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If you’re visiting the Minnesota State Fair, be sure to plan time for a stop at the Minnesota AFL-CIO Labor’s Pavilion.
Open each day of the fair from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., the Labor Pavilion is located at the corner of Dan Patch and Cooper (two blocks west of the fair’s Snelling Ave. entrance gate).
Stop by to chat with members of Minnesota unions, win prizes, watch demonstrations by skilled craftworkers, and listen to live music performed by union musicians.
Participating unions will be staffing information kiosks. They’ll provide information about union jobs and training. They’ll also be engaging visiting union members and the public on issues of current concern.
In recent years, the free live music offered at the Labor Pavilion has become an attraction. “Through the years, the program has grown 10 times,” said the Twin Cities Musicans Union’s Clare Zupetz, who coordinates the music schedule. “Our goal is to draw people in so we can educate them about the labor movement.” This year, in addition to union musicians, the music schedule also will showcase young musicians.
The 2018 Minnesota State Fair will run from Thursday, August 23 through Labor Day, Monday, September 3.
For more information about the fair, visit mnstatefair.org.
See below for a preliminary schedule for the Labor Pavilion. For updates, visit mnaflcio.org.
Monday, August 27
Host: Randy Schmelling.
Special program: AFL-CIO Community Services/United Way volunteer
project, all day.
Music: Dolce Wind Quintet, 10:00 a.m.; Minnesota Twins organist Sue Nelson with Trevor Haining, 1:00 p.m.; Echoes of Elvis, 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, August 28
Host: Randy Schmelling.
Music: “Professor Piano” Jim Shannon, 10:00 a.m.; Veterans Chorus with Charlie Maguire, 11:00 a.m.; Maryann & the Money Makers, 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, August 29
Host: Brad Beahen.
Special program: IBEW pipe bending demo, 11:00 a.m.
Music: Big Bob Scoggin, 10:00 a.m. and 12 noon; Raymond Berg, 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, August 30
Host: Barry ZeVan.
Music: Explosion Big Band, 5:00 p.m.
Friday, August 31
Host: Randy Schmelling.
Music: Paul Metsa & Friends, 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 1
Host: Ann Michels.
Music: Joey Phillips Band, 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 2
Host: Erin Schwab.
Music: Debbie Schwier & Tom Owens, 1:30 p.m.; Scott Dercks & Dorothy Doring, 5:00 p.m.
Monday, September 3
Host: Paul Coate.
Music: Cornbread Harris, 10:00 a.m.; Twin Cities Labor Chorus, 12 noon;
Below Zero, youth jazz combo from MacPhail Center for Music, 1:00-3:00 p.m.