Every year at the Minnesota State Fair, our hosts step into the MPR Booth for a series of live broadcasts. That inspired those of us on MPR's digital music team to think: why not have a live blogcast too?

On Monday, August 31, our Internet team is spending all day at the Minnesota State Fair—from the time the gates open to the time they close—roaming across the grounds and capturing the strange magic of the Great Minnesota Get-Together in photos, stories, and videos.

We invite you to follow along with us on this post, which we'll update throughout the day—and by following us via social media (see below). Are there any Fair highlights you'd recommend we hit? Let us know in the comment section!

Here are just some of the stops we have planned:

Breakfast at a church diner.

The MPR Booth, of course, as it "wakes up" to welcome our audience.

A sing-along with Classical MPR's Tesfa Wondemagegnehu, at the MPR Booth at 9:00 a.m.

The Midway. Who has a strong enough stomach to go on rides before lunch?

The Ramberg Senior Center, where we'll be asking attendees to share some of their favorite Minnesota music memories.

The daily parade at 2:00 p.m.

Mark Wheat's live broadcast, on The Current from 3:00-7:00 p.m.

Sonny Knight, who will be performing live at the MPR Booth at 4:30 p.m.

An Arts A' Fair performance by theater artist Ifrah Mansour, at the Education Building courtyard at 5:00 p.m.

The seed art, of course; we'll see in-progress photos from one of the award-winning artists.

Ye Old Mill, celebrating its 100th anniversary.

The Giant Slide!

Hope to see you at the Fair—IRL and online!

Social media to follow

Classical MPR on Facebook
The Current on Facebook
The Current on Snapchat: thecurrentsnaps
@ClassicalMPR on Twitter
@TheCurrent on Twitter
Local Current on Facebook
@LocalCurrent on Twitter
@ClassicalMPR on Instagram
@TheCurrent on Instagram
MPR on Facebook
@MPR on Twitter
@MPRMembership on Twitter

Who's on our Internet team?

Brett Baldwin (@brettish)
Jay Gabler (@JayGabler)
Leah Garaas (@leahgaraas)
Dan Nass (@draynass)
Julia Schrenkler (@JuliaSchrenkler)
Andrea Swensson (@SlingshotAnnie)
Luke Taylor (@LukeTaylorMN)

I spoke with Linda Paulsen, a Minnesota-based seed artist who set up camp in the horticulture building at the 2015 Minnesota State Fair. On display behind her were more than a handful of works spanning her 46 year career as a seed artist, including busts of Lucille Ball and a lion with a lovely pine needle mane (some seed art competitions allow the use of plants). Paulsen started her latest work, a flower detail, this past winter. She's poured more 15 hours into the 8x8" piece so far, using northern Minnesota red, white and Japanese millet seeds, as well as canola and poppy seeds. Although Linda purchases most of seeds at grocery stores and co-ops, it's always a treat when local farmers sell her a sample of their seeds directly. – Leah Garaas