By Evelyn Seffinga

newsroom@austindailyherald.com

The 134th Freeborn County Fair is slated to add a little variety to this year’s festivities.

Besides the headliners filling the grandstand each night of the fair, the best six days of summer will be filled with new entertaining guests.

Appearing throughout the fairgrounds, Alfy’s “World of Robotic Puppets” will roam about in a “show stopping, jaw dropping, eye popping” spectacle Tuesday and Wednesday.

Attendees of the fair can expect to see a “life-size” talking horse named Harold driving around the grounds, as well as other animals and characters.

The robots are four feet tall and described as “audio-animatronic type puppets.”

Also new to the fair this year will be a one-man act by the name of Don B.

Don B. is a professional “goofball,” who mixes comedy acts with unicycles, juggling and the art of illusion. Attendees fair should look for his silly act from 3 to 4:30 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday near the Kids Zone. Don B. may also be strolling about the grounds on those two days.

These two new additions to the fair are sponsored by Wells Federal Saving, Wells Insurance and Albert Lea Seed House.

Other attractions slated to entertain guests are the Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Zoo, the second annual dachshund/weiner dog dash races, the juggling Budabi Brothers and the Swifty Swine swimming and racing pig show.

This year’s Kid’s Zone in the pavilion will be filled with all-day fun, including two bouncy, inflatable jumpers, mini golf, a scavenger hunt and coloring contest each day, face painting, a pedal pull and daily prize drawings.

The Kid Zone is sponsored by the Freeborn County Corn Growers, Ag Cab, Poet and REG.

Catch a ride with Smart Transit on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of next week in order to eat lunch at the fair without paying admission.

Pick up times are 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., noon, and 12:30 p.m. at either the parking lot across from Wells Fargo, St. Mary’s Street by the clinic, the Department of Human Services or Northbridge Mall.

Departure times from the fairgrounds are 11:45 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 12:45 p.m. and 1:15 p.m. To catch a return ride, meet by the 4-H building.

There is no cost for the transit service but participants must sign in both ways and must leave on the bus from the fair—those having lunch at the fair cannot stay at the fair without paying admission.