Best Bets: Grandstand to pop in 3 different ways

Published 9:13 am Thursday, August 10, 2017

With the Mower County Fair in full swing throughout the weekend, here are some grandstand events to consider.

Friday

Chase and Ovation – The Music of Prince

The Minneapolis-based musical act and Prince tribute band Chase and Ovation will be performing at the grandstand Friday evening.

“In the decade before his passing, Prince allowed me to travel the world and perform in tribute and in reverence to his music,” Chase said on the band’s website, chaseandovation.com. “I wake up filled with gratitude every day and give thanks in prayer for the gift of music that Prince has given to me, but more importantly for the gift that he has given to the world!”

Chase had performed with former members of Prince’s band and worked with him on the “Graffiti Bridge” film set.

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Tickets can be purchased presale for $13 at HyVee, the Fair office and online at mowercountyfair.com or for $15 at the gate.

Saturday

Great Frontier Bull Riding

The Midwest Bull Riders Association-sanctioned Great Frontier Bull Riding Company will be holding a competition at the grandstand on Saturday evening.

Visitors can watch as rookie and professional bull riders compete for a $3,000 prize.

Who can hold on the longest? You will have to attend to find out!

The competition begins at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets can be purchased for a presale price of $13 at HyVee, the Fair office and online at www.mowercountyfair.com or for $15 at the gate. Children ages 5 and younger are free.

Sunday

Masters of Disaster demolition derby

What better way to end a fair is there than with fast-paced car crashing? Masters of Disaster will put on a demolition derby at the grandstand on Sunday afternoon.

Masters of Disaster promotes demolition derbies throughout Southern Minnesota and Northern Iowa.

The derby begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased for a presale price of $13 at HyVee, the Fair office and online at www.mowercountyfair.com or for $15 at the gate. Children ages 5 and younger are free.

Aug. 11

•Defensive Driving Class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mower County Senior Center. This is the refresher course needed to earn the 10 percent discount on your car insurance premium. Cost for members is $16 and for non-members $19. For more information or to sign up, call 507-433-2370 or stop by the Senior Center front desk.

•Semcac Senior Dining Program, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at American Legion Post 91. Meals served Monday through Friday. A suggested donation of $4 for those 60 and older. Cost is $7 for those under 60. Must make reservation by 12:30 p.m. one day in advance. Today’s menu includes:

•Salisbury Steak or Liver and Onions

•Baked Potatoes

•Seasoned Peas/Celery

•Pears in Caramel Sauce

For more information or to make a reservation, call 507-459-9270.

•Rollback to the ’50’s, noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Mower County Senior Center. Come hang with the cool cats and re-visit the ‘50s, with a hot beef lunch with peas and carrots and pineapple upside down cake or cherry coke cupcakes, and entertainment by Chris Von Ark. For more information or to sign up, call 507-433-5370 or stop by the Senior Center front desk.

•Mower County Fair, at the Mower County Fairgrounds in Austin.

Aug. 12

•Family Art Studio, 1 to 3 p.m. at the Austin ArtWorks Center. Drop in as a family and get creative with materials provided. Free program for all ages. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Funded by a grant from the Austin Area Foundation. For more information, call 507-434-0934.

•Spamtown Bell Cruises, 1 to 5 p.m. at East Side Lake. Imagine days gone by as you cruise East side like on this original paddleboat. Free will donation requested. Charters available. For more information, call 507-437-4563.

•Mower County Fair, at the Mower County Fairgrounds in Austin.

Aug. 13

•Mower County Fair, at the Mower County Fairgrounds in Austin.