feature article - august 2007

Wisconsin State Fair offers 30 free stages,
new attractions and long-time favorites

THE WISCONSIN STATE FAIR, Thursday, Aug. 2, through Sunday, Aug. 12, offers 11 days of fun on close to 200 acres of non-stop activity. Nearly one million people will flock to the fairgrounds, centrally located off I-94 west and only 90 miles from Chicago.

Variety spices up the lineup at the Miller Lite Main Stage. For the headliner schedule, see the music listings in KeyMilwaukee.com’s Arts & Entertainment listing.

The fair also offers 30 free stages of daily entertainment, including educational programs, children’s entertainment, musical acts and over 200 contests for fairgoers to take part in.

Presenting sponsor U.S. Cellular features family activities at the U.S. Cellular Plaza and special offers at an expanded store in the foyer of the Expo Center.

Agriculture is a central focus of the fair, with dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep, poultry, rabbits, goats, swine, horses and more to see. Visitors can tour the barns, watch the judging or take in an auction.

Besides the animals, the Horticulture, Crafts and Culinary Pavilion gives visitors up-close views of sculptured bonsais, plate-sized dahlias, blue ribbon apple pies, colorful quilts and a myriad of veggies.

While Wisconsin State Fair Cream Puffs are a famous fair staple, the Blue Ribbon Brownie, pork chop sandwiches, apple sundaes, cinnamon rolls and bratwurst are just among the many taste treats available. Saz’s Ribs and Saz’s High Life Pavilion celebrates Saz’s 25th anniversary at the fair with great food, beer and bands. (Visit www.sazs.com for details.)

Family fun abounds with youth exhibits, interactive activities, a children’s play zone with inflatable wonders for kids to bounce on, Sky Glider, a Midway, Kiddie Adventure Area and a gigantic slide. For the older kids in the group, there is a BMX Park with extreme bicycle stunt riders, skateboarding and inline skating demos. New this year in the BMX Park, Wisconsin’s own Lumberjills treat fairgoers to the excitement of ‘Hot” saw races, axe throwing, cross-cut sawing, chainsaw carving and log rolling.

Sprecher Brewing Company presents the tradition behind the fair with a new photo display of generations of fair history and stories from Jerry Zimmerman, the fair’s historian.

The fair’s famous Racing Pigs compete five times a day in their open-air “stadium.” At the Benno’s Big Top Microbrew Tent, Wisconsin microbrews in 30-plus flavors are on tap along with six TVs to keep track of sporting events.

In the air-conditioned 200,000 square-foot Expo Center, shop-a-holics can browse through more than 400 vendors. Potawatomi Bingo Casino conducts sessions near the south end of the Expo and visitors exercise at the Expo Energy Zone by climbing the rock wall.

At the Pettit National Ice Center’s Cool Zone there is Olympic-size fun every day on the ice. Skate, meet speedskaters, or test your skill at cream puff curling.

This is just a sampling of what’s going on as the fair celebrates 156 years of fun. General admission is $8 for adults, $3 for youth (ages 7-11), $6 for those with disabilities and seniors (60 and older), and free for children 6 and under. For information, phone 800-884-FAIR or visit www.wistatefair.com.