Young people of all ages will have access to an all-new, re-imagined destination at MontanaFair that was designed especially for them to explore, discover and connect with art and handmade crafts. It is called the Explorium.

The main arena exhibit hall has been transformed into a must-stop station for young people to learn new things as well as participate in Lego building and contests, according to Jamie Porter, who is in charge of grounds entertainment for MontanaFair.

A Six-spot Burnet moth
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Creative Critters will accept entries in all three age groups by making a sculpture of their favorite insect using items of their choice. My Book Buddy brings out the creative side of kids as they make a costume for their favorite plush toy to make it look like their favorite character in a book, according to Porter. They include the book with their plush animal for judging. Both the toy and the book will be returned to the kids at the end of MontanaFair.

But let's get real. There are few things better than mouth-watering fair food, including everything from cotton candy and corn dogs to funnel cakes and caramel apples. So it stands to reason there would be something fair food-related in the Explorium. "Fair Foodies" is for kids to choose their favorite fair food and make a sculpture of it.

Funnel cake
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Fair food
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But do not forget the technical side. The Kid’s Cell Phone Photo Contest will allow children to enter a photo of their favorite experience at the fair and have it displayed for judging until the last day of the fair while the Kid’s Creative Writing divisions will let children enter a short story or poem in the competition, according to Porter.

Cell phone contest
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The big attraction is the Lego Extravaganza, Porter said. The Lego division will include a Lego Build Competition for exhibits built before the fair while the The Lego Extravaganza will have contests during the fair for age groups 10 and under, 11 and over, and a Family/Team Build division. It will conclude with the Tournament of Champions Lego Contest on the final day of the fair, Saturday, Aug. 15. Bricks and Minifigs will display some of the largest Lego build models and conduct MontanaFair’s first Lego Derby.

Lego building
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The deadline for registration is Aug. 1 by 5 p.m. Entries can be delivered Aug. 3-5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to the Explorium, located in the lower level of Rimrock Auto Arena. This deadline does not apply to the live contests happening during the fair.

Information on entering the competition and contests can be found at www.montanafair.com.

MontanaFair runs Aug. 7-15.

 

 

 

 

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