The Wisconsin State Fair

The Wisconsin State Fair...oh, ladies and gentlemen...this is my MOST FAVORITE festival in the city!

I have heard it said that you’re either a “Summerfest Person” or a “State Fair Person” and I have to admit that while I love, love, love Summerfest, nothing can compare to the Wisconsin State Fair!

So what is it about this festival that makes it rock so hard, you ask???

Well, first there’s the food – oh, it’s greasy, deep fried, artery clogging food that I usually do not give myself much permission to eat, but at the fair...it’s all good!

Some of my personal favs are the cheese curds that are sold under the huge ”CHEESE CURDS” sign South of the big slide. Then there’s the pork chops on a stick, which are best obtained from this little booth to the West of the stadium, and just South of the coliseum. And of course there’s loads of corn on the cob (bring your dental floss, please...no one wants to see that mess...!)

Then there’s the beverages. Now here’s my beef with other festivals...there’s usually SOME variety – maybe a few choices in beer, some wine, a mixed drink or 2, but the State Fair has so much variety of alcohol, that you will satisfy even the most picky of drinkers (including myself!)

My favorite beer joint is located South-West of the slide, next to a gyro place, and it has a wide variety of Imported Beer!!! Oh yes folks, I can drink me some Becks! (They have lots of other imports, but I usually stick with my favorite. :) Apollos is the place to be!

Then of course there’s all the exhibit halls and vendors selling crap by the bushel-full of stuff you do not need, but OH HOW FUN TO LOOK AT IT!

Ok, I have a small confession now that we’re really talking here...do you know those ‘magnetic bracelets’ sold by Jeffrey Scott? They run $100 and over. Ok...so one year my friends and I were all convinced enough to buy one. I think mine was $150! Did it make me feel better? Sure! Did it make me feel $150 worth of better?? Mmmmmm...the jury’s still out on that one. But mine broke last year, so I am SO getting it fixed this year!

But you get swept up in the moment!

Like last year when my friend and I did the foot soak toxic removal bath...for $40! Yes, we each spent $40 to put our feet in a tub of water and supposedly have the toxins from our bodies pulled out of the pores in our feet.

Now I’m not saying there’s not SOME merit to these treatments, but the worth of these things may be slightly over-stated...just slightly...

And of course the Wisconsin State Fair wouldn’t be the fair without the animal exhibits. My favorite is what was previously known as the "Birthing Barn." That’s were you get to see all of the little babies that are born during the fair...too sweet! I do admit that my conscience does a bit of a tail-spin when one barn is housing cute little piggies, and the vendor next door is selling pork chops on a stick. :( If I could go vegetarian, I would. I tried for a month, and it was a no go. I'm not proud of myself...

Don’t forget to catch at least on pig race! Of course there’s a whole area dedicated to the pig races at the Wisconsin State Fair. You can’t miss it – it’s next to the big slide. Those piggies are too cute, and their efforts are handsomely rewarded with tasty treats at the end of the show. :)

You’ve probably notice that all of my reference to everything at the Wisconsin State Fair has to do with the Big Slide! You can NOT leave the fair without one trip down this beauty! Can you believe every year I have to cajole and plead with my friends to go down this sucker with me? Often times...I end up riding alone...and that is just sad my friends!

Ok, ok...you cream puff lovers, I have not forgotten you! Be sure to grab at least one before you go and do your best to make the kids behind the window smile! (One of them is the daughter of a friend of mine. :) If you’ve never tried the cream puff, let me tell you that it is not the overly sweet thing you might expect, it is a light, fluffy, whip-creamy little morsel that you will have no problem devouring in one sitting...oh yeah, I’m talking about you little dainty girlies too! HA HA HA! What am I saying...there are no “dainty girlies” at the Wisconsin State Fair! There’s only REAL WOMEN!

I could go on and on and on about the big name performers, the local singing groups, the midway, the competitions...blah blah blah...but I think it’s time you just visit the Wisconsin State Fair for yourself!

To read more about the festival, and see the full schedule, visit the official festival website including any admission deals (opens new windows) to the fair.

Although ticket sales usually end in June, it is possible to purchase tickets early for almost half the price. If you’ve already missed that this year, please check back for next years’ event. Ticket sales start in the spring.

Enjoy all of the festivals Milwaukee and the surrounding areas have to offer!

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