Maybe it’s the rides or the pig races or the abundance of fried food. Whatever you find fun at the Wisconsin State Fair, it all returns July 31-Aug. 10. Here’s what our editors are most looking forward to seeing, doing and eating.
Cream Puffs
The hallowed cream puff – when I first got my hands on one, confusion set in. How do I eat this thing? Like a sandwich, apparently. My first bite was messy and surprisingly joyous. The sweetness was balanced and the texture soft and firm. I see how the cream puff became the literal mascot of the State Fair.
– Evan Musil, arts and culture editor
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
The Sporkies
When I go to the State Fair, I have one goal: eat something weird as hell. The Sporkies awards are essentially a gourmet menu of strange, alarming, usually fried culinary inventions. Give me a Cool Ranch Doritos Pickle with a fistful of Deep-Fried Lemonade Bites, please. By the time I leave, I want my palate confused, overwhelmed and terrified.
– Archer Parquette, managing editor
Livestock Barns
There’s so much to love in the animal barns. The soft eyes of the cows. The gentle strength of the horses. The goofy bleating of the goats. The human caretakers primping their livestock or catching a nap between showings. Everything about the pigs! There are many experiences at the fair, but this is its roots.
– Chris Drosner, executive editor
The Wisconsin Products Pavilion
I like to grab a grilled cheese at this pavilion. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s delicious and nostalgic. While I’m there, I usually check out the stage. You might hear from a beekeeper or from teenagers producing non-GMO ketchup right here in our state. There are all types of food, including ice cream (of course), and products like yarn made from llama fiber. You’ll leave feeling satisfied by your snack and proud to be a Wisconsinite.
– Carole Nicksin, editor-in-chief and publisher
The Micro
A legit craft beer bar smack dab in the middle of the fair? You betcha. The Micro’s got 60-plus Wisconsin taps, and the (shaded!) ambiance is surprisingly on point if you want to stay a while with your sour, ESB or IPA. And if that pour is the last of the barrel, you get one of the bar’s famous “Keg Killer” T-shirts.
– Chris Drosner, executive editor
Grand Champion Hall
From prize-winning pies to stunning quilts, the Grand Champion Hall showcases the time, dedication and passions of local people. As a kid, I particularly loved the cake decorating section and seeing what people came up with. Now, my favorite part is looking at all the vegetables – the huge, tiny and weirdly shaped. It’s fascinating!
– Brianna Schubert, digital editor
The SkyGlider
If your family is like mine, the State Fair can be a long day of winding kids through exhibits and barns and backtracking endlessly. If you plan it right and end the day at Spin City, you’ll walk by the entrance to the SkyGlider. Hop on with your tired kids (and tired feet) and let it ferry you toward your car. The slow mosey over the grounds is the perfect time to soak in the memories of the day.
– Chelsea Mamerow, art director
