Moo-ve over, summer, the Wisconsin State Fair is back, and ready for 11 days of fair play! Taking place August 6-16 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!
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.
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.
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.
Cream City Cone
When you think of Milwaukee staples, what comes to mind? Whatever it is, this tower, this challenge to the culinary senses, likely has it covered. The Cream City Cone is Milwaukee Pretzel Co.'s loving tribute to the city it calls home. It might look like an ice cream cone, but beneath the warm pretzel cone is a savory mix of bratwurst, sautéed onions, sautéed mushrooms and melted cheddar. It's all topped with a generous helping of dill pickle mustard and garnished with a fried white cheddar cheese curd and a mini People's Flag of Milwaukee.
Brat Crunch Cup
Southern comfort food in a cup? Now we're talking. The Exotic Meat Grill is bringing the flavors of the Bayou to the Wisconsin State Fair to give you the bold, zesty kick you need to fuel your day with a hodgepodge of culinary delights packed into one cup. Each bite brings something, each a kaleidoscope of tastes and profile combinations that'll tantalize your tastebuds and have you coming back for more. On top of a base of sidewinder fries, you'll find alligator nuggets, breaded catfish bites, Cajun slaw, and a rich and mysterious comeback sauce. Top it with pickled okra and a whole crawfish, and you have a full meal in a cup.
Deep-Fried Horchata Balls
Okay, you’ve eaten your fill, but there’s always a little room for dessert, right? We present to you, for your dining pleasure, the deep-fried horchata balls from Badger Bites. The drink-turned-dessert may be too rich, too decadent for you to take on alone (We said maybe!), drizzling dulce de leche sauce over deep-fried bits of dough, then topping them with mini chocolate chips, toasted coconut and sweet fried plantain chips.
Cookie Butter Coffee Float
Part coffee, part dessert, you can stop by Flffy's Hand Cut Donuts for a serious infusion of sugar into your morning routine with this drink, along with one of their well-loved donuts or you can fend off the post-dinner crash with a little extra caffeine as you sway through the night sky on the skyglider. There's no wrong way to savor this dangerously rich dish. A base of iced coffee is sweetened by vanilla ice cream, the rim dusted with Biscoff cookie bits and topped with a full Biscoff cookie for you to dip as you sip.
Color-Changin Swamp Juice
What're you doing in my swamp? It's fun, whimsical and full of sugar, as any fair drink should be, but this one comes with a little extra liquid alchemy that'll make you feel like a kid all over again. A drink in two parts, this drink from All Things Jerky, encourages you to play with your food (okay, drink) as you inject a "swamp potion" into the swamp of raspberry lemonade below and watch it change before your very eyes. Spectators include the gummy gators, candy frogs and a dusting of Pop Rocks along the rim.
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.
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:
- August 6: Hairball
- August 7: Nelly
- August 8: For King + Country
- August 9: The Beach Boys
- August 10: Wynonna Judd
- August 11: The All-American Rejects
- August 12: The Isley Brothers
- August 13: John Mulaney
- August 14: Lindsey Stirling
- August 15: AJR
- August 16: Bailey Zimmerman
Find the full lineup here.
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.
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.
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!
Ladies Flowery Tee
Agricultural roots meet fair icons in this stylish tee, incorporating both a barn and the skyglider, alongside a series of flowers.
Matcha V-Neck Hoody
For the cool night at the Main Stage, we’ve got an even cooler hoodie for you to buy, wear and rep the fair.
Plan your Wisconsin State Fair adventure, map your stay and gear up for your getaway today!
Getting to the Fair
Before you bite into your first Cream Puff, order your first fried thing on a stick or watch a single pig race for the glory of an Oreo, you have to get there first. Here's what you need to know before you go.
Parking
The Wisconsin State Fair grounds have tons of on-site parking just steps away from the gates. You can order your parking pass ahead of time or pay when you get there, then follow the attendants' instructions to an open spot.
Shuttles
If you'd rather not chance taking on the traffic and parking around the fair yourself, Potawatomi Casino | Hotel's free shuttle may be your best bet. On both State Fair weekends, the casino's 21+ shuttle takes you to and from the fair from noon to 10 p.m., with the last shuttle leaving the grounds at 9:30 p.m. It's easy, parking in the casino's parking garage is free, and there's no purchase necessary. All you have to do is show your Potawatomi Rewards card to get a wristband, and you're set for a day of fair play.
Many area bars and restaurants around the area also offer shuttle service to the fair. Check the list below to find one close to you.
Bus
Milwaukee County Transit System makes it easy to get to State Fair Park using regular bus service:
Route 18
Route 18 has multiple bus stops along Greenfield Avenue on the southern side of State Fair Park. The bus stops closest to State Fair Park on Greenfield Avenue are at S. 84th (closest to Entrance B), S. 81st (Entrance A or B).
- Route 18 operates every 15-20 minutes between the hours of 4:03 a.m. and 1:41 a.m. on Weekdays, between 4:33 a.m. and 1:02 a.m. on Saturdays and between 6:00 a.m. and 1:41 a.m. on Sundays/Holidays. See the full schedule and view a map of the routing here.
Route 33
Route 33 has multiple bus stops along S. 84th Street on the western side of State Fair Park. The bus stops closest to State Fair Park on S. 84th Street are at Greenfield (closest to Entrance B), Washington (Entrance C), Schlinger (Entrance D) and Adler (Entrance D or E).
- Route 33 operates every 30 minutes between the hours of 5:43 a.m. and 6:06 p.m. on Weekdays, between 10:27 a.m. and 5:29 p.m. on Saturdays and between 10:53 a.m. and 5:36 p.m. on Sundays/Holidays. See the full schedule and view a map of the routing here.
Bike
Save gas and get some exercise when you pedal to the park! FREE bicycle parking is available in dedicated areas located at the following gates:
- T-Mobile Main Entrance E – located on Adler St. near I-94
- South Entrance A – located on Greenfield Ave. & S. 81st St.
Bike racks are available in each location, and spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Bring a lock to secure your bicycle. Please note that a portion of the Hank Aaron State Trail will be closed during the Wisconsin State Fair.
