Wondering what to do at the State Fair? Here are highlights by day

Going to the Kansas State Fair can be slightly overwhelming.

There are so many events going on that, if you don’t have a fair schedule handy, you could find yourself missing out on a lot of premier State Fair festivities.

To remedy that, we’ve compiled a few major events going on every day of the fair, to help you plan your days in Hutchinson.

For a full schedule of events at the fair, visit www.kansasstatefair.com.

Friday

▪ 11 a.m., opening ceremony: No opening day is complete without an opening ceremony, so be sure to catch the Kansas State Fair’s. It’s usually pretty enjoyable – this year it’s in Gottschalk Park, near 20th and Poplar.

▪ 3 p.m., midway opens/Moonlight Madness: A $25 wristband gets you unlimited access to the rides on the midway from 3 to 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 9, or from noon to 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16.

▪ 7:30 p.m., Andy Grammer with Rachel Platten: Tickets are still available to the opening-night concert at the fair with Andy Grammer and Rachel Platten at the Nex-Tech Wireless Grandstand. Platten is a rising star on the pop scene, and Grammer has had success on the charts as well. Tickets are available from $35 to $75.

Saturday

▪ 9 a.m., birthing center opens: The State Fair’s birthing center, which remains open every day of the festival, provides a unique opportunity to see newborn calves, lambs, goats and piglets. Corner of 20th and Fort Scott Boulevard, in the southeast portion of the fairgrounds.

▪ 11 a.m., WIBW live debate: Topeka radio station WIBW is sponsoring a forum with Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, chairmen of both the Senate and House agriculture committees, on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. Bretz and Young Injury Lawyers Arena, in the center of the fairgrounds (Cottonwood Avenue and Fort Leavenworth Boulevard).

▪ 1 p.m., beard and mustache competition: Watch as the top 10 beard and mustache contestants are selected. Participants had to pre-register, so you can’t just show up and participate. Nex-Tech Wireless Free Stage at Lake Talbott (northwest portion of the fairgrounds).

▪ 3 p.m., celebrity grape stomp: Watch Kansas and agricultural leaders compete for the title of “Kansas Grape Stomper 2016,” celebrating the grape and wine industries in Kansas. Nex-Tech Wireless Free Stage at Lake Talbott (northwest portion of the fairgrounds).

Sunday

▪ 1 p.m., Kansas Pedal Pull Championships: You can watch the top kids in the state compete for a championship in pedal pulling (pedaling a tiny tractor that pulls a metal sled). Bretz and Young Injury Lawyers Arena, in the center of the fairgrounds (Cottonwood Avenue and Fort Leavenworth Boulevard).

▪ 2 p.m., Kansas Arm Wrestling Championships: Either watch or participate in the championships. Gottschalk Park, near 20th and Poplar. On-site registration begins at noon and runs until 1:45 p.m. There is a $10 registration fee for adults. Gottschalk Park, near 20th and Poplar.

▪ 7:30 p.m., Justin Moore with Clare Dunn: This country concert has been a hot seller for the fair so far. Moore has had three recent No. 1 country radio hits, including “Small Town USA,” “If Heaven Weren’t So Far Away” and “Til My Last Day.” Dunn, who grew up in southeast Colorado near the Oklahoma Panhandle, first learned to play guitar in college. She has opened for Keith Urban, Florida Georgia Line, Colt Ford, Parmalee and others. Tickets range from $25 to $40 – the closest seats are already sold out. Nex-Tech Wireless Grandstand.

Monday

▪ All day, Dillons Dollar Day: Get in for $1 all day – and for free if you have a Dillons Plus Card. All North American Midway carnival rides are also one coupon apiece until 10 p.m.

▪ 10 a.m., Kansas State Fair spelling bee: Catch the whizziest of the whiz kids for the spelling bee finals. Encampment Building (23rd and Bison Boulevard, on the far north end of the fairgrounds).

▪ 7:30 p.m., demolition derby: The fair brings back its popular demolition derby in lieu of a concert at the Nex-Tech Wireless Grandstand. Tickets for ages 13 and up are $7.

Tuesday

▪ 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., Jump! The Ultimate Dog Show: This show, at Gottschalk Park (20th and Poplar, on the southeast part of the fairgrounds), will entertain with high-flying, jumping dogs that perform gravity-defying stunts. The show is put on every day of the fair at the same times.

▪ 1 p.m., Ride-O-Rama: On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights, a $25 wristband will get you unlimited access to the rides on the midway. On Tuesday, it’s open 1 to 10 p.m.; Wednesday, noon-10 p.m.; and Thursday, 3-10 p.m.

▪ 7:30 p.m., “Hitmakers Reunion”: Four acts will perform as part of the fair’s “Hit Makers Reunion” at the grandstand. Those acts include country band Restless Heart, known for its hits “I’ll Still Be Loving You” and “When She Cries”; country singer Richie McDonald, who is perhaps best known as the lead singer of the band Lonestar; Suzy Bogguss, a country singer who reached the height of her popularity in the 1990s; and Billy Dean, who has recorded eight country albums since 1990, three of which have been certified gold. Tickets are available for $34.

Wednesday

▪ 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., sheep shearing and wool demonstration: This is your last chance to see sheep shorn at the Sheep, Swine and Goat Building, 20th and Fort Scott Boulevard, in the far southeast portion of the fairgrounds.

▪ 2 p.m., Kansas auctioneers bid-calling contest: Watch (and listen) as some of the top auctioneers in the state compete to be crowned the 2016 Kansas State Bid Calling Champion. Bretz and Young Injury Lawyers Arena, in the center of the fairgrounds.

▪ 7:30 p.m., Crowder: Crowder, who first achieved popularity as the lead singer of the Christian group David Crowder Band, is playing at the grandstand. Crowder has been recording as a solo artist since the group disbanded in 2012. Tickets are available from $20 to $50.

Thursday, Sept. 15

▪ 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., Dr. Goddard’s Lab: Have fun and learn at the Kansas State Fair at Dr. Goddard’s Lab, a science-and-rocketry-themed exhibit at the Domestic Arts Building, near Fort Riley Boulevard and Cottonwood Avenue. The show, which is put on by the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, is open every day of the fair at the same times.

▪ 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 6 p.m., milking demonstrations: Milking demonstrations are offered every day at the fair in the Milking Parlor, near 20th and Fort Riley Boulevard. One coupon per child is given for a free ice cream cone from the Dairy Bar, located under the grandstand.

▪ 5, 7:30 p.m., Ron Diamond, comic hypnotist: Ron Diamond will perform at the Bretz and Young Injury Lawyers Arena every day at the fair, but at different times.

Friday, Sept. 16

▪ 2:30 p.m., celebrity goat-milking contest: Watch the hilarity ensue after the celebrity goat-milking contest at the Sheep, Swine and Goat Building, at 20th and Fort Scott Boulevard, in the far southeast portion of the fairgrounds.

▪ 7:30 p.m., Lynyrd Skynyrd: The latest incarnation of the iconic 1970s “Sweet Home Alabama” singers will come to the Kansas State Fair at the grandstand. Tickets are available from $50 to $65.

Saturday, Sept. 17

▪ 10:30 a.m., Blast of Bacon contest: The Blast of Bacon contest in the Domestic Arts Building (near Fort Riley Boulevard and Cottonwood Avenue) is sure to please bacon-lovers. Check out the competitors and maybe snag some bacon of your own.

▪ 4 p.m., chainsaw woodcarving auction: Gary Keenan, a wood sculptor from Iowa, returns to the Kansas State Fair this year to make art with chainsaws. All of the pieces Keenan creates during the fair will be on display in the Oz Gallery, at 20th and Fort Riley Boulevard, until the auction. Then, at the Bretz and Young Injury Lawyers Arena, you can bid on the sculptures to take them home.

▪ 7:30 p.m., Jake Owen with Old Dominion: One of the festival’s top-selling music acts this year has been the Jake Owen and Old Dominion show at the grandstand. Tickets are still available from $35 to $45.

▪ 8 p.m., movie night at the fair: Take the kids out for a fun night at the Kansas State Fair as the fair is screening “Charlotte’s Web” at the Nex-Tech Wireless Free Stage near Lake Talbott, in the northwest portion of the fairgrounds. Bring a blanket or some lawn chairs and partake in the fair foods for a relaxing evening.

Sunday, Sept. 18

▪ 2 p.m., cowboy mounted shooting: In this timed event, the mounted contestants maneuver through patterns and shoot at targets using two .45 caliber single-action revolvers, each loaded with five rounds of specially prepared ammunition. There are divisions for men, women and children. The competition will take place at the Expo Center, in the far southeast corner of the fairgrounds.

▪ 3 p.m., Outlaw Truck and Tractor Pull: The final ticketed event of the 2016 Kansas State Fair takes place at the grandstand. Tickets are available for $12 for ages 13 and up and $5 for ages 6-12.

▪ 2, 5 p.m., Hutchinson Brass Quintet: Any visit to the Kansas State Fair wouldn’t be complete without hearing a performance by the Hutchinson Brass Quintet, which will be performing at the Gottschalk Park Gazebo at 20th and Poplar in the southeast portion of the fairgrounds.

This story was originally published September 8, 2016 at 11:30 AM with the headline "Wondering what to do at the State Fair? Here are highlights by day."