An eating contest featuring Rapidan Dam Store pies is one of several activities slated Thursday through Sunday at the Blue Earth County Fair in Garden City.
A limited number of pie-eating participants will be chosen for the contest 2 p.m. Friday near the entertainment stage. Fairgoers who want to compete should sign up at the fair office on Friday before the start of the contest.
The fair’s evening grandstand events include bull-riding competitions Thursday, a demolition derby Friday and compact car races Saturday. ATV, UTV and motorcycle barrel races begin 1 p.m. Sunday.
For a full list of fair events, go to: blueearthcountyfair.org.
MSU to host outdoor movie
A science fiction movie will be shown outdoors 9 p.m. Thursday in the amphitheater on the campus of Minnesota State University.
The free screening of “Interstellar” is open to the public.
The 2014 drama stars Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Bill Irwin, Ellen Burstyn, Michael Caine and Matt Damon. The film is rated PG-13.
Audience members may bring blankets, pillows and lawn chairs to the amphitheater between Centennial Student Union and Memorial Library.
Popcorn, candy and beverages will be available for purchase. Free parking will be available on campus in Gold Lot 11.
The movie’s showing will be moved to Friday evening if the weather is inclement Thursday evening.
Blues on Belgrade set for Saturday
Local and national bands will perform blues music from 2-11 p.m. Saturday on the 200 block of Belgrade Avenue.
The 14th annual free festival is sponsored by North Mankato’s Business on Belgrade group.
Food and craft vendors will be on site.
Blues on Belgrade’s band lineup features the Pat McLaughlin Band, City Mouse, the Jake Labotz Band, Howard “Guitar” Luedtke and Blue Max, the Matt Fuller Band and Albert Castiglia.
For more information, go to: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054284959304.
Cookbook author to speak at book festival
Award-winning and best-selling cookbook author Beth Dooley will judge apple recipes as well as speak at the ninth edition of the Deep Valley Book Festival Oct. 5 in Mankato.
The free festival slated 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Country Inn and Suites conference center, 1900 Premier Drive.
Dooley is the author of several books, including “The Perennial Kitchen.” She also writes for the Taste section of the Minneapolis Star Tribune and appears regularly on KARE 11 television and Minnesota Public Radio.
Festival organizers will randomly select 10 apple dessert recipes to be judged by Dooley. The top three will win prizes.
To enter the competition and for contest rules, go to: deepvalleybookfestival.com/apple-recipe-contest. Aug. 15 is the deadline to enter.
During the festival, attendees will have opportunities to mingle with more than 60 authors and publishers representing several genres of writing. To see a lineup of authors, for festival updates and to donate to the festival, go to: deepvalleybookfestival.com.