Less Than Two Weeks Remaining for Amateur Talent Contest Registrations

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2012 Open Division Amateur Talent Contest Winner Aria Stiles of Apple Valley

ST. PAUL, MINN. (07/11/2013)(readMedia)-- Less than two weeks remain until registration closes for State Fair Amateur Talent Contest auditions. Performers from across the Midwest will audition later this month for an opportunity to perform and compete in the 41st annual competition during the upcoming State Fair, Aug. 22 through Sept. 2.

Nearly $10,000 in total 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 22 through Sunday, July 28 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, semifinalists 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 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 1 at the Grandstand. Aria Stiles of Apple Valley, who took the grand prize for her violin solo performance last year, will return to the stage as the featured act during the 2013 finals.

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