State Fair Day 8: Seniors Day and Hot Weather

Nearly two million people are expected to descend on the Minnesota State Fair’s 320-acre grounds during its 12-day run for concerts, contests, cows and corn dogs.

Here’s Roseville Patch’s listing of some highlights for Day 8.

To know: It’s Seniors Day at the fair, and those 65 and over get in for $7. Cattle, goats, sheep and swine leave the fair at 2 p.m., and barns will be closed for the rest of the day. The rides at Mighty Midway and Kidway have a one ticket discount until 1 p.m.

The weather is expected to be a high of 92 degrees with a 10 percent chance of rain. Check out the fair’s website for a full schedule of the day’s activities and events.

To be fit: More than 1,000 fair-goers are expected to participate in the Senior Stretch & Stroll. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. and the program at 10 a.m. in Carousel Park. Held annually on the second Thursday of the fair, participants receive free t-shirts and fitness equipment.

To watch: The Minnesota Turkey Council presents Gobble Gobble Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Christensen Farm Stage, adjacent to the Miracle of Birth Center. Programming includes trivia, appearances by Tom and Tosh Turkey and an opportunity to join in the “Turkey Dance.”

To make art: Celebrities will compete to carve the most achingly lovely butter sculpture at 12:20 p.m. at the Land O’Lakes Stage. The competition is part of the Agri-lympics Contest. Linda Christensen has been carving butter for more than 40 years.

To hear: Marc Anthony plays at the grandstand at 8 p.m. Tickets are available for $50 and $60 to see the two-time Grammy winner.

Meanwhile,  here is a general rundown on what you need to know to get to the fair and find your way around:

Admission and 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.

Here’s a breakdown of various 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.