Nebraska State Fair

Nebraska State Fair

Where: Fonner Park, 700 E. Stolley Park Road, Grand Island

When: Aug. 26-Sept. 5

Hours: Grounds: open at 6 a.m.; buildings: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 26-Sept. 4 and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 5; midway: 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to midnight weekends.

Ticket office at Heartland Events Center box office: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 26-Sept. 5.

COSTS:

Daily gate admission: $8, adults (age 13 and older); $3, children ages 6 to 12; and free for children age 5 and under when accompanied by a paid adult.

Admission discounts: Reduced admission for adults, $5 per day, will be available at the gate Aug. 29-31. Veterans admitted free Aug. 29.

Season pass: $49.95, admits one person Aug. 26-Sept. 5.

Parking: $10 fee allows one vehicle into the parking lot nearest to the north gate (Gate 6) on any one day. Free parking is available in other lots. Several off-site parking locations throughout Grand Island offer free shuttle service to and from the fair. Details online at www.statefair.org.

Tractor pull, demolition derby: $5, adults (age 13 and older); $4, children ages 6 to 12; and free for children age 5 and younger.

Midway: $22, wristband to ride all day for one day only; days and hours for wristbands are limited. Or buy a Non-Stop Fun Pass, $85, by Aug. 26; it's good for gate admission and for rides all 11 days of the fair (available at Walgreens stores in Nebraska).

Kiddy rides: $5 for a Kiddyland Ride Wristband, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

CONCERTS:

Ticket purchase required (Heartland Events Center box office, any Ticketmaster location, www.ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000)

Larry the Cable Guy, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 28, Heartland Events Center. Known for his catchphrase "git-r-done," comedian and Nebraska native Larry the Cable Guy (Dan Whitney) has made the rounds on the "Blue Collar Comedy Tour" with Jeff Foxworthy and Bill Engvall. He has also starred in movies such as "Witless Protection," "Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector" and "Cars 2." Tickets: $35 plus gate admission, facility fees and Ticketmaster fees.

Willie Nelson and Family, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 4, Heartland Events Center. Singer-songwriter Nelson is known for such classic tunes as "You Were Always on My Mind" and "On the Road Again." Tickets: $20 plus gate admission, facility fees and Ticketmaster fees.

FREE CONCERTS:

To attend a free concert, pay the regular gate admission on the day of the concert and then get a wristband at the Heartland Events Center box office. Wristbands are available on a first-come, first-serve basis only on the day of the concert. Distribution starts at noon (but 8 a.m. for the Crystal Gayle concert). Limit of two wristbands per person. Wristbands are divided into four entry times per concert. Wristbands guarantee admission but not necessarily a seat.

The Band Perry, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 26

Crystal Gayle, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Aug. 31

Jeremy Camp, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 1

LeAnn Rimes, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 2

Cheap Trick, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 5

CONTESTS:

Galaxy of Stars Talent Search

Semifinals: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 3; and finals: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 4. In three age divisions. Information: www.galaxyofstarstalentsearch.com.

Texaco Country Showdown

7 p.m. Aug. 27

The winner has the opportunity to compete in one of five regional events. Past regional winners include Martina McBride, Garth Brooks, Miranda Lambert, Neal McCoy, Sara Evans, Brad Paisley and Billy Ray Cyrus.

SPECIAL EVENTS:

Daily parades

6 p.m., with these exceptions: 5 p.m. Aug. 26 (opening day); and 2 p.m. Aug. 29 (when veterans are honored) and Sept. 5 (Labor Day).

Fireworks

9:30 p.m. Aug. 26

Lantis Fireworks Franchising will provide the entertainment.

Drill and cheer teams exposition

Aug. 27 and 29

Drill and cheer teams will stroll the grounds, along a predetermined path, to perform at designated performance areas.

Miss Nebraska State Fair & Miss Heartland Pageant

7:30 p.m. Sept. 3

A local, preliminary pageant to the Miss Nebraska and the Miss America Pageants has competition in interview, evening wear, swimsuit and talent.

Craft show

9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 26-28

In the Festival Tent on the south side of the Market Place.

ATTRACTIONS:

Midway: Belle City Amusements will provide rides, food and games. Thrill seekers can hop on the Drop Zone or the Rock & Roll. Families may prefer the Tilt-A-Whirl or a carousel and youngsters can be brave aboard the Dizzy Dragons and the Crazy Plane.

Lawn mower races: 1 p.m. Aug. 28. Presented by the Nebraska Lawn Mower Racing Association; admission is free.

Tractor pull: 1 p.m. Sept. 4. Tractors of various styles pull a heavy sled along a track. They produce a lot of noise and throw a lot of dirt but don't travel very far.

Demolition derby: 1 p.m. Sept. 5. Crashes and thrills when drivers deliberately ram their vehicles into one another.

Antique machinery tractor pull: 2 p.m. Sept. 5. By Platte Valley Antique Machinery Association.

EXHIBITIONS:

Agricultural: There are lots of events for dairy and beef cattle and for horses and some for goats, lambs and poultry, too. Details and schedules at www.statefair.org.

Agricultural equipment: See the equipment and technology that Nebraska farmers and ranchers use every day and antique machinery, too.

Competitive exhibits (open class): See ribbon-winning agricultural products, fine arts, foods, horticulture, photography, textiles, wine and beer. Plus demonstrations.

4-H and FFA exhibits: Nebraska students from across the state compete.

Grow Nebraska general store: Gifts created by Nebraska artists.

Landscape design display: Commercial landscapers display their talent in landscape design around the fairgrounds.

Pepsi Max NASCAR simulator: A modified race car has a computer simulation program so the driver can experience the excitement of professional racing. The car reacts to the driver's action.

Quilt display: Quilts and quilt squares from counties across the state.

Information: www.statefair.org and 308-382-1620.