6 Wisconsin Fairs You Won’t Want to Miss This Summer

It’s fair season, folks! Deep-fried food, exhilarating rides, flashing lights, fascinating magic shows, adorable petting zoos, winning oversized teddy bears in carnival games and locals coming together to celebrate the season…what’s not to like? After our 5-month winter hibernation, there’s nothing quite like Wisconsinites getting out for a good fair during the summer. Here’s a round-up of some of our favorites:

What: Wisconsin State Fair
When: August 3-13, 2017
Where: 640 S. 84^th Street, West Allis
Why: Because it’s the “fairest” of them all! With performances by John Mellencamp, Pentatonix, and a joint performance by The Beach Boys and The Temptations and foods like cheese balls on-a-stick, Door County surf and turf on-a-stick, chocolate cruller on-a-stick, cream puffs, PBR beercicles and deep-fried cheese curds (obviously), this place is hard to beat. If you’re not yet convinced, consider visiting the Ag Village where visitors can see hundreds of animals, or the Craft & Culinary Pavilion which features orchids, dahlias, bonsais, vegetables, textiles, pies and cakes. Kids will enjoy SpinCity, which boasts more than 50 rides and 30 exciting games. Join the other one million visitors in celebrating summertime in Wisconsin.

What: Sheboygan County Fair
When: September August 31 – September 4, 2017
Where: 229 Fairview Drive, Plymouth
Why: Because, in their own words, the Sheboygan County Fair is celebrating “not the end of summer, the beginning of fun!” The fair welcomes back some old favorites such as bull riding and barrel racing, tractor pulls, motorcycle racing, pig and duck races, and plenty of live music. Fairgoers can also look forward to High Flying Pages (an aerial and equestrian show), a zip line show, and Mr. Ed’s Magical Midway Carnival Rides.

What: Oneida County Fair
When: August 3-6, 2017
Where: Corner of Kemp St. & Oneida Ave, Rhinelander
Why: With a Friday night fish fry, CT’s Bar-B-Qued Chicken and Bluegrass Pickin’ Saturday, a Native American Dance Exhibition, and polka, rock, country and jazz bands, the Hext Theatre Big Top Tent is the place to be. This fair also features a Saturday morning farmers’ market, a senior pavilion with cribbage and bingo, a logging museum, carnival rides, a magician and face painting.

What: Central Wisconsin State Fair
When: August 30 – September 4, 2017
Where: 513 E. 17^th Street, Marshfield
Why: With performing acts like Blackhawk and Eddie Money, the Central Wisconsin State Fair is kind of a big deal. Also at the Grandstand are the NTPA Truck & Tractor Pull, the ATV Big Air Tour and a Demo Derby. Don’t miss the carnival rides, where wristbands and family packages keep prices reasonable and make for a great end-of-summer celebration.

What: Sawyer County Fair 
When: August 17-20, 2017
Where: 10172 N. Bender Rd, Hayward
Why: Located in beautiful Hayward, a popular getaway destination, the Sawyer County Fair has much to offer both locals and visitors. A pancake breakfast, petting zoo, pony rides, animal and educational exhibits, a Dairy Queen Dilly Bar eating contest, a llama show and musical performances make the 110^th Sawyer County Fair the place to be this summer.

What: Grant County Fair
When: August 13-20, 2017
Where: 916 E. Elm Street, Lancaster
Why: We’ve all played with a foosball table before, right? The soccer game where you move your players to score on the other team? The Grant County Fair takes this concept to a whole new level with human foosball at the Grandstand on August 15. Enter as a 6-person team for a chance to win $100, or just go to watch this hilarious, yet innovative event. Come for the foosball and stay for the live music, car shows, exhibits, dog show, face painting and much more.

Click here for a Wisconsin Fairs map.
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The Wisconsin Association of Fairs is a member of Something Special from Wisconsin™ is a trademarked program administered by the Division of Agricultural Development at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection since 1983. Every dollar spent on Something Special from Wisconsin™ products and services supports local farmers, food processors, entrepreneurs, our communities and livelihood, as well as the Wisconsin way of life. Something Special from Wisconsin™ products are unique and of the highest quality, making them perfect for gift-giving, special occasions and every day!

Kristen Finstad is a member of the Discover Wisconsin crew. Having grown up in River Falls, attending UW-Stevens Point and now living in Madison, she’s a Wisconsin girl through and through. Watch Discover Wisconsin TV Saturday mornings at 10 on Fox Sports Wisconsin. (Twitter: @DiscoverWI)