COURTESY OF HAWAII STATE FARM FAIR Hmmm ... should we eat some worms? A couple of farm fair attendees hesitate over tasting the mealworm cookies.

Puppets and ... worms?

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Star-Bulletin staff

The Hawaii State Farm Fair continues this week with puppet shows by Christy Lipps and the opportunity to taste tilapia and a mealworm cookie or two.

Take the Tilapia Challenge, a blind taste test of farm-raised tilapia vs. the popular mahimahi between noon and 5 p.m. Saturday.

Then from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, look out for the "World of Bugs," in which you can sample mealworm cookies that entomology graduate student Darcy Oishi says have a nutty flavor, watch maggots dipped in water-soluble paint create art (no maggots are harmed in the process), see displays of scorpions, spiders, and the rare and beautiful koa bug. (See the Thursday issue at www.starbulletin.com for the full story on maggot art.)

Just as last week, check out the country market, Hawaii-grown produce and plant sales at the Hawaii Agricultural Experience and visit the Learning Center for demonstrations and various activities.

State Farm Fair Where: Aloha Stadium When: 6 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Aug. 1, and noon to midnight Saturdays and Sundays through Aug. 4 Admission: $3 adults; $1.50 children 5 to 12; free for under 5. Parking is $3 per vehicle at Aloha Stadium

THE SCHEDULE

Today

Free rose from Watanabe Floral to first 500 ladies
6:30 p.m. -- Propagation of Native Plants: Amy Tsuneyoshi, Board of Water Supply
7 p.m. -- Roy Sakuma's Ukulele Super Keiki perform
7, 8 and 9 p.m. -- Hambone Express shows
7:30 p.m. -- Mr. Van Ray in concert
7:30 and 8:30 p.m. -- Puppet Time Show with Christy Lipps; in Annex
8 p.m. -- Saimin-eating contest
8 p.m. -- Water Lilies for Tubs and Ponds: Kevin Mulkern, Mulkern Landscaping
9 p.m. -- TOA in concert

Saturday

Unlimited rides from noon to 6 p.m. with $15 wristband; free 5-pound bag of Diamond G rice to first 500 families
Noon to 5 p.m. -- The Tilapia Challenge: DOA, Aquaculture Development Program
1:30 to 4:30 p.m. -- Island Rhythm's Pau Hana Party and Amateur Hula Competition with entertainment and contests
3, 5 and 7 p.m. -- Puppet Time Show with Christy Lipps; in Annex
4, 6, 8 and 10 p.m. -- Hambone Express shows
6:30 p.m. -- Flower arranging with Jerry Rivera and Pat Lagon
7 p.m. -- Pali performs
7:30 p.m. -- B.E.T. in concert
8 p.m. -- Watermelon-eating concert
8 p.m. -- Flower arranging with Jerry Rivera and Pat Lagon
8:30 p.m. -- Kanalo performs
9 p.m. -- Vaihi in concert

Sunday

Admission is 50 cents from noon to 6 p.m. if you bring one empty Pepsi can; most rides available for two or three coupons from noon to 6 p.m.
Noon to 5 p.m. -- Keiki Experiences -- World of Bugs: University of Hawaii Entomology Department
1 to 3 p.m. -- FM-100 All-Hawaii Baby Crawl
3, 5 and 7 p.m. -- Puppet Time Show with Christy Lipps; in Annex
4, 6, 8 and 10 p.m. -- Hambone Express shows
5 to 7 p.m. -- KINE keiki ukulele contest, featuring Kapena
6:30 p.m. -- Basic Anthurium Culture: Hands-on demonstration with Richard Okubo, Hawaiian Anthurium Society
7 p.m. -- Koa Uka performs
7:30 p.m. -- Augie T on Stage
8 p.m. -- Hot dog-eating contest
8 p.m. -- General Bromeliad Culture: Hands-on demonstration with Marty Lum, Hawaii Bromeliad Society
8:30 p.m. -- Ho'okena in concert

Aug. 1

Unlimited rides all night with $15 wristband; bring your military ID and get free admission for up to four people
6:30 p.m. -- Haku Lei Making: Hands-on workshop with Joyce Spoehr, Honolulu Botanical Gardens
7 and 9 p.m. -- "Get Hyp Show" featuring hypnotist De'Anna
7, 8 and 9 p.m. -- Hambone Express shows
7:30 p.m. -- Sunshine Generation performs
8 p.m. -- Neem Trees: Hank Liljrdahl, Neem Trees of Hawaii
8:30 p.m. -- 25th Infantry Division Band in concert

Aug. 2

6:30 p.m. -- Hawaiian-Style Money Folding (bring your own dollar bills): Jodi Fukumoto, author of "Hawaiian-Style Money Folds"
7 p.m. -- Kaala Boys perform
7 and 9 p.m. -- "Get Hyp Show" featuring hypnotist De'Anna
7, 8 and 9 p.m. -- Hambone Express shows
8 p.m. -- Andagi-eating contest
8 p.m. -- Vegetable Growing in Containers: Hands-on demonstration with Mark Takemoto, Dole Plantation
8:30 p.m. -- Hawaiian Time

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