Some thought the chance of the State Fair thriving outside of Lincoln was next to impossible. But with a successful first year at its new home under their belt, representatives of the Nebraska State Fair are busy preparing for another Grand Affair!
There will be no shortage of entertainment and attractions at the 142nd annual Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island. From humans dressed as living vines to Hedrick’s Racings Pigs and national concerts, there will be a little something for everyone.
The recently announced Free Concert Series for the 2011 Fair include the hit country act, The Band Perry, country artist Crystal Gayle and the contemporary Christian powerhouse, Jeremy Camp.
“We still have a few surprise announcements for Nebraskan’s and hope to be able to release the entire lineup shortly” said Chelsey Jungck, Special Events Coordinator for the Nebraska State Fair.
“When we book our concerts and our grounds acts, we like to make sure that we include a good variety and are able to appeal to the masses,” Jungck said.
The Band Perry is on top of the charts right now with their debut album, “If I Die Young” which reached number one on the Hot Country Songs charts and has been certified platinum.
At least two concerts that require a paid ticket and one additional free concert are expected to be announced in June to complete the 2011 lineup for the fair.
Beside concerts, fair goers can also head to the US Cellular Kidz Zone for the always popular exotic petting zoo or Street Beat Parkour Percussion act, which makes high energy music out of everyday items.
Tours are also available for new facilities that house the majority of the livestock during the fair. The Livestock Arena, which hosts all of the Livestock shows, boasts the largest indoor jumbo screen in the Midwest.
“The only screen larger is Husker Vision in Memorial Stadium” said Joseph McDermott, Executive Director of the Fair.
The largest of the new buildings on the grounds is the Beef and Sheep Barn that is flanked by the Livestock Arena. It is massive in size boasting nearly six-acres of usable space on the inside and is fully air-conditioned and handicapped accessible.
Of course, you can’t visit a fair and not sample some of the fare. “This list of food vendors has grown exponentially since last year,” said Jaime Parr, Facility Director for the fair.
“We’ll have your corndogs and funnel cakes, but we are also looking to bring in the foods you won’t see everyday” said Parr. Pig-in-a-bag and stuffed cucumbers are just a few of the new foods that have been popular with fair goers.
The 2011 Nebraska State Fair runs from Friday, August 26th through Monday, September 5th at Fonner Park in Grand Island. For more information about the Nebraska State Fair, to purchase tickets or check out the detailed list of events, competitions and attraction, visit www.statefair.org.