The Wisconsin State Fair — Families and friends alike look forward to these 11 days of summer all year long.
It’s deep-fried cheese, Cream Puffs, farm animals, pickles the size of your face, live music, SpinCity rides and so much more. We could argue it’s the best week of the year in the Dairy State. In fact, people from all over our great state and beyond flock to the State Fair in August, but we Milwaukeeans are so fortunate to have it right in our backyard!
You could spend all 11 days at the Wisconsin State Fair and still not hit every attraction. So, as much as we want to give you the ultimate guide to every single thing our amazing State Fair has to offer, including it all would make for pretty much the longest post EVER. Instead, we’ve got the highlights for you, putting the spotlight on the features FAMILIES will want to know about and our “must-see” Fair favorites.
**This post is in partnership with the Wisconsin State Fair
Admission & Hours
Hours
- Sunday – Wednesday: 10am – 10pm
- Thursday – Saturday: 10am – midnight
Hand stamps are available for re-entry on the same day, but re-entry hand stamps will cease two hours prior to the posted closing time.
Fairgoers under 17 years of age entering after 5pm must be accompanied by a parent or gaurdian 21 years of age or older. Proof of age is required.
State Fair Pricing
- Adults (12 & over) – $18
- Seniors (60 & over) – $13
- Military/Veterans with ID – $13
- Youth (ages 6-11) – $13
- Children (5 & under) – Free
Click here to purchase tickets
Parents of older kids: Fairgoers under 17 years of age entering the State Fair after 5pm must be accompanied by an adult 21 years of age or older. Proof of age is required.
Deals & Discounts
See all the deals for great savings like:
- Fair Deals on tickets, Cream Puffs, SpinCity, and more
- Save at the Gate with sponsored discounts on select days
- Ticket Packages with community partner events
- Earn Free Fair Tickets through partner incentive programs
Milwaukee County Libraries Summer Reading Program
Keep kids reading this summer and earn a FREE youth admission ticket upon completion of the Summer Reading Program at any participating Milwaukee County Library. Teens can also earn FREE State Fair Admission for reading this summer. This program runs June – July, so don’t wait!
Prairies Lakes Library System Summer Reading Programs
Kids can earn a FREE youth admission ticket upon completion of the summer reading program at any Racine, Rock, or Walworth County Library. This program runs May – July, so don’t wait!
Bridges Library System Summer Reading Programs
Kids can earn a FREE youth admission ticket when they participate in the Youth Summer Reading Program at select Waukesha or Jefferson County Public Libraries. This program runs May – July, so don’t wait!
Monarch Library System Summer Reading Programs
Kids and teens can earn a FREE youth admission ticket when they participate in the summer reading program at select Dodge, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, or Washington County libraries. This program runs May – July, so don’t wait!
Please contact your local library for details.
Can’t Miss Fair Classics
These are the can’t miss stops that everyone talks about – basically, if you don’t check these off the list, you were never really at the State Fair.
Original Cream Puffs
One does not simply buy ONE Original Cream Puff. Spring for the 6-pack and never look back. Half the fun is waiting in line at the Original Cream Puff Pavilion and watching the famous pastry chefs create these delectable delights right in front of your eyes!
**Save big on Cream Puffs by ordering in advance!
The Giant Slide
It’s iconic. It’s cheap. Kids and adults alike love it. Trips down this 200 ft. slide are only $4! This beloved attraction has been a State Fair staple for more than 50 years. It’s so much fun, we dare you to only slide once.
The SkyGlider
The ultimate in people-watching from a birds-eye view! Tickets are available at each end of the SkyGlider near the Exposition Center and on North Grandstand Avenue.
Wonderfair Wheel – New Location
North America’s largest traveling Ferris wheel features 36 fully enclosed, brightly colored gondolas. Each gondola has a capacity of six people, and one gondola offers accessible seating. For only $7 per ride ($6 if you buy early), you get enjoy start to finish fun of approx. 10 minutes – that means an average of 1,100 Fairgoers can ride each hour!
New Location: Second Street & Badger Avenue
Cirque at the Fair
Watch incredible acts at Cirque at the Fair — a dazzling free show with brand-new acts at the Wisconsin State Fair! Enjoy phenomenal performances including juggling and aerial dance like you’ve never seen before.
Daily Showtimes:
- 12pm, 3pm, & 6pm every day
Located just east of Entrance A on South Grandstand Avenue.
What to Eat
There is so much food to try here that there’s no way to hit it all! There’s a helpful guide to ALL of the food vendors on the Wisconsin State Fair website, that even includes a picture of each of the booths!
Did you know there’s even competition called the Sporkies & Drinkies for the best of the best food and drinks at the State Fair!? You should probably add all of those items to your must-try list for this year.
NEW Foods for 2024:
In July, you can find the full list of NEW FOODS HERE!
The Go-To Fair Food Favorites
Meat on-a-Stick
Foot long corn dog. Kabobs. BBQ Pork Chop on-a-stick. Beer-battered, bacon-wrapped Cheddar Sausage on-a-stick. The Wisconsin State Fair has a seriously impressive selection of on-a-stick delicacies and we can’t wait to sink our teeth into them!! And yes, there is a list.
Roasted Corn on the Cob
A trip to the Fair just isn’t complete without a butter-dripping, husk-holding, tender, roasted sweet corn on the cob. For many families, this food stop is non-negotiable.
Original Cream Puffs
The iconic Original Cream Puff, sold at the Fair since 1924, is the most popular food item among Fairgoers – an average of 400,000 are consumed each year! You won’t want to stop at just one… bring yourself a 3- or 6- pack home with you!
And did you know there is a Cream Puff Drive-Thru?!
Best Attractions for Kids
We Energies Energy Park
If you are coming to the Fair with toddlers or young children, make We Energies Energy Park your very first stop upon arrival. You can pick up an I.D. safety wristband to help keep your child safe while you and your family enjoy your day. There will also be fun demonstrations about electricity and teaching kids about energy. Join Schlitz Audubon daily for up close and personal encounters with eagles, hawks, owls and other birds and so much more make this attraction on the west side of the Fair Park on Wetley Way at Center Street an absolutely must-see for families.
K-9 Sports Arena
The K-9 Sports Arena features shows and demonstrations hourly on the half-hour on weekdays with additional shows on weekends. See dog dock diving, frisbee, agility courses, Police K-9 units and much more!
Exploratory Park
Located on the south side of Main Street across from the Original Cream Puff Pavilion, Exploratory Park is the perfect place for you and your family to relax, and recharge. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is waiting to help you find your way to the great outdoors. Get to “gnome” the plants as you take a stroll through the Master Gardeners Display Garden. Hop on over to one of the hopscotch courts or take a crack at a game of oversized chess with the gang. AND, as if that wasn’t enough, there’s also a playground and sandbox area for the kids to enjoy. This dreamy oasis awaits your visit!
Family Variety Stage
Find family entertainment on South Grandstand Avenue at the Family Variety Stage.
This stage features jugglers, comics, and more – including Kenny Ahern (Physical Comic), Hip Hop Juggler (Comic Juggler), The Circus Science Spectacular (Science Fun), Mark Hayward (Yo-Yo Tricks & Juggling), and Bex in Motion (Hula Hoop).
Saz’s Famous Racing Pigs – New Location
Saz’s Famous Racing Pigs, presented by the Milwaukee Admirals, are another one of those Wisconsin State Fair staples that you just can’t miss. With races running throughout the day, it’s easy to find a race that fits your family’s schedule. The presenters always do an amazing job of getting the crowd involved and the pigs are just so stinkin’ cute! Pick a pig and get cheering! Found at the Racing Animals Arena.
New Location: Wetley Way & Second Street
Barns & Animals
A trip to the State Fair just isn’t complete without visiting the animals. Introduce yourself to cows, horses, pigs, sheep, goats and more! You can also check out Dairy Lane to learn about Wisconsin’s vibrant dairy industry. MKE Mom Tip: Put your visit to the barns at the early end of your day. As the temperature climbs outside, the barns also heat up quickly so it’s better to check them out early. Kids enjoy watching competitors – many of them kids themselves – working hard to bathe and prepare their animals for competition.
More Cool Kid Stuff
The list just keeps on going! There are more kid-friendly activities and things to see than we have room to share here. Here are a few more activities and features you might want to check out.
- SpinCity, with more than 50 amazing rides and attractions, plus a Kiddie Area for the younger Fairgoers. If your kid lives to ride the rides, spring for the unlimited daily rides wristband or you will go broke buying a la carte ride tickets.
- Pig Slide, located on Sue Wetley Court near Compeer Financial Discovery Barnyard. Everyone knows about the Giant Slide, but there are photo-ops galore at the Pig Slide. Moms and Dads, consider yourselves challenged to do it, too. The kids will LOVE it!
- Youth Exhibits: This year, walk the labyrinth, play big games, draw on the coloring walls, join in the jump about, and view stunning Judge’s Favorite Award-winning youth exhibits made by Wisconsin youth ages 8-19 from local county and district fairs. Located on Grandstand Avenue & Fifth Street.
- Cow-Temporary Art Walk: Artistic talent is overflowing in the Cream of the Crop Cow-Temporary Art Walk. See the mammoth barn quilt, metal cows, flowery horses, the legend-dairy Milky Way, and magnificent murals all over State Fair! Earn a special ribbon by visiting all 10 art exhibits. Pick up your Cow-Temporary punch card at the Young People’s Art Exhibit in the Exposition Center Lobby or Grand Champion Hall and earn a special ribbon by visiting all 10 art exhibits.
Pro Tips and Insider Info
Download the 2024 Wisconsin State Fair Daily Scheduleto have all this info at your fingertips!
Free Sunscreen: Forgot your sunscreen? You can still enjoy the sunshine safely. Look for FREE sunscreen stations conveniently located throughout the Fair Park. These sunscreen stations, courtesy of Children’s Wisconsin will be stocked with SPF 30, suitable for Fairgoers ages one year and older.
Bargain Books: Take advantage of hundreds of dollars in savings with the State Fair Bargain Book, featuring over 80 coupons from Fair vendors and partners. Get discounts on food, beverages, gifts, souvenirs and more. Plus, be sure to check out the SpinCity coupon on the back cover of your Bargain Book!
Free ID Bracelets: Stop by the We Energies Energy Park to grab a safety bracelet to help keep your kids safe throughout your Fair experience.
Nursing Stations and Baby Care Areas: Families can visit one of four comfortable areas designated as Family/Baby Care Centers:
- Exposition Center on both floors
- Guest Services Pavilion
- North Grandstand Avenue & Fifth Street
Each center offers an area for nursing mothers as well as a diaper changing station. Diaper Changing Stations are located in most men’s and women’s restrooms throughout the Fair Park.
Stroller and Wagon Rental: If you’d rather leave your stroller at home (on account of the livestock barns, perhaps?), it’s easy to rent a single stroller or wagon at these locations:
- Outside the US Cellular Main Entrance
- West Entrance C at Gate 4
- Admission entrance on the northeast corner of Grandstand Avenue and Main Street
How to Get There and Where to Park
Planning on driving to the Wisconsin State Fair? Most parking lots open daily at 9am during the State Fair. All parking is first come, first served. CASH IS NOT ACCEPTED. Purchase your parking in advance HERE.
Click here to purchase tickets!
We’ve been going to fair since I was a baby and now I love taking my little one each year ????
Great article!! We go every year and the kids always love it. This year will be a bit trickier since I’m nursing a baby with a dairy allergy (so many delicious foods I’ll miss!) but I’m still excited.
First time going to the state fair and wondering how much it is for elderly people to take one or two rides