Purdue News
Purdue News
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June 13, 2003 Garrison Keillor to perform during Purdue Day at the State FairWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Radio personality Garrison Keillor will leave his fictional town of Lake Wobegon to take center stage at the Marsh Grandstand at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 13, during Purdue Day at the Indiana State Fair. Prior to Keillor's performance, university representatives and distinguished alumni will take part in several events throughout the day, including Boilermaker Special train rides and live performances by Purdue Musical Organizations. Guests will have the opportunity to visit more than 50 tents on Main Street with interactive Purdue booths and displays that showcase the university's schools, departments and achievements. All other Purdue Day events are free with admission to the State Fair. "Purdue Day is a great way for us to travel to a central location where we can visit with our old friends and make new ones," said Murray Blackwelder, senior vice president for advancement. "Our visit to the State Fair also is part of a larger, statewide initiative in which it is our goal to travel to cities and towns across Indiana to bring our university to Hoosier citizens." This is the second universitywide Purdue Day at the State Fair. Last year Purdue Day featured 40 booths and visits by notable Purdue alumni, including astronaut Jerry Ross and football legend Leroy Keyes, who signed autographs for guests. Keillor's performance of "A Prairie Home Companion: The Rhubarb Tour" will not be broadcast, but it will offer the traditional cast of characters heard regularly on the nationally syndicated radio broadcast, including The Guy All-Star Shoe Band. Keillor has been on air since 1974, and his show reaches nearly 4 million listeners on more than 500 public radio stations each week. For his popular broadcasts, Keillor has earned a Grammy Award, two cable television awards, an ACE Award, a Peabody Award and is unofficially declared "America's finest storyteller." Through special arrangements with the Indiana State Fair, Purdue will offer seating in the lower grandstands – part of a package that will include a hog roast dinner before the Keillor show and fair admission. Tickets for this package are available for $45 per person and go on sale Tuesday (6/17) by phone at the Purdue Box Office (765) 494-3933, (800) 914-SHOW; or online through the Purdue Alumni Association. The hog roast is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. on the north side of the fairgrounds, close to Gate 12 at the 42nd Street entrance. Those interested only in tickets for the show can call the Indiana State Fair box office at (317) 927-1482, Ticketmaster at (317) 239-5151 or order online. Tickets for the Keillor performance are $30 and $25 and include admission to the fair. Wednesday, Aug. 13 • 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Purdue booths and activities. • 5 p.m. Pep rally on the Purdue Stage on Main Street. • 5:30-7 p.m. Hog roast dinner. • 7:30 p.m. Garrison Keillor at the Marsh Grandstand.
Writer: Jesica Webb, (765) 494-2079, jwebb@purdue.edu Sources: Dana Neary, Ag Alumni communications, (765) 494-9113 Donya Lester, Purdue Ag Alumni Association, (765) 494-8593; lesterd@purdue.edu April Headdy, assistant director in the office of special events, (765) 496-2160, aheaddy@purdue.edu Related Web sites:
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