Moo-ve over, summer, the Wisconsin State Fair is back, and ready for 11 days of fair play! Taking place July 31- August 10 this year, this annual summer fair is a staple and a tradition that brings together some of the state’s most impressive agricultural products in a carnival atmosphere. It’s headlined by national artists, food that contains a day’s worth of calories (fried and on a stick), and the sheer spectacle of the racing pigs. With so much to see, do, oink and moo, here are our picks for this year’s fair!

Wisconsin State Fair - Rides & Amusements

Fair Eats

The Wisconsin State Fair is where culinary creativity pushes the line between the innovative and the absurd, with one-of-a-kind creations that you’ll only find here. These are a few can’t-miss bites this year.

Cream Puff Turns 100

Classics

The staples, the icons, the institutions that are known by even the most casual fair fanatics as a must-do, no matter if you’re a foodie or not, you’ll want to savor these long-running fair fixtures.

 

Cream Puff

The new Dairy Building is now open, and that means more at the Wisconsin State Fair. More delicious Cream Puffs, more flavors, more chances to indulge in this classic fair food. This year, thanks to the expanded bakery space, the fair is offering not only the Original Cream Puff flavor but also chocolate and Celebration Strawberry Cream Puffs. Stop by and get your fix of sweet, fluffy decadence, served between slices of airy pastry bread.

 

Cheese Curds

You’ll find no shortage of these delicious nuggets throughout the Wisconsin State Fair grounds, with both fresh and fried versions of the local delicacy available throughout. But you’ll find some of the best at Brady & Harry’s Cheese Curds. They serve one thing and one thing only: delicious, golden-brown curds, both original and dill pickle flavored.

Wisconsin State Fair - Shopping & Browsing

Sporkies and Drinkies Picks

The annual recognition of the most inventive, forward-thinking and downright weird dishes offers some of the most unconventional pairings you’ll find. Some are instant classics, others are dishes we dare you to try. Here are our picks.

Two sausage tacos served in a compostable takeout container, each featuring a grilled bratwurst wrapped in a folded mini pancake and topped with a generous layer of chocolate chili. A “Sporkies” Wisconsin State Fair Food Competition logo appears in the bottom left corner.

Blueberry Breakfast Bratwurst

It’s the most important meal of the day: bratfast. Fuel up for your Wisconsin State Fair adventure with the breakfast of champions, a blueberry-infused brat, slathered with house-made bourbon bacon jam and wrapped up in a flapjack. It’s savory. It’s sweet. Whether it’s breakfast or dessert, it’s a real treat. Find it at the Milwaukee Brat House stall in the Wisconsin Products Pavilion.

A tray of six golden-brown fried dumplings drizzled with red sauce and garnished with chopped herbs, served with a cup of dipping sauce on the side. A silver ribbon with the number 2 indicates second place in the Wisconsin State Fair’s Sporkies Food Competition, marked by the Sporkies logo in the bottom left corner.

Brat Rangoon

International intrigue is the name of the game in this dish. The result? Asian-German-Wisconsin fusion, a curious mix of cultures that created the one, the only, brat Rangoon. The crispy bites are filled with cream cheese, green onion, melted cheese, and, you guessed it, bratwurst, deep-fried and drizzled with house-made sweet and sour sauce. You can find this international flavor at WürstBar.

A paper tray filled with sweet potato fries drizzled with marshmallow sauce and chocolate syrup, topped with crumbled graham crackers. The Sporkies logo from the Wisconsin State Fair Food Competition appears in the bottom left corner.

S’mores Churro Fries

Okay, you’ve eaten your fill, but there’s always a little room for s’more, right? We present to you, for your dining pleasure, the s’mores churro fries from Saz’s BBQ. A plate that may be too big to take on alone (We said maybe!), this one drizzles marshmallow crème, chocolate sauce and crushed graham crackers over fried cinnamon sugar churro fries.

A clear plastic cup filled with iced coffee or milk tea topped with whipped cream and tapioca pearls at the bottom. A bright red straw pokes through the lid, stacked with three mini pancakes. The background is a gradient vignette with spotlight-style lighting on the drink.

Dirty Pancakes

We promise you it tastes better than it sounds. The Buzzy Badger is bringing the concept of dirty soda to the fair, and this one is as photographable as it is delicious. The drink mixes root beer, vanilla creamer, maple syrup, and brown sugar, with popping boba. It’s all topped with whipped cream and a straw lined with mini pancakes. It’s a drink, it’s a snack, it’s one that’ll have you coming back.

A clear plastic cup filled with a purple iced beverage, garnished with a curly green straw and a black stirrer. The cup is labeled with a “Rock and Roll Beer Garden” sticker. An orange and yellow first-place ribbon graphic is displayed in the top right corner, and the Drinkies Wisconsin State Fair Beverage Competition logo appears in the bottom left corner.

Purple Rain Refresher

Prince is from Minnesota, but the Wisconsin State Fair is proud to celebrate the rock icon here, too. A loving tribute to the legend, the 2025 Drinkies winner is a mix of Concord grape juice, lemonade and grapefruit soda, topped with edible glitter and, for a dazzling addition, Pop Rocks that’ll bring a little extra showmanship to the table. The best part? The drink changes colors as you drink it, shifting from purple to blue to silver. Find it in the Rock & Roll Beer Garden.

 

Foods on a Stick

Okay, there’s only one dish on a stick on this list. We get it! This is the Wisconsin State Fair after all, and food on a stick is kind of a hallmark of the brand, right? Never fear! The fair has you covered with a list of all the mobile bites and delights you can possibly enjoy. See the full list here.

Wisconsin State Fair - Entertainment

Fair Entertainment

Beyond the fair feast, there’s so much to see around the grounds.

 

Bank Five Nine Main Stage

The big shows are all on the Main Stage, and this year’s lineup does not disappoint. Boasting a lineup of national touring artists, comedians, and kids' shows, this is your ticket to big-time entertainment at the fair. Here are a few shows you just have to see this year:

 

Find the full lineup here.

Giant Slide

Fair Play

Carnival rides are a calling card of any state fair. With so much to see and do, make sure to save some time to hop on a few rides. These three will get you the best vantage point of the fair.

 

Giant Slide

It is exactly what it sounds like. And it’s magnificent. For over 50 years, this 200-foot slide has brought thrill and delight to children and adults alike. Race your friends or enjoy the view as you cruise the slopes of this slide atop a burlap sack.

 

WonderFair Wheel

Another fair favorite, this massive ride towers 15 stories above the fairgrounds, giving you one of the best views of the fair and downtown in North America’s biggest traveling Ferris wheel. Kick back and enjoy the sights as you ascend to great heights.

 

SkyScraper

For the adrenaline junkies out there, there’s the SkyScraper. This ride’s arms windmill you through the air, sending you spinning across the sky. While the other two offer more scenic views, this one sends you high in the sky on a non-stop thrill ride.

Pig Races

Around the Grounds

There’s a ton to see throughout the grounds all day long! There’s award-winning produce to check out, farm animals to greet and racing pigs to watch. These are just a few things you should explore at the fair this year.

 

Saz’s Racing Pigs

Every year, this fan favorite draws huge crowds to watch these speedy oinkers tear it up around a track for a chance at immortality…or, at least, a special treat. While there are multiple races every day, you’ll want to get there early to get the best seat.


Animal Showcase in Ag Village

Cows, pigs, goats and chickens – need we say more? It’s the State Fair after all. Stop by and say hi to your favorite farm animals and learn about Wisconsin agriculture as you roam from barn to barn.

 

Grand Champion Hall & Stage

Homegrown talent is on full display at the Grand Champion Hall & Stage. Local fruits, veggies and more are all on show, with the biggest and best earning bragging rights and the fair’s signature blue ribbon prize.  

Fair Fashion

Commemorate your trip to the Wisconsin State Fair with a souvenir you can show off all year round. Here are our picks for this year’s fair fashion.

A tie-dye T-shirt in light blue, teal and gray tones featuring a graphic of motorcyclists riding toward the viewer with a barn in the background. Above the image, bold text reads “BARN TO BE WILD.”

Barn to be Wild Tie Dye Tee

How can you be a fair fanatic and not love a good pun? This shirt is a tribute to the Steppenwolf song, Milwaukee’s place as the motorcycle mecca and features all of your favorite fair celebrities. Why is this not in your cart right now? Let your inner party animal run wild!

A white T-shirt featuring a colorful retro-style design with orange, red, yellow, and blue graphics. The shirt reads “Wisconsin State Fair” and “EST. 1851,” and includes illustrations of flowers, a barn, a silo, a Ferris wheel, and a sky glider ride. The design has a cheerful, nostalgic feel.

Ladies Flowery Tee

Agricultural roots meet fair icons in this stylish tee, incorporating both a barn and the skyglider, alongside a series of flowers.

A black and teal hoodie with a front and back view. The hoodie features teal sleeves and a front graphic of a sunset scene with silhouettes of a barn, windmill, and ferris wheel. The text “Wisconsin State Fair” is displayed across the sunset image on the front. The hoodie also includes a front pouch pocket and drawstrings.

Panel Hoodie

For the cool night at the Main Stage, we’ve got an even cooler hoodie for you to buy, wear and rep the fair. The turquoise sleeves and the scene of a farm at sunset? Yeah, this is one to add to your collection.

Illustration of a smiling pink pig wearing rainbow-colored sunglasses with a star-shaped glint on one lens. The reflection in the glasses features a geometric pattern. Text below the pig reads “2025 Wisconsin State Fair.”

2025 Lapel Pin

It’s a pig with sunglasses. Read that again. Do we even need to sell you on this one? This dated, limited-edition pin is the perfect small memento to remind you of your Wisconsin State Fair experience.

Plan your Wisconsin State Fair adventure, map your stay and gear up for your getaway today!