New at the 2011 Minnesota State Fair

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2011 State Fair Commemorative Art by Steve Thomas

ST. PAUL, MINN. (08/18/2011)(readMedia)-- The 2011 Minnesota State Fair begins Thursday, Aug. 25-just one week from today-and will feature dozens of new attractions and exhibits, many of which are free with the price of admission. Additionally, several rides, dozens of food options and new competitions will debut at this year's Great Minnesota Get-Together.

NEW ATTRACTIONS & EXHIBITS

Giant Sing Along

A participatory public art installation created by Montreal-based artists Mouna Andraos and Melissa Mongiat, the Giant Sing Along offers an opportunity for fair guests to do something together. A field of microphones welcomes everyone to sing their lungs out to this year's voted hits, karaoke style. A large screen will feature the lyrics of modern and nostalgic songs, and the software helps everyone sing in unison. This new interactive attraction is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily and located on Murphy Ave., across from the Pet Center. Presented by Bremer Bank, the Giant Sing Along is a co-production of the Minnesota State Fair Foundation and Northern Lights.mn, with support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. For more information, click here.

Doggies of The Wild West

Rescued from animal shelters around the country, Doggies of The Wild West are set to take visitors back in time with their comedic frontier stunt show. The show is free with State Fair admission at noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. daily and is located just east of Heritage Square.

Flippenout Extreme Trampoline Show

Featuring world-class athletes performing exciting stunts, Flippenout Extreme Trampoline Show is also new and free. Located in The X-Zone at Murphy Avenue and Underwood Street, the show runs at noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. daily.

Lost Heroes Art Quilt

Artist Julie Feingold created the Lost Heroes Art Quilt to honor the fallen Americans since 9/11. At 15 feet wide and 51/2 high, the quilt has been on a two-year journey all around the United States, with the plan to be in Washington, D.C. on the 10th Anniversary of Sept 11. Feingold's work will be on display from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily in the Lower Grandstand.

History Walking and Cell Phone Tour

The State Fair History Walking and Cell Phone Tour offers guests a fun and interesting way to learn about State Fair history and explore all corners of the grounds. Those who complete the self-guided tour will be offered a prize, while supplies last, at the J.V. Bailey House and at the Minnesota Historical Society's booth on the first floor of the Grandstand until 8 p.m. Tour brochures are available at information booths and the 13 tour stops. New this year, guests can hear sounds of past fairs on a cell phone tour by calling (877) 411-4123 while at the fair or from home. The tour is presented by the Minnesota State Fair Foundation and the Minnesota Historical Society.

NEW RIDES

The Mighty Midway features rides, games of skill and concessions, including the Fireball, Rave and Tango rides-all making their debut.

For children and families, Kidway (sponsored by Sensodyne) offers rides, attractions and concessions. Seven added attractions including Cars, Motorcycles & Dune Buggies; Daytona; Dog Ride; Hog Wild; Kiddie Fun House; Jungle Twist; and VW Bugs, will take kids on new adventures.

Adventure Park (sponsored by Coca-Cola) features extreme rides and attractions for the bravest thrill-seekers. Returning rides include Skyscraper, Sling Shot, Turbo Bungy and a Rock Climbing Wall. The European Maxxx Super Flyyy is new at Adventure Park and offers four guests at a time the chance to climb aboard and experience this giant, looping swing ride.

NEW COMPETITIONS

Percentage Simmental, ShorthornPlus and Lim-Flex® will be added to the open class beef judging category.

Vegan main dishes have been added as a category to the Creative Activities competition. Entrants must use ingredients without animal products and are scored on appearance, ease of preparation, taste and texture.

NEW FOOD & VENDORS

The Minnesota State Fair is known for its impressive menu of traditional favorites, family-style dining halls, regional specialties, exotic fare, desserts, beverages and more than 60 items on-a-stick. In total, more than 450 foods are available at 300-plus food concessions.

This year's food additions include: the Breakfast Lollipop (a sausage patty dipped in corn muffin batter, deep fried and served on-a-stick with a side of maple syrup); Carnitas Asian Fusion Tacos (pork carnitas served on a flour or spinach tortilla topped with cabbage and a mixture of cucumber, jalapeno and red pepper, and topped with Asian sauces); chocolate-covered jalapeno peppers on-a-stick; Coushari rice with lentils (rice and lentils with Holy Land sauce, served with a side of pasta or fried onions); crab fritters; deep-fried cookie dough; Dirt Dessert (Oreo cookies, vanilla pudding, whipped cream, cream cheese and gummy worms); fresh fruit wraps; the Grilled Yankee Apple Pie & Chocolate Sandwich (Minnesota-grown apples sauteed with spices and topped with chocolate, grilled in Brioche bread); Jamaican jerk fries; Mexican Horchata beverage (cold drink made of rice, almonds, cinnamon, vanilla and sugar); Northwoods Salad on-a-stick (mozzarella cheese, basil and grape tomatoes on-a-stick drizzled with dressing and served over a bed of Minnesota wild rice salad); pizza kabobs on-a-stick; pretzel dogs (a hot dog baked in pretzel dough, served on-a-stick); Southside Rib Tips; sweet corn ice cream (cream-based ice cream blended with sweet kernels and served in a waffle cone with a choice of wild blueberry or caramel bacon topping); and White Razzie Puppies on-a-stick (Belgian waffles with white chocolate baked inside, then dipped in dark chocolate and drizzled with raspberry sauce).

New food vendors include: Pham's Deli at the Taste of Midtown Global Market in the International Bazaar serving Chow Fun and other Vietnamese fare; T-Bonz Concessions located on Clough Street with grilled chicken pita and Italian sausage sandwiches; Minneapple Pie north of the Dairy Building specializing in homemade deep-fried apple pie served hot with vanilla or cinnamon ice cream; Spring Grove Soda Pop on Nelson St. with old-fashioned soda in eight flavors; Starberi Frozen Yogurt near the Mighty Midway serving premium low-fat frozen yogurt; and Chan's Concessions near the Dairy Building offering teriyaki chicken on-a-stick served with fried rice, egg and spring rolls.

For a listing of all new and favorite foods, and where to find them, visit Fairborne's Fabulous Fair Food Finder at mnstatefair.org.

The fair also features over 1,000 non-food related commercial vendors and exhibits. This year there are more than 60 new vendors and exhibits. New additions include: Apron Elegance (couture aprons and crinolines); Barn & Garden Sloggers; actor Buck Taylor's artwork; Bye Bye Monster kid-comforting products; Cashells (hand-painted hollowed eggshell gifts to fill with cash); Egg Plant Urban Farm Supply; sound-activated Equalizer Shirts; I Love Bottle Caps! gifts and jewelry; jalapeno grillers for cooking stuffed peppers; the Village Idiot Shop with tropical and tiki décor and accessories; and dozens more. Use Merch Search at mnstatefair.org to locate all merchandise and commercial exhibitors at the fair.

OTHER NEW ELEMENTS

Military Appreciation Day: Tuesday, Aug. 30

The Minnesota State Fair honors all U.S. Military Service members with a new Military Appreciation Day on Tuesday, Aug. 30. Active, retired and veteran military with valid documentation are admitted for just $7-a $5 savings off the regular adult admission price at the gate. Active military and their immediate families should present one document to apply the discount to all immediate family members. Retired military and/or veterans are allowed one discount per document per person. Special activities and events will take place all day around the fairgrounds to honor our nation's heroes including: a showcase of specialty military vehicles on West Dan Patch Avenue; a Veterans Ceremony; performances by the 34th Infantry "Red Bull" Band at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell; and a celebration in Carousel Park featuring photo messages to the troops, and appearances by the Big John Dickerson Band and Rocket Club.

Minnesota State Fair Smartphone App

The Minnesota State Fair's new smart phone App is available through the Apple App Store and Android Market. It is absolutely free and features the popular Food Finder, Fun Finder and Merch Search tools along with entertainment and event schedule information.

2011 Minnesota State Fair Commemorative Art by Steve Thomas

Lino Lakes artist Steve Thomas' interpretation of the Great Minnesota Get-Together captures iconic elements of the fair and is based largely on photos he took. He was selected as the official artist from nearly 80 applicants in the State Fair's first-ever Commemorative Art Call for Submissions. Commemorative merchandise featuring Thomas' art is available at State FairWear Gift Shops on the fairgrounds during the fair. Posters are also sold at State Fair Foundation Kiosks. Proceeds support the Minnesota State Fair Foundation 501(c)(3) and its mission to preserve State Fair buildings, grounds and educational experiences. The original art will be displayed in the Fine Arts Center during the fair.

100th Fine Arts Exhibition

Each year the Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Show features an invited artist, collection, genre or group. In celebration of the fair's 100th Fine Arts Exhibition, "Marking Time: Looking Back at Minnesota Artists and the Juried Exhibition" is this year's theme. The art on display showcases a selection of prominent participants in the Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition from throughout its rich history. These works have been generously loaned by local collectors, galleries, the Minnesota Museum of American Art, the Minnesota Historical Society, as well as the artists themselves.

A satellite exhibition, "Fairs, Circuses, and All Things Fun: Selections from the Minnesota Museum of Art" will be at the J.V. Bailey House, open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

"FAIR-Well-To-Summer Dance Party"

GenerationNOW presents the fair's first "FAIR-Well-To-Summer Dance Party," from 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27 at Carousel Park, offering teens and young adults a place to show off their dance moves at the fair. DJ Mad Mardigan (official DJ of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Lynx and the Imperial Room) and DJ Dudley D (personal tour DJ of Prince) will host the party and are the only DJs in Minnesota who spin music videos.

The 2011 Minnesota State Fair runs Aug. 25 through Labor Day, Sept. 5. For more information, visit mnstatefair.org or call (651) 288-4400.