New Attractions and Exhibits Announced for 2012 Minnesota State Fair

ST. PAUL, MINN. (07/17/2012)(readMedia)-- The Minnesota State Fair is excited to announce the addition of dozens of new attractions, exhibits and other elements to the 2012 Great Minnesota Get-Together. The following is a listing of this year's new fair experiences:

Attractions:

3rd Lair SkatePark Lessons – Riders featured in 3rd Lair SkatePark shows at The X-Zone will be on hand to teach students the basics of skateboarding and BMX riding. Lessons cost $20 and last 20 minutes. Located on the northwest corner of Murphy Avenue and Underwood Street in The X-Zone

Great Big Sandbox - Kids can dig, scoop, pour and burrow their toes in a sandbox made just for them. Located east of the Family Fair Stage in Baldwin Park

Kidway Rides – The 2012 Kidway features four new attractions:

• Granny Bugs – Friendly-faced bugs gently rotate and wiggle around a giant apple.

• Jumping Jumbos - A mouse conductor directs a parade of flying elephants carrying child passengers.

• Kid Power - True to its name, Kid Power lets children run and play through an obstacle course-like setting.

• Down on the Farm Tractor Ride – Kids take a seat in a realistic-looking tractor and ride around as if they are out in the field and on the farm.

Located at Kidway (sponsored by Sensodyne)

Lasertainment's Laser Hitz Show – High-powered aerial laser beams dance above fair guests while colorful images light up a gigantic screen – all choreographed to popular music from classic rock to today's latest hits with a special patriotic finale. Shows begin nightly at 9 p.m. Located outdoors at the intersection of Cosgrove Street and Randall Avenue

Luminarium (sponsored by PreferredOne®) – Soaring domes and extensive tunnels will immerse fair guests in light and color as they walk through this monumental inflatable sculpture. Described as a "sanctuary of the senses," the 11,000-square-foot Luminarium is a creation of Architects of Air, based in the United Kingdom (architects-of-air.com). There are a total of six luminaria touring and the State Fair will be hosting Mirazozo. It will be open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. all 12 days of the fair. Admission is $4; children under 5 are free. Located at the intersection of Cooper Street and Murphy Avenue, east of the Pet Center

Mighty Midway Rides – The 2012 Mighty Midway features seven new attractions:

• Bubble House Fun House- Guests explore a playful obstacle course with a unique bubble room.

• Flipper - Freely rotating cars tilt to dizzying angles.

• Freak Out - Riders climb to new heights at the end of a giant pendulum arm swinging back and forth to the point just before 360 degrees.

• Fun Factory - Rotating gondolas fling riders every which way.

• Orbiter - Giant arms lift riders toward the horizon and rotate 360 degrees horizontally and vertically.

• Sizzler - Suspended riders spin in cars and experience the sensation that they will crash into other spinning cars.

• Stratosphere - Riders are strapped into gondolas and soar around a 190-foot tower to experience breathtaking views of the fairgrounds.

Located on the Mighty Midway

Pianos on Parade – Pianos on Parade is a project that places "artistically transformed" pianos around St. Paul to encourage residents and visitors to spontaneously engage in art and music with one another. One of the unique pianos, designed by Andrew Kurcan, stops at Baldwin Park for all to play and enjoy during the 12 days of the State Fair. Located in Family Fair at Baldwin Park (sponsored by Mr. Bubble® and Coca-Cola)

World of Wonders Palace of Illusions – Nostalgic sideshow entertainment returns to the Mighty Midway with illusionists including sword swallowers, fire breathers, escape artists and more. Located on the Mighty Midway

Exhibits:

12'12'12: Twelve Artists, Twelve Hours, Twelve Days – Each day of the fair, a Minnesota artist will create artwork from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center. This special exhibition will provide a window into the working artist's world of how an art object is created. The participating artists work in both 2D and 3D and in a variety of media including sculpture, printmaking, drawing, fibers, photography, painting and installation. They include: Abigail Wood Anderson, Loretta Bebeau, Cheng-Khee Chee, Fred Cogelow, Gregory Euclide, Fawzia Khan, Ron Merchant, Kimber Olson, Dani Roach, Sean Smuda, Scott Stulen and Michelle Westmark. Located in the Fine Arts Center

Boy Scouts Adventure Summit – The Boy Scouts Adventure Summit is a free, interactive ropes climbing course and zip-line activity brought to the fair by the Northern Star Council Boy Scouts of America. Boys and girls ages five to 15 can test their climbing skills and conquer a tall zip-line. The course at the fair is a smaller version of activities offered at the urban Base Camp at Fort Snelling. Located in The North Woods (sponsored by Gander Mountain and Good Health Saunas)

New at the Eco Experience – Presented by the Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the Eco Experience showcases renewable energy and exhibits on air, water, land, green buildings, organic culture and local foods. This year, the exhibit includes:

• Energy Solutions Exhibit: Fair guests can discover how to save energy and water, improve their home's performance, and learn about using green and renewable products in their home.

• Healthy Local Food Area: Through a combination of photo-murals and first-person storytelling, visitors will explore the importance of farmers markets both now and throughout history.

• Basic Bicycle Maintenance: Join the biking craze and learn how to do bicycle safety checks, tire changes and helmet fitting, plus ask questions of bike shop experts.

Located in the Progress Center

Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild – Fair guests can learn about Minnesota's brewing history, how craft beer is made here and what's new in our state's growing craft brew industry. Guests may also talk with craft brewers and sample flights of Minnesota craft beers. Located in the west hall of the Agriculture Horticulture Building

Minnesota Department of Agriculture Exhibit – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture's Le Due Motel Exhibit teaches fair guests how to protect themselves from the growing problem of bedbugs. The exhibit will also feature scientific samples of bedbugs and photo opportunities.

Also at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture exhibit:

• Minnesota Grown Family Fun: Fair guests can discover new types of family fun found while visiting apple orchards, U-Pick farms, pumpkin patches and more.

• Backyard and Camping Experience: Fair guests can explore the exhibit's camping area while learning how to spot gypsy moths and emerald ash borers. Visitors will also learn how to recognize the damage these pests cause and prevent their spread.

• Borlaug's Meats: Fair guests can learn about the role of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture as an inspector and regulator of food safety in convenience stores. Participants can test their skills as an inspector to detect the correct temperatures in meat storage units.

Located in the Agriculture Horticulture Building

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Exhibit – Fairgoers can get a "close-up" look at invasive species, including emerald ash borer, buckthorn, zebra mussels and Eurasian water milfoil at the new CSI-like invasive species station. Through new displays, interactive activities, models, specimens and a small theater featuring informational videos about invasive species, visitors will also learn how these species become threats to our natural resources and recreational activities, and how to prevent their spread. In addition, several new presentations will be part of the DNR Outdoor Stage lineup. Located at the DNR Building

Minnesota Wine Country – Minnesota Wine Country is the fair's newest place to discover how the North Star State's vineyards and wineries produce the finest wines. Guests may also purchase local wine with fresh, eclectic food pairings. Located on Underwood Street between Judson and Carnes Avenues

Other Elements:

AgStar Arena – AgStar Arena is the fair's newest building and home to horse, cattle, llama, goat and sheep competitions among 4-H, FFA and open-class exhibitors. This new building project was supported by more than 200 contributions to the Minnesota State Fair Foundation. Located on Judson Avenue west of the Horse Barn

Getting to the Fair – The Ford Plant parking lot has been added as a Park & Ride location where fair guests can park free and ride a free bus to the fairgrounds. The lot, with more than 800 parking spaces, will be open all 12 days of the fair from 8 a.m. to midnight and is located at Ford Parkway and Mississippi Boulevard in the Highland Park neighborhood of St. Paul

Four new State Fair Express Bus Service locations have been added. Buses will run all 12 days of the fair from: National Sports Center (1700 105th Ave. NE, Blaine) and Parade Stadium (600 Kenwood Pkwy., across from Dunwoody, Minneapolis). Buses will run weekends and Labor Day from: Knox Avenue at Best Buy Park & Ride (7601 Penn Ave., Richfield) and Chanhassen Transit Station (500 Market St., Chanhassen). Express bus service is $5 per person round-trip; children four and under are free. Parking at each site is free. Hours of service and departure times may vary by location.

State Fair Express Bus riders can also save money with a new group ticket. Four round-trip rides are offered for the price of three – just $15.

Military Appreciation Day's Welcome Home Celebration – On Tuesday, Aug. 28, Military Appreciation Day at the fair, a Welcome Home Celebration will begin at 10:30 a.m. with hundreds of uniformed service members from all branches marching from the flag-raising ceremony at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell to Carousel Park. At Carousel Park, the service members will be greeted by military and state leaders, and enjoy a "Tribute to the Troops" concert by country artist Rockie Lynne. Celebration begins at Leinie Lodge Bandshell then continues in Carousel Park

Minnesota High School Rodeo Cutting Horse Competition – Guests can experience the most athletic horses and riders working to separate cattle from the herd in the fast-action cutting horse competition. Courage, intuition and expert horsemanship are all part of this new competition at AgStar Arena at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 29. Located at AgStar Arena

People's Choice Awards – Fair guests are invited to cast ballots for their favorites in six categories: Best Food or Beverage; Best Food or Beverage Value; Best Customer Experience at a Food or Beverage Vendor; Best Non-Food Product or Service; Best Non-Food Product or Service Value; and Best Customer Experience at a Non-Food Vendor. Voting takes place at the fairgrounds beginning opening day and ends at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28. Ballots are available at all information booths. Winners will be announced at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 30 at the International Bazaar Stage.

Media: A high resolution photo gallery of new attractions, exhibits and other elements is available for media use at the following link: http://www.mnstatefair.org/general_info/media_galleries.html. There are additional images/video of the Luminarium (The State Fair will be hosting the Mirazozo design) available at http://www.architects-of-air.com/

Public: For more information on new attractions, exhibits and other elements, visit mnstatefair.org.

The 2012 Minnesota State Fair runs Aug. 23 - Labor Day, Sept. 3.