Less Than Two Weeks Remaining for Amateur Talent Contest Registrations

ST. PAUL, MINN. (07/11/2011)(readMedia)-- Less than two weeks remain until registration closes for State Fair Amateur Talent Contest Auditions. Performers from across the Midwest will have an opportunity to perform and compete in the 39th annual competition.

More than $7,300 in prize money will be awarded to the first- through third-place winners in three divisions. Entries are accepted for all age groups and categories are: Open Division, for any age; Teen Division, ages 13-18; and Preteen Division, ages 12 and under.

Auditions for the amateur talent contest run Monday, July 18 through Sunday, July 24 at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell on the fairgrounds. Auditions begin at 5:30 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. From auditions, semi-finalists will be selected to perform during this year's Minnesota State Fair.

During the first 10 days of the fair, semifinals will be held at 6 p.m. nightly at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell. Winners from the semifinals will compete in the finals at 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4 at the Grandstand. Nick Wishard of Somerset, Wis., who took the grand prize for his beatbox performance last year, will return to the stage as the featured act during 2011 finals.

Participants are encouraged to register on-line at www.mnstatefair.org. Entry forms may also be downloaded and returned through the mail. For more information, please call (651) 288-4395 or e-mail msfent@mnstatefair.org.

The 2011 Minnesota State Fair runs Thursday, Aug. 25 through Labor Day, Sept. 5.