Don't Delay get your tickets Today!

Grandstand Showpass tickets are now on sale! Get yours soon, the Reserved tickets are selling like hot cakes! Additional tickets on sale include Daily Gate Passes, Season Gate Passes, Advanced Mega Ride Pass and the Family Fun Pack.

This year’s Showpass ticket includes admission to:
Taylor Swift, July 25
Rodney Atkins and Heidi Newfield, July 26
Enduro Race, July 27
Demolition Derby, July 28
The Devonshires with Classic Car Show, July 29
Gary Allan July 30
Dierks Bentley on July 31.

The Showpass is $65 for general admission and $75 for reserved seating.

Visit www.ndstatefair.com/tickets or call 701-852-FAIR to get your tickets today!

Freddy had a great time at the KXMC News studio this morning thanks to the fun guys down there, Joe Goldade and Perry Olson. Heres a look at behind the scenes of Freddy on the morning news and weather!

Freddy Does the News

Freddy decided to pay a visit to the local media around town today and remind them that tickets go on sale tomorrow. He made a cameo appearance on the KXMC Noon Show and got to dance with Kristin from KMOT. He also got to meet some of the local radio personalities. All in all it was a big day. Off to bed for Freddy, he has a big day ahead of him tomorrow!

State Fair Lineup rocks the ACM Awards

The Academy of Country Music held its 44th Annual Awards show last night in Las Vegas. Viewers had the opportunity to see concerts from several star studded entertainers, two of which will be at the Fair in July! Taylor Swift (left photo) sung one of her newest songs while Heidi Newfield (right photo) belted out her hit single "Johnny and June." Additionally, Taylor Swift ended up being one of the biggest winners of the evening when she took homethe Album of the Year award for her album Fearless. Taylor Swift will perform at the Fair on Saturday, July 25th while Heidi Newfield will take to the stage on Sunday, July 26th in a double header with Rodney Atkins.

Win 'em before you can Buy'em!

Even though you can't buy tickets until Wednesday, for the first time in the history of the North Dakota State Fair we are partnering with  radio stations to give you a chance to Win'e before you can Buy'em! Five stations are particpating in this event: 97.1 KYYX of Minot,   The Farm 101.1 in  Brandon (Canada),  KCAD 99.1 in Dickinson, KYYZ FM & KEYZ FM in Williston, and 94.5 KQDY in Bismarck. Each staion will be giving away tickets to Taylor Swift, Gary Allan, Dierks Bentley and Rodney Atikins / Heidi Newfield concerts. If you don't win, don't be sad, you can always buy your tickets on Wednesday with the rest of the Fairgoers.

Sandbagging for Ward County

Sandbagging operations are in full swing here at the North Dakota State Fair Center. With some 12,000-13,000 sandbags completed just yesterday, the hard work of Minot residents will most definitely help their neighbors, should they be needed. In the city of Minot there is little worry of flooding, and we are all encouraged to stay calm and work towards being prepared. Every day that does not break freezing temperatures we are one day closer to summer like temperatures capable of flooding closely surrounding areas to Minot and creating problems for our community. If you’d like to help out and join the nice people down here at the State Fair Center all are welcome today through Friday 2:00pm-8:00pm and Saturday 10:00am-6:00pm. Volunteers are encouraged to bring shovels and gloves and to wear appropriate clothing. The Old Burlington Fire Hall is also set up to fill sand bags from the same times. The Mid-Dakota Red Cross will be taking calls from 9:00am-4:00pm to take flood reports and provide more information regarding sandbagging operations at 858-9366.

Check out our Latest Website Addition

In attempt to help out our customers we have added a new page to our website for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). The page is under the Guest Info tab on http://www.ndstatefair.com Some of the questions listed include those on purchasing concert tickets, parking, bring pets to the Fair and the types of payment the Fair accepts. Hopefully this page will help North Dakota State Fairgoers learn a little bit more about the Fair. Leave us a comment if we've left any important questions unanswered!

Freddy the Flickertail!

Freddy the Flickertail, the North Dakota State Fair mascot, came out of hibernation today! He helped out around the office by watching over the staff (to make sure they were doing their jobs right) and he filled in for Stacey, who is out due to the stormy weather. He was pretty good at answering phones and helping customers at the window. Freddy couldn't stick around for long, he had a Doctor's appointment with a seamstress, it seems that some kids yanked his tail off during the Fair last year. He had to go under the needle to get a new one sewed on. Don't worry he'll be back to normal in no time at all!

2009 Governor's Photo Contest

The North Dakota Governor's photo contest encourages ND amateur photogs to submit photos, capturing the unique things to see and do in North Dakota. Winning photos are then used in North Dakota Tourism's marketing materials and newsletters.

One of last year's winning photos was from a carnival ride at the 2008 North Dakota State Fair! The winning, photo featured here, was taken by Joleyn Larson of Manda. North Dakota State Fairgoers are encouraged to submit their 2009 Fair photos to the contest by logging on to www.ndtourism.com for full rules and information on to how to submit.

Dierks!!! Showpass Tickets on Sale April 8th!

We are sooooo excited to announce that Dierks Bentley, has been added to the North Dakota State Fair concert lineup! Dierks will close out the 2009 country lineup on Friday, July 31. Known for hit songs like “What Was I Thinkin’,” “Come a Little Closer,” and his newest single “Feel That Fire” this will be one of the biggest concerts of the Fair!

We are also excited to be answering the most sought after question about the Fair: When are tickets going on sale? Well, tickets go on sale Wednesday, April 8 at 8:00 a.m! You can purchase online at www.ndstatefair.com, at the North Dakota State Fair Box Office, weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; or by calling 701-852-FAIR or 701-857-7620.

Tickets available on April 8 include: Reserved Seating Cenex Grandstand Showpass, General Admission Cenex Grandstand Showpass, Adult & Junior Daily Gate Passes, Adult & Junior Season Gate Passes, Advanced Mega Ride Pass and the Family Fun Pack.

This year’s Showpass ticket includes admission to Taylor Swift, July 25; Rodney Atkins and Heidi Newfield, July 26; Enduro Race, July 27; Demolition Derby, July 28; The Devonshires with Classic Car Show, July 29; Gary Allan July 30; and Dierks Bentley on July 31. The Showpass is $65 for general admission and $75 for reserved seating.

Announcements on the final rock concert and Motley Crue ticket on-sale date will be made public soon. Tickets can be purchased with cash or credit card only.

FFA State Fair Project

This year the North Dakota State Fair has invited FFA chapters to submit an Adirondack chair that represents their chapter. Fairgoers will see the chairs on grounds

 throughout the fair, offering a unique place to relax! The first place chapter will receive a $200 check and will be judged among other things,

 craftsmenship and creativity. Every year the fair joins up with all state FFA chapters to give them an opportunity like this. Ideas for future yea

rs include mailboxes to hold daily schedules, planter boxes for flowers on grounds and benches. If you have any great ideas or are in an

FFA chapter and have a project you’ve been dying to do, please feel free to let us know, and maybe one day, you’ll see your idea at the fair.

NDSF Facebook Fan Page Reaches 1,188!

Thanks for helping the North Dakota State Fair increase their fans! We'll be giving away more prizes and tickets up until the Fair so stay tuned!

Congratulations to our Facebook Fan Page Ticket Winners:

Catherine J. - won two tickets to the Enduro Race on Monday, July 27th
Monique H. won two tickets to the Demolition Derby on Tuesday, July 28th.

Melissa H. won two tickets to the Devonshires concert & Classic Car Show on Wednesday, July 29th.

Greg K. won two tickets to the NDSF Ranch Rodeo Championships on Thursday, July 30th.

And our Grand Prize Concer Ticket Winner:

Angela B. won two tickets to the Heidi Newfield and Rodney Atkins concert on Sunday, July 26th

KX Sports Show

This weekend the State Fair Center will be busy while the KX Sports Show is in full swing! Join us March 13 - 15th and see vendors from across US and Canada, all types of recreational equipment, hunting and fishing seminars, RV's, Boats and outfitters as well as resort and vacation information. It may not feel like spring outside, but you can start planning your summer fun at the KX Sports Show. Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for ages 6-12, kids 5 and under are free. Hours are Noon - 8pm on Friday, 10am - 7pm on Saturday and 11am to 5pm on Sunday.

Monster Trucks in the North Dakota State Fair Center

Wow! The excitement from Friday Night’s Monster Truck Show is still in the air! Four Monster Trucks raced about the All Seasons Arena in the North Dakota State Fair Center on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of this past weekend. On Friday four of the big beasts quickly turned to three when one climatic jump soon became one big flip. With names like Get Er Done, Havoc, Sheer Insanity and TNT, the drivers have just as much personality as their trucks and it shows when they jump over and crush the 4 cars lined up in the middle of the arena. At the festivities this weekend there was also a Mud Bog, a Tuff Truck Race, and Quad Races. Havoc flipped his truck in what would have been an epic jump had he landed it upright. The crowd went wild, they loved it. The announcer gave kudos to the residents of Minot for being so friendly and people in the stands sitting next to each other were grinning ear to ear. Just like all the people in the stands the drivers in the seats have real stories too, you can check some of them out on the web. Sheer Insanity and TNT are the only Canadian husband/wife team and can be found at http://www.sheerinsanity.8m.com/. Get Er Done had some pretty impressive doughnuts and some serious height to his jumps. The Tuff Trucks racing around the arena was a great time, plus some of the “Tuff Trucks” were little cars which made it quite comical. The Mud Bog was timed and virtually no one got stuck, although some audience members did get a little messy. Word on the street is that Sunday there was a minivan jumping around like a jumping jelly bean. The Outlaw Monster Truck Spectacular has been here in Minot for 7 years now and we are looking forward to an 8th year!

Mötley Crüe, Taylor Swift, Rodney Atkins, Heidi Newfield and Gary Allan will all perform at the 2009 North Dakota State Fair!

Mötley Crüe, the poster boys for eighties hair metal, will kick off the 2009 North Dakota State Fair concert lineup on Friday, July 24. Known for classic rock songs like “Girls, Girls, Girls” and “Dr. Feelgood” Mötley Crüe has recently released a new album and single both sharing the title “Saints of Los Angeles.”

Taylor Swift will kick off the 2009 country lineup at the North Dakota State Fair on Saturday, July 25. Swift’s chart topping songs include "Tim McGraw," "Our Song," "Love Story," "White Horse," and "Fifteen." Swift recently released her second album, "Fearless." Gloriana will be the opening act for the Taylor Swift concert.

Country music’s Rodney Atkins and Heidi Newfield both take to the stage on Sunday, July 26. Popular Atkins’ songs include “If You’re Going Through Hell,” “Cleaning This Gun,” “These are my People,” and his latest release “It’s America.” Heidi Newfield, who has emerged from the band Trick Pony as a solo artist, has seen success with her first single, “Johnny and June.” Additional songs on her new album, What am I Waiting For, include "Knocked Up" and "Cry, Cry."

Gary Allan will perform Thursday, July 30. Known for his hard-rockin’, no-apologies country music his most popular songs include "Songs About Rain," "Learning How to Bend," "Watching Airplanes," and his most recent release "She's so California."

More info on the final two concerts yet to come!