3rd Annual Draft Horse Pull
Friday, August 26 4:30p.m.

Saturday, August 27 6:00p.m.

Sunday, August 28 5:00p.m.

Livestock Arena- Admission $5.00

• Hosted by Midwest Dynamometer Horse Pulling from Grinnell, Iowa, come experience these powerful creatures as they compete in the first event in our new, state-of-the-art Ag Arena. Fair goers can view two different weight divisions of draft horses as they pull their way to the number one spot. If you wish to watch the Draft Horse Pull please be advised that tickets will be sold for both the day and evening shows. The $5.00 entry will get you into both shows. Age 5 and under are free. Gate admission is NOT included and must be purchased separately. Click here to purchase Draft Horse Hitch and Pull tickets.

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• Aussie Kingdom

• On Display from 9am-9pm Everyday

Kidz Zone

Performance times on the following dates & times:

• August 26th, 29th, & 31st, & September 1st & 2nd- 11:30, 2:00, 7:00
• August 27th, 28th, 30th, & September 3rd, 4th, 5th- 11:30, 2:00, 4:30, 7:00

• Australia is one of the most unique countries in the world, especially when it comes to wildlife! You'll see kangaroos, wallabies, walleroos, and other native Australian wildlife that you only hear and read about, but never dreamed you would be able to touch and hold these amazing animals.  Aussie Kingdom offers this opportunity of a lifetime with three educational and entertaining stage shows a day, along with an ongoing display of the animals at fairs and festivals around the country.

 

 

Grand Island Community Youth Council Hay Bale Maze

August 26 - September 5

Kidz Zone

9:00a.m.-9:00p.m.

Grand Island Community Youth Council is creating an hay bale maze to challenge and entertain fairgoers. Come check it out everyday in Kidz Zone 9:00am to 9:00pm.

DockDogs® presented by Five Points Bank

August 30 - September 5, 2011

Swine Park

August 30th- 9:00, 4:00, 5:00, 6:30

August 31st- 10:00, 12:00, 2:00, 4:00, 6:30

September 1st- 10:00, 12:00, 2:00, 4:00, 6:30

September 2nd- 10:00, 12:00, 2:00, 4:00, 6:30

September 3rd- 9:00, 10:30, 12:00, 2:00, 4:00, 6:30

September 4th- 9:00, 10:30, 12:00, 2:00, 4:00, 6:30

September 5th- 9:00, 10:00, 12:00, 2:00, 4:00, 4:30

Dockdogs is a competition that is comprised of three contests, big air, extreme vertical, and speed retrieve. Come watch the amazing dogs in Swine Park, right in front of the Swine Barn! If you would like to compete please click on the link below.

http://www.dockdogs.com/index.php?option=com_jcalpro&Itemid=285&extmode=view&extid=1376

 

• Dr. Lori's Antique Appraisals Comedy Tour

Tuesday, August 30, 12:00p.m. & 5:30p.m., 4-H/FFA Building

Wednesday, August 31, 12:00p.m. & 5:30p.m., Bristol Windows Stage

Thursday, September 1, 12:00p.m. & 5:30p.m., 4-H/FFA Building

Bring your antiques for a free appraisal to part antiques appraiser, part standup comedian, Dr. Lori as seen on Lifetime Television, Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”, and NBC’s “The Tonight Show”. Have you ever dreamed about paying for your next family vacation or big flat screen TV with your spouse’s antique junk? Do you know someone who buys antiques and you think that stuff is just plain ugly cluttering up the house and you want to know how to sell it all?

Free antiques appraisals will be available as part of Dr. Lori’s show. 1 per person. Bring your items to the show location where you will receive futher instructions. Arrive early since appraisals are limited each show. Individuals will be responsible for the transportation of their own items to and from the show site. The Nebraska State Fair is not responsible for the transportation, care, or storage of items.

For more information, click here.

Grand Island Kennel Club Dog Agility
Friday, September 2
7:00pm

Livestock Arena

Tunnels, jumps, weave poles.  These are just some of the agility equipment that the Grand Island Kennel Club will be demonstrating on Friday, Sept. 2, at the Nebraska State Fair.  Dogs of different breeds at different levels of training will show how we train our dogs for agility.  There will also be some demonstrations of dogs doing obedience at different levels, from beginning dogs to more advanced dogs.  These are activities that dogs of any breed or mixture of breeds can do for fun or for competition.

 

• Hedrick's Educational Petting Zoo and Camel & Pony Rides

• 9am-9pm
  Kidz Zone

  With over 40 years of show business experience, Hedrick's Petting Zoo offers a wide range of exotic animals: camels, cavy, zebu, donkey, pygmy goats, lama, kangaroo, zebra, and more! Hedrick's also offers camel and pony rides!

 

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• Hedrick's Racing Pigs Show
  Kidz Zone

• August 26th- September 5th
• 10:30, 12:30, 2:30, 4:30, 6:30

• Professional pig callers animate the show as pigs clad in racing silks speed around the race track towards the finish line. As a member of the audience, be prepared to cheer on the pig that's assigned to your audience section.

 

 

In Capable Hands

Performing August 26th- September 5th on Bristol Windows Stage, Open Class Stage-Fonner Concourse, and in the Nebraska Lottery Good Life Lounge Daily at 11:00 a.m. 1:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. & 6:00 p.m.

In Capable Hands' Comedy Juggling Show - a fun-filled family show filled with juggling, comedy, magic, wacky music and a bit of danger. As seen on the Tonight Show, Good Morning America, and Live with Regis and Kelly.

 

 

 

 

The Living Vines

Strolling Daily throughout the Marketplace

For the many audiences that have seen The Living Vines, this unique performance on stilts exists as a wonderful medium through which people can experience a closer connection with nature. The performance of The Living Vines cascades amid the genres of dance, theatre, and living art. This engaging display involves the exquisite metamorphosis of 2 vines (or more) into spellbinding living vine women.

Whether they are entwined around a tree or in amongst some urban setting, The Living Vines camouflage seamlessly with their environment. They astound their audiences as they make their presence known by slowly coming to life. Audiences find their performance moving, mysterious, and mystical. Moving from one stunning tableau to another before gracefully leaping away to her next location, audiences are left fascinated as they once more mingle with their surroundings.

Since the creation of the original living vine in 1996, audiences have delighted in her layered lushness and incomparable grace. The carefully selected ensemble of talented dancers that portray The Living Vines are trained in ballet, lending a gorgeous elegance to this enchanting performance that never fails to mesmerize the audiences. Please visit www.livingworldentertainment.com to see more of The Living Vines.

 

The Movie Stunt Adventure

East Marketplace

August 26th- September 5th

11:30, 1:30, 3:30, 5:30, 7:30

This captivating mega anchor production is truly a “one of a kind” event as it is one part professional stage show, one part participant attraction and one part spectator sport all rolled into what we call a High-Octane Adrenaline Rush. With up to 5 High Fall Stunt Shows performed each day, it’s like nothing else on the fairgrounds. Crowds are amazed, watching up stunt actors reenacting famous jumps and falls from recent Hollywood Blockbusters. Between shows, participants can learn the basic skills of stunt actor jumps and high falls and then make their own breathtaking jumps to a real Hollywood stunt airbag. Crowds will watch all day long.

 

McClain's Mutton Busters
August 31st

6:30 p.m.

LIvestock Arena  

Mcclain's Mutton Busters have been doing mutton busting for 19 years, around 4,000 to 5,000 kids per season. Kids need to be under 60 pounds, helmets will be provided. We will start registing 1 hour before the event. All kids will need their parents their to sign release paper to be able to ride. The first 50 riders get to ride.

 

 

• Nebraska State Fair Stock Dog Trials
  Livestock Arena 8:00 a.m. - Finals Starting at 7:00 p.m.

• August 29th & August 30th
  

• The Nebraska State Fair stockdog trials are an exciting and fun event for the whole family! They feature competitors from as far away as Oklahoma and South Dakota. Each handler and dog team will be given a set amount of time to guide 3 head of unruly cattle or cagey sheep around a fast paced course consisting of gates, chutes, barrels, and pens. The audience will have a great view from the air conditioned seats of the Livestock Arena, and will be kept well informed and entertained by our announcer, Trent Loos, who will be talking with some of the handlers and announcing times for each run.
  
  
  

• Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show
  Performing in Kidz Zone at the following times:

• August 26th- 9:00, 12:00, 2:30, 5:30
• August 27th, 28th, 30th & September 3rd, 4th, & 5th - 10:00, 12:00, 2:30, 5:30
• August 29th, 31st, & September 1st- 10:00, 2:30, 5:30
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• A historical, educational, hunorous show filled with audience participation. 

  This action packed show features log rolling, chopping, sawing, axe throwing, and dragster chainsaws, all with World Champion Lumberjacks.

   

 

• Puddle Jumpers
  Kidz Zone & Strolling throughout the grounds

• One thing to watch for at the fair is the gentleman leading his family of geese across the fairgrounds! That man is Paul "The Gooseman" Messerschmidt and the smartly dressed geese have been following Paul for years. While recovering from an illness, his doctor told Paul to start walking. The goslings he had on his farm did what baby geese will naturally do, and started following Paul on his walks through the western Iowa countryside. Each goose has its own personality and story, which Paul stops to tell as he strolls around the fair several times each day. They're fascinating, funny, and just plain adorable in their wide variety of costumes.

• RFD-TV Presents Trigger and Bullet Happy Trails Tour

  Friday, August 26 - Monday, September 5

  4-H/FFA Building

  9:00am-9:00pm

  RFD-TV, Rural American’s Most Important Network, proudly presents the Trigger and Bullet Happy Trails Tour.  In celebration of what would have been Roy Rogers’ 100th birthday, RFD-TV is touring the country and taking the “King of the Cowboys” two faithful companions with us.  RFD-TV invites you and your family to stop by our booth and take a professional photo with Trigger and Bullet.. www.triggerandbullet.com

  
  
  

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• Showbot

• Strolling daily throughout the marketplace

• Gliding through virtually any environment, The Showbots fuse leading edge technologies and the irreplaceable human touch to create a magical entertainment experience!

   

  The Showbots become an instant celebrity icon wherever they go, as well as a powerful advertising communications, and marketing tool able to deliver any on-demand audio and video content. The Showbots will amaze, entertain, inform and truly define the term, Wow Factor!

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• Street Beat Parkour Percussion
  Kidz Zone

  

  STREET BEAT is a kinetic, maximum energy explosion of urban rhythm and dance, utilizing junk and found objects for percussion and featuring the pinnacle of modern “ street ” choreography. We bring you theatrical shows that are simultaneously multi-layered in their richness of experience and pure simple joy in their delivery; as thrilling to watch as they are to hear. The infectious nature of Street Beat is that we take the most ancient of art forms - drumming and dance - bring it to the modern stage and draw the audience into its magic. Street Beat is as intimate as a heartbeat and as boisterously crowd pleasing as the best party you've ever been to!

  Thrilled Audiences Around the Country!

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• Stuhr Museum
  Kidz Zone

  All the fun of Stuhr Museum's 1890's Living History Railroad Town comes to the Nebraska State Fair. The museum that brings the story of Nebraska's first towns to life feature dozens of hands-on, historical, and artistic activities in the State Fair's Kids Zone, including: live blacksmithing, Native American beadwork, baking over an open fire, and much more. Special, hands-on presentations take place at 2 p.m. each day. Click here to learn more about Stuhr Museum.

• ALL DAY ACTIVITIES – Stuhr Museum’s booth at the Nebraska State Fair will give visitors a hands-on, Living History experience. Included are period games such as blacksmith games, skittles, graces, hoops and sticks and more, a reproduction wagon like the ones used to cross the plains in the early days of our state, a piece of antique farm machinery and some of the friendliest people you’ll meet at the fair. In addition, the Prairie Blacksmith Association will have their forges fired up during the day, every day of the fair, creating functional and artistic pieces of metal work. Special activities in the Stuhr tent take place during the day and into the early evening. Experts will be available during the day.

  Friday, Aug. 26 – Period Games

  Saturday, Aug. 27 – Wood and Cast Iron Cooking

  Sunday, Aug. 28 – 1890’s Tinsmithing

  Monday, Aug. 29 – Military History Exhibit: Civil War to WWI

  Tuesday, Aug. 30 – Rope Making and Historic Education

  Wednesday, Aug. 31 – Kitchen Gadget Game

  Thursday, Sept. 1 – 1890’s Woodworking

  Friday, Sept. 2 – Transportation Day featuring a 1926 Star

  Saturday, Sept. 3 – Trail Day (wagon exhibit and Dutch Oven Cooking)

  Sunday, Sept. 4 – Glass Etching

  Monday, Sept. 5 – Period Games