'Sheep Thrills'? Kansas State Fair fills the bill

The sensible part of you knows that you should attend the Kansas State Fair for traditional reasons: Admiring the blue-ribbon pies. Exposing your kids to the birthing barn. Educating yourself on political candidates and community college options.

But your more fun-loving side knows that you're really going for the "Sheep Thrills" promised in the fair's advertising campaign.

And there are plenty of them, from a Krispy Kreme cheeseburger to a troupe of performing baboons.

The Kansas State Fair, which opens today and runs through Sept. 19 in Hutchinson, will include all the expected attractions (Oscar the Robot, pig races, yardstick excess) plus a few unexpected ones (a free Thursday night concert, a brand-new butter sculpture, the aforementioned baboons).

State Fair general manager Denny Stoecklein says that, weather willing, the event is on track to match or exceed last year's attendance of 350,856 people — the second highest since 2000.

Of course, last year's weather was near-perfect.

"We would certainly be very happy if we could repeat that," Stoecklein said with a laugh. "But you tell me what the likelihood is that we're going to have the weather we had last year."

The long-range forecast so far is iffy, with hot weather predicted for today and possible rain mid-week.

Following are a few of the highlights that fairgoers who prefer thrills both traditional and "sheep" will find when they arrive.

* Grandstand greatness: This year's Grandstand lineup includes old standbys the Oak Ridge Boys and classic rock greats Foreigner.

But State Fair managers have made the unusual move this year of offering a free concert. Loverboy, a replacement for comedian Howie Mandel (who was a replacement for Maroon 5), will perform a free show at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The offering is meant as an apology of sorts for all the shuffling (both Mandel and Maroon 5 canceled on the fair) and as a way to fill up the fairgrounds on a typically slow Thursday, Stoecklein said.

Other main attractions: teen queen Selena Gomez, whose Sept. 19 concert is leading the pack in ticket sales, and Terry Fator, a ventriloquist and former winner of "America's Got Talent" who will perform in Hutchinson as part of a rare weeklong break from his show in Las Vegas. His show is on Monday.

* "Wild About Monkeys": Gottschalk Park each year contains a novelty act, from performing alligators to equestrian acrobats. This year's show is called "Wild About Monkeys" and features Hollywood-trained baboons demonstrating their talents three times a day.

* "Sentimental Journey" day: The fair is introducing a new day of activities aimed at its mature faithful. Wednesday's activities will feature a patriotic thank-you to veterans and a "Not-So-Newlywed" game with longtime marrieds as contestants.

* Freaky/fun food: One of the main reasons to attend the fair is for the cuisine, an odd collection of traditional favorites such as chicken and noodles and barbecue sandwiches, to strange inventions such as deep-fried Coke and pickle pops. The headlining meal this year is a Krispy Kreme cheeseburger — a burger that substitutes a sliced glazed doughnut for a bun.

This story was originally published September 10, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "'Sheep Thrills'? Kansas State Fair fills the bill."