State Fair Day 1: Robots, Discounts and a Sing-a-Long

Nearly two million people are expected to descend on the Minnesota State Fair’s 320-acre grounds over the next 12 days for concerts, contests, cows and corn dogs. Here’s Roseville Patch’s rundown on what you need to know to get to the fair and find your way around:

To know: It’s Thrifty Thursday at the fair, with adult admission knocked down to $10 and children’s admission to $7. The weather is expected to be sunny with a high of 84 and about 50 percent humidity. Check out the fair’s website for a schedule of the day’s activities and events.

To watch: Robots. Technophiles will be out en masse for the Physics Force performances put on by Minnesota STEM, the educational initiative with the slogan, “Making good minds great." Carousel Park will be home to hands-on activities and robotics team demonstrations at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. There were also be presentations by Microsoft and the U of M Raptor Center.

To sing: You. Fair-goers can line up at a field of microphones in front of a jumbo screen for a karaoke Giant Sing Along. The Sing Along will be located on Murphy Avenue, across from the Pet Center, and run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day of the fair. Songs were chosen through an online vote on the fair’s website.

To meet: Minnesota children’s book illustrator Mike Wohnoutka. The “A Teacher for Bear” artist will be at the Alphabet Forest from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Each day at the fair, a Minnesota-native author will be available for fair-goers to meet and greet. A schedule authors is available at the fair’s website.

To hear: Reba. The country music singer will be playing at the grandstand at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available for $45 and $55. Ronnie Dunne—of Brooks & Dunn fame—will also be performing.

Before heading to the Great Minnesota Get Together:

Hours: Admission gates open daily at 6 a.m. Ticket sales end at 10 p.m. (9 p.m. on Labor Day). Grounds close at midnight (10 p.m. on Labor Day). Most buildings are open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Cost: Adults (13-64) pay $12, seniors and children 5 and over pay $10, and children under 5 are admitted for free. Promotional days are offered throughout the fair, Pre-fair discount admission is available for purchase through Aug. 24.

Transportation: The Minnesota State Fairgrounds are located at 1265 North Snelling Ave. N. in St. Paul. Maps and directions are available on the fair’s website. Note that light-rail construction on University Avenue will slow traffic flow; the fair’s website has tips on how to avoid the congestion.

Transportation options:

Car
Fairgrounds parking
State fair parking lots cost $12 and can be accessed off Larpenteur, Snelling, or Cleveland avenues. Discount tickets can be purchased in advance through Aug. 24 at Cub Foods or the State Fair Box Office. (Motorcycle parking is offered for $6 on Como Avenue.)

Free park and ride
Free parking is available at 34 locations around the fairgrounds. Complimentary buses leave every 20 minutes from 8 a.m. to midnight to pick up fair-goers. In 2010, the park and ride program gave 920,000 rides.

Bike
Free bike racks are offered at the Como-Snelling and Hoyt-Snelling gates and at Commonwealth-West Dan Patch from 6 a.m. to midnight daily.

Bus
Regular bus routes
Three buses service the fair and accept cash or transit passes. Route 960 goes from Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis to the fairgrounds in about 15 minutes. Route 84 travels along Snelling Avenue. Route 3 connects downtown Minneapolis to downtown St. Paul along Como Avenue.

Express bus service
State Fair Express buses operate from 17 Twin Cities locations on 15- and 30-minute loops. Check the fair’s express bus website for more information.

Navigating the fair
The state fair’s website has downloadable maps of the grounds and daily activity schedules. You can also keep checking Patch for a daily rundown of the top five things to see and do at the fair.

Smart phones
The state fair is also smart phone accessible, with a mobile website and stand-alone apps for iPhones and Android phones that include a manipulable map and the ability to search listings of events, merchandise and food.