Children have plenty of things to do every day at the Central States Fair, but today and Monday are special Children's Days when kids can build ice cream sundaes, play games and get their hair spray-painted wild colors.

Children's Day activities begin at 1 p.m. today and Monday with the Ice Cream Creation Contest in the Army National Guard tent in the Kiddie Land area in the northwest corner of the fairgrounds.

There is no age limit for the contest, according to Children's Days coordinator Dominique Olson of Rapid City. Schwan's supplies all the ice cream for the contest.

From 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. today and Monday, there are a host of kids' games and activities including a sucker pull, a duck pond, deep sea fishing, a bubble factory, a cookie toss, face painting and tattoos.

Kids also can get "wild" hair and nails, Olson said. "They have all these neon colors to spray," she said. "It's a huge hit with the kids. Even some adults do it with their kids."

The kids' activities cost 50 cents each or three for a dollar. But Olson said no child is turned away for lack of money. And every child wins something, she said.

Although aimed at kids, there are no age restrictions on any of the events, Olson said.

"The kids have a blast. We go from when it starts until we're done," she said.

Besides Schwan's, other sponsors include Eileen's Colossal Cookies, the Heart Doctors, Family Thrift Centers, the Sleep Docs at Black Hills Neurology, and Whiting Hagg Hagg Dorsey & Hagg.

In addition to Children's Days, kids have a variety of activities to choose from at the fair, including a Hannah Montana and Jonas Brothers Sing-Along, which ends today at 3 p.m.; a new playground area; a petting zoo; a jumping castle; free entertainment every day at the Knology Stage; and appearances every day by Miss Bows the Clown.

The Central States Fair general manager calls Miss Bows the roving ambassador for Kiddie Land.

Miss Bows, aka Holly Kennedy, has Miss Bows' Bubbles every day at 4 p.m. "I have teams that are coming in to blow the bubbles and little kids see how many they can pop," Miss Bows said.

At 2 p.m. each day, there is a cash scramble for kids 6 years old and younger.

Although the fair has featured Kiddie Land for years, there are more activities this year, said Miss Bows, as she blew up and tied balloons for a knot of children surrounding her on Friday.

"There are just a lot of things to do over here," she said.

Indeed, a few feet away, several kids jumped up and down in the Pepsi Jumping Castle.

Nearby, a series of young girls climbed up on the Knology stage and sang along with Hannah Montana songs.

Several winners are picked each day.

On Friday, Reyna Lester, 10, of Sturgis took first place and a Hannah Montana T-shirt. She sang "Party in the USA" and "The Climb."

Miss Bows also pointed out that the petting zoo, staffed by West River FFA members, has all new animals this year.

At the north end of Kiddie Land, a handful of kids scrambled on the playground equipment set up by Playland Rainbow Play Systems. The playground area includes climbing equipment, swings and slides, all for sale by Playland Rainbow Play Systems.

The Knology Stage has free entertainment all week, including comedic hypnotist Michael Mezmer, magician Keith Raymond, the Lonely Rangers and John Shaffer's Harmonica Visions.

Kiddie Land also has a seating area, with some shade, in front of the Knology Stage.

"Parents can sit down and take it easy and know their kids are safe," Miss Bows said.

And this year, there is a Pepsi concession booth where folks can buy refreshments.

There are activities for older youths, too, including the Youth Division of the South Dakota Championship Rock, Paper, Scissors contest, at 3 p.m. Monday through Friday with the finals on Saturday, Aug. 29.

See the schedule for the entire Central States Fair schedule at www.centralstatesfair.com/schedule