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Visit the Minnesota Public Radio booth on the corner of Judson & Nelson at the Minnesota State Fair to meet your favorite host, see an important interview, ask an on-air question, or just relax and digest to the sounds of live or recorded music. Join us Friday, August 31 for MPR Day in Carousel Park for even more live broadcasts and events.
Live Broadcast and Event Listings
Local artist Peter Haakon Thompson is your guide through the State Fair landscape. Through his auto-ethnographic tour, you'll hit all the great stops, and learn the difference between a pronto pup and a corn dog.
Take the tour >>
From its start in 1967 right up to today, Minnesota Public Radio would not exist without community support. We want to bring that message to you at the fair, too. We'll have membership specialists at our booth to tell you about all the benefits of signing up—which you can do right at the booth!
Support MPR >>
Find your favorite mugs, books and CDs at our State Fair booth—all purchases go towards supporting Minnesota Public Radio.Pretty Good Deals >>
live broadcast and event listings
At the Booth [Show me]
- 11 am–1 pm
Midday 11 am hour features guest meteorologist Mark Seeley. The noon hour will feature former Governor's Wendell Anderson and Arne Carlson.
- 3–7 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mary Lucia. Mary's guest is Chris Osgood from the Suicide Commandos.
- 7–10 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mark Wheat
At the Booth [Show me]
- 6–9 am
The Morning Show live broadcast with guests Ann Reed, Charlie Parr, and Storyhill. Also featuring the perennial "Where's Eric?" game
- 3–7 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mary Lucia. Mary's guest is Taleb Kweli. He'll be live with her onstage around 4:00 pm.
- 7–10 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mark Wheat
At the Booth [Show me]
- 10 am–noon
Classical MPR live broadcast with Alison Young. Guests include Vocalessence and conductor Philip Brunelle; Guthrie Theater artistic director Joe Dowling; flutist Linda Chatterton; trumpeter Marty Hodel and friends.
- 3–7 pm
The Current live broadcast with Bill DeVille
- 7–11 pm
Radio Free Current live broadcast with Jill Riley
At the Booth [Show me]
1 pm
- The Noisy Hour with host Nanci Olesen and the Brass Messengers
A boisterous family hour hosted by "How's the Family's" Nanci Olesen. Olesen's brought together the noisiest people she knows in the "outdoor arts" on the stage at the MPR booth. Featured guests include the Brass Messengers, juggler and fire-eater Sean Emery, spoken-word artist Sha Cage, hula-hoopist Aerial Emery, and more... Bring the family!
3–7 pm
- The Current live broadcast with Barb Abney
7–10 pm
- The Current live broadcast with Danny Sigelman
At the Booth [Show me]
- 1 pm
Spider John Koerner and Tony Glover live performance
- 3–7 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mary Lucia
- 7–10 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mark Wheat
At the Booth [Show me]
- 9–11 am
Midmorning live broadcast. MPR meteorologist Paul Huttner will be Kerri Miller's guest in the 9 a.m. hour. Paul talks about Minnesota's strange mix of weather and why we've dodged tornados this year. 10 am guests are The Current DJs, Mark Wheat and Bill DeVille.
- 1 pm
Maria Isa Live Performance Born to Newyorican parents and raised on St. Paul's west side, Maria Isa is a rising reggaeton sensation. Growing up around the sounds of classic salsa, jazz, soul r&b, and experiencing the sounds of hip-hop through each genre of music, Isa has been hitting up the local twin cities hip-hop community with the hip-hop group Many Styles.
- 3–7 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mary Lucia
- 7–10 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mark Wheat
At the Booth [Show me]
- 1–2:45 pm
Classical MPR live broadcast with Julie Amacher who will be joined by The Minnesota Opera's artistic director, Dale Johnson and humorist Kevin Kling.
- 3–7 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mary Lucia
- 7–10 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mark Wheat
At the Booth [Show me]
- 1–2:30 pm
Romantica live performance
- 3–7 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mary Lucia. Guests: members of Electric Arc Radio
- 7–10 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mark Wheat
At Carousel Park [Show me]
- 11 am
Midday live broadcast with Senator Amy Klobuchar
- Noon
Midday live broadcast with guest Garrison Keillor
- 2 pm
The Minnesota Opera live performance with Mindy Ratner
- 4 pm
Walker Kong live performance
At the Booth [Show me]
- 3–7 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mary Lucia
- 7–10 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mark Wheat
At the Grandstand [Show me]
- 8 pm
A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor live performance, with guests Patty Griffin, Jearlyn Steele and the Hornheads. (Ticket Information)
At the Booth [Show me]
- 1 pm
The Current Hootenanny™
with a live performance from Chooglin'.
- 3–7 pm
The Current live broadcast with Tony Lopez
- 7–11 pm
Radio Free Current live broadcast with Jill Riley
At the Booth [Show me]
- 1 pm
The Morning Show's Dale Connelly exploring Funny Little Songs with musical guests Adam Granger and Scott Yoho, of the band Auto Body Experience.
- 3–7 pm
The Current live broadcast with Steve Seel
- 7–10 pm
The Current live broadcast with Brandt Williams
At the Booth [Show me]
- 11 am–1 pm
Midday live broadcast with sports commentator Howard Sinker and Summer Movies with Stephanie Curtis, MPR's Movie Maven.
- 3–7 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mark Wheat
At the Booth [Show me]
- 11 am–1 pm
Midday 11 am hour features guest meteorologist Mark Seeley. The noon hour will feature former Governor's Wendell Anderson and Arne Carlson. - 3–7 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mary Lucia. Mary's guest is Chris Osgood from the Suicide Commandos. - 7–10 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mark Wheat
At the Booth [Show me]
- 6–9 am
The Morning Show live broadcast with guests Ann Reed, Charlie Parr, and Storyhill. Also featuring the perennial "Where's Eric?" game - 3–7 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mary Lucia. Mary's guest is Taleb Kweli. He'll be live with her onstage around 4:00 pm. - 7–10 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mark Wheat
At the Booth [Show me]
- 10 am–noon
Classical MPR live broadcast with Alison Young. Guests include Vocalessence and conductor Philip Brunelle; Guthrie Theater artistic director Joe Dowling; flutist Linda Chatterton; trumpeter Marty Hodel and friends. - 3–7 pm
The Current live broadcast with Bill DeVille - 7–11 pm
Radio Free Current live broadcast with Jill Riley
At the Booth [Show me]
- 1 pm
- The Noisy Hour with host Nanci Olesen and the Brass Messengers
A boisterous family hour hosted by "How's the Family's" Nanci Olesen. Olesen's brought together the noisiest people she knows in the "outdoor arts" on the stage at the MPR booth. Featured guests include the Brass Messengers, juggler and fire-eater Sean Emery, spoken-word artist Sha Cage, hula-hoopist Aerial Emery, and more... Bring the family!
3–7 pm - The Current live broadcast with Barb Abney 7–10 pm
- The Current live broadcast with Danny Sigelman
At the Booth [Show me]
- 1 pm
Spider John Koerner and Tony Glover live performance - 3–7 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mary Lucia - 7–10 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mark Wheat
At the Booth [Show me]
- 9–11 am
Midmorning live broadcast. MPR meteorologist Paul Huttner will be Kerri Miller's guest in the 9 a.m. hour. Paul talks about Minnesota's strange mix of weather and why we've dodged tornados this year. 10 am guests are The Current DJs, Mark Wheat and Bill DeVille. - 1 pm
Maria Isa Live Performance Born to Newyorican parents and raised on St. Paul's west side, Maria Isa is a rising reggaeton sensation. Growing up around the sounds of classic salsa, jazz, soul r&b, and experiencing the sounds of hip-hop through each genre of music, Isa has been hitting up the local twin cities hip-hop community with the hip-hop group Many Styles. - 3–7 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mary Lucia - 7–10 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mark Wheat
At the Booth [Show me]
- 1–2:45 pm
Classical MPR live broadcast with Julie Amacher who will be joined by The Minnesota Opera's artistic director, Dale Johnson and humorist Kevin Kling. - 3–7 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mary Lucia - 7–10 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mark Wheat
At the Booth [Show me]
- 1–2:30 pm
Romantica live performance - 3–7 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mary Lucia. Guests: members of Electric Arc Radio - 7–10 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mark Wheat
At Carousel Park [Show me]
- 11 am
Midday live broadcast with Senator Amy Klobuchar - Noon
Midday live broadcast with guest Garrison Keillor - 2 pm
The Minnesota Opera live performance with Mindy Ratner - 4 pm
Walker Kong live performance
At the Booth [Show me]
- 3–7 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mary Lucia - 7–10 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mark Wheat
At the Grandstand [Show me]
- 8 pm
A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor live performance, with guests Patty Griffin, Jearlyn Steele and the Hornheads. (Ticket Information)
At the Booth [Show me]
- 1 pm
The Current Hootenanny™
with a live performance from Chooglin'. - 3–7 pm
The Current live broadcast with Tony Lopez - 7–11 pm
Radio Free Current live broadcast with Jill Riley
At the Booth [Show me]
- 1 pm
The Morning Show's Dale Connelly exploring Funny Little Songs with musical guests Adam Granger and Scott Yoho, of the band Auto Body Experience. - 3–7 pm
The Current live broadcast with Steve Seel - 7–10 pm
The Current live broadcast with Brandt Williams
At the Booth [Show me]
- 11 am–1 pm
Midday live broadcast with sports commentator Howard Sinker and Summer Movies with Stephanie Curtis, MPR's Movie Maven. - 3–7 pm
The Current live broadcast with Mark Wheat
MPR at the State Fair Sponsors
 | UCare Minnesota |
 | MacPhail Center for Music |
 | Zimmermann Reed |
 | League of Women Voters |
 | The Bibelot Shops |
 | Menopause the Musical |
| Renewal by Andersen | |
| Spanish Institute | |
| Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus | |
| Whole Foods Market | |
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