The Wisconsin State Fair held at the State Fair Park in West Allis is the classic All-American family fun of music, food, games, contests, exhibits and carnival rides. The fair runs for 11 days and 11 nights during the warm summer days of August. This year it will be held from July 31 to August 10. As soon as you draw close to the park, expect all your senses to come alive as they are greeted by colorful sights, delicious smells from the hundreds of carnival fares, the mixed sounds of excited squeals from the rides, music, animal sounds and the palpable excitement that hangs in the atmosphere... Welcome to the Wisconsin State Fair!
Everywhere you look there is something different going on. In every stall there is something different cooking and all of them look absolutely delicious!
There is just so much to do and see, and such a ridiculous number of food choices that you would be too overwhelmed to know where and how to start. We have compiled a list of the top "musts" to help you out. Before you start, make sure that you are equipped with a big appetite, zero intention of counting calories and a good sense of fun!
1. Eat Some Creampuffs
This delicious dessert is a fluffy pastry piled high with the richest cream only available during the eleven days of the fair. You can try making this at home but nothing can compare to the real thing. Do not miss this scrumptious dessert. In fact, eat some at the fair, and take a 6 pack home for later.
2. Savor Food-on-a-Stick
Absolutely no dieting allowed. You won't be able to anyway. Imagine the smell of fresh grilled Wisconsin bratwursts, meat pies, buffalo chicken wings, generously buttered corn-on-a-cob, cheese curds, Krispy Kreme cheeseburger, deep fried chocolate covered bacon.
There are hundreds of food stalls offering calorie-laden, decadence slathered, fried and deep-fried, battered, skewered, dunked in rich chocolate and everything else indulgent and delicious. With all the food choices available, you can eat all your meals and snacks there for the whole duration of the event and you still won't be able to taste everything.
What you absolutely should not miss are the "on-the-stick" creations. From vegetables and fruit stuck-on-a-stick, battered, dipped in chocolate, frozen or deep fried to oodles of delicious calorie rich perfection to cheese steak on-a-stick and spaghetti and meatballs on-a-stick. For the more adventurous foodies, enjoy exotic creations like seahorses-on-a-stick and scorpions-on-a-stick! There are so many varieties!
3. Play with the Animals
What is the Wisconsin State Fair without their farm animals? Incomplete, that's what. Play with the animals in the Birthing Barn, enjoy horsing around with the pigs or simply pet the farm animals. Every year is different but you can always expect Wisconsin's best and cutest animals to be present in the Big Backyard, witness live births at the Birthing Barn or the adorable little pigs in the famous Pig Race.
4. Try the Local Beer
Don't miss the beer when attending the Wisconsin State Fair. That is, if you're of age. Wisconsin is famous for its beer and local breweries; even their baseball team pays homage to the brew: Milwaukee Brewers. There is even the annual Wisconsin State Fair grilling competition, "Grilling with Beer". Have a cold one as you enjoy all the many attractions of the fair.
5. Go on the Giant Slide.
It's way past big. It's enormous. No, It's Ginormous! How big? Well... It is 150 feet long, 50 feet high and 30 feet wide!
That's how the Giant Slide is described on their website. Every year at the Wisconsin State Fair expect this larger than life kid and kid-at-heart magnet to be ever present. Don't miss this funfair ride! Not only one of the most enjoyable rides in the fair, but also the cheapest.
6. Compete in Some Contests
Participate in the various contests for fairgoers. One such contest is the "Moo-la-Palooza". It is a, you guessed it, a "mooing" contest. There's also the "Creampuff eating contest" and various cooking contests among many others.
Don't miss the famous Celebrity Creampuff Contest. Famous personalities fight for the most coveted traveling trophy by racing to consume a giant face full of delicious cream puff baked to perfection.
You can check the Wisconsin State Fair Website for more information.
7. View the Exhibits
There is so much to see! There is the agricultural exhibit of animal by-products including items from dairy products to high grade steel from hooves and exhibits from organizations such as the Small Scale Animal Rescue and Department of Natural Resources.
8. Take Some Fairground Rides
The young and the young at heart should not miss getting on the thrilling rides at the fair. Enjoy carnival rides by the Murphy Brothers Exposition such as Double Shock, Spin Out, Kamikaze, Rainbow Valley's Freak Out, Super Loops, Yo-Yo, and Sizzler.
All around the fairgrounds, excited squeals of delight, laughs, screams and at times certain expletives used by people on the Ejection Seat can be heard live from the built-in audio system of this catapult ride. You can even ride a helicopter or sky ride over the fairgrounds with the SkyGlider.
If you are a big fan of amusement rides, enjoy the "Ride-All-Day" wristband vouchers. Just make sure you don't go on a full stomach!
9. Shop and Enjoy the Free Samples
If you are going to ask "what shopping items are available at the Wisconsin State Fair?", the better question would be "What can't you buy at the Wisconsin State Fair?"
The shopping choices are endless. Anything and almost everything you can think of: clothes, jewelry, food items, household gadgets, pet supplies, decorations, novelty items, toys, sports gear, and many, many more.
If you don't want to spend your hard-earned cash, enjoy the countless free samples as well as checking out all the items on display; both of which are just as fun! Information booklets given out in the Fair entrance provides information on where to sample what.
10. View a Performance
Revel at magicians and other entertainers. Listen, sing along and dance with the live performances every evening. Concerts are held in the Grandstand Main Stage and all around the fairgrounds in smaller stages and pavilions. Here is the list of the bands and shows that are performing this year:
- July 31 - Phil Vassar with Maggie Rose
- August 1 - Rain: A Tribute to The Beatles
- August 2 - Zendaya with Trevor Jackson
- August 3 - The Turtles
- August 4 - MercyMe with Hillsong Young and Free
- August 5 - Aretha Franklin
- August 6 - Peter Frampton with Survivor
- August 7 - Summerland Tour 2014
- August 8 - 311
- August 9 - Lady Antebellum with Kristian Bush of Sugarland
- August 10 - Alabama
Each show on the Main Stage requires its own ticket. Not to worry, though. There are 30 other stages around the fairgrounds; there you can watch many of Wisconsin's talented local bands and artists for free.
One of the world's biggest fairs, The Wisconsin State Fair offers something to enjoy for every member of the family. You can purchase your tickets at the Wisconsin State fair's official website and book your accommodations at the Wisconsin State Fair RV Park. Also check out these ways to save money at the Wisconsin State Fair.
Campgrounds and RV Parks
Wisconsin State Fair has its own RV park with 102 sites, 70 full hookups and 32 Electric Only. It has laundry facilities, showers and restrooms. There are also many campgrounds and RV parks near Wisconsin State Fair.
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