway &?Kidway

Specials are offered every weekday on rides, games and concessions at Mighty Midway and Kidway (sponsored by Sensodyne). All-day specials run Thrifty Thursday, Aug. 25; Read & Ride Wednesday, Aug. 31; and Kids Days, Aug. 29 and?Labor Day, Sept. 5. Early Bird specials are offered until 1 p.m. on Aug. 26, Aug. 30, Sept. 1 and Sept. 2.

Blue Ribbon Bargain Book

The 2011 Blue Ribbon Bargain Book offers 25 additional deals this year for a total of 125 coupons worth hundreds of dollars in savings on food, merchandise and attractions throughout the fairgrounds. Coupons are valid all 12 days of the fair and a preview of bargains is available at mnstatefair.org. Bargain Books are available wherever pre-fair discount tickets are sold before the fair, and at State FairWear Gift Shops and State Fair Foundation Kiosks during the fair. Proceeds support the Minnesota State Fair Foundation mission to preserve and improve fair buildings, grounds and educational experiences.

Free Entertainment and Attractions

This year's State Fair features more free attractions and exhibits than ever, including: English and Western Horse Shows; the daily 2 p.m. parade; Doggies of the Wild West frontier stunt show; the Giant Sing Along (presented by Bremer Bank and co-produced by the Minnesota State Fair Foundation and Northern Lights.mn); 3rd Lair BMX and skateboarding demos at The X-Zone; The DIRT horticultural demonstration area (sponsored by Ocean Spray) at the Agriculture Horticulture Building (sponsored by Walmart); FAN?Central (sponsored by Xfinity) featuring local sports teams and hometown heroes; live music and entertainment at stages all around the fairgrounds; High School Rodeos; karaoke in The Garden (sponsored by Treasure Island Resort &?Casino); the CHS?Miracle of Birth Center; Eco Experience; nightly fireworks spectacular (sponsored by Select Comfort); Little Farm Hands agricultural education experience (sponsored by Kemps, Butter Kernel, Cargill, Crystal Sugar, Cub Foods, John Deere Company, Minnesota Corn Growers Association, and Sparboe Farms, Inc.); and much more.

New and Free Minnesota State Fair App

Utilizing the popular Food Finder, Merch Search and Fun Finder tools to help guests locate their favorites, the new Minnesota State Fair App is the official smart phone user's guide to finding your way around the Great Minnesota Get-Together. The app is available absolutely free through the iPhone App Store or Android Market.

Where to Find Discount and Bargain Information

Deals, Drawings & Giveaway Guides are available at all information booths (sponsored by CenturyLink) or at mnstatefair.org, and feature listings of special day deals on food and merchandise, items for $1 or less, freebies and sign-up-&-win drawings.

Fairborne's Fabulous Fair Food Finder and Merch Search allow guests to search for deals and discounts offered by concessionaires online at mnstatefair.org.

For more information about values, special discount days and bargains at the Minnesota State Fair, visit mnstatefair.org.

The 2011 Great Minnesota Get-Together runs Aug. 25 through Labor Day, Sept. 5.