RSS
Home
Wisconsin State Fair Celebrates 158 years of family entertainment
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
The Wisconsin State Fair, being held Thursday, August 6 – Sunday, August 16, 2009, is worth a drive up the Milwaukee area for a day of family friendly entertainment. The Wisconsin State Fair, celebrating its 158th anniversary, is a longstanding tradition of offering affordable entertainment and fun for families. In recent years the event has drawn nearly 900,000 people through its gates to share a 
community tradition that has passed on through generations of families. The Wisconsin State Fair features entertainment, music, animals, food, carnival rides and more. One of the favorite fair traditions is the fluffy cream puff, a treat enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people every year.
History of the Wisconsin State Fair
The Wisconsin State Fair has been held at the current fairgrounds, in West Allis for the past 117 years. The original fair, an agricultural event, was held in Janesville, Wisconsin, in 1851 on the banks of the Rock River. The fair, sponsored that the State Agriculture Society, was held of two days in October and was reportedly attended by between 13,000 and 18,000 people. Admission to the original fair was just a dime. At the time, the fair was the largest reported gathering in the history of Wisconsin. Some of the fair events included a 200 pound squash and a quarter acre plowing competition.
Through the next 41 years the Fair was held in Watertown, Fond du Lac, Madison and Milwaukee. In 1892 the fair was moved to its present site in West Allis, which has been its located for the last 117 years. The “new” fairgrounds feature a 6,000 seat Grandstand, a racetrack with four barns for race horses and various exhibit buildings.
The State Fair was cancelled five times for significant historical reasons, including the Civil War, the World’s Columbian Exposition and World War II.
Throughout its history, the Wisconsin State Fair has been visited by several prominent and influential individuals. In 1859 the State Fair was honored to welcome Abraham Lincoln. In 1910 the airplane inventors, Wilbur and Orville Wright, created quite a stir of excitement. Henry Ford visited the 
fairgrounds in 1922. Senator Herb Kohl visits the fair almost every year to chat with Wisconsinites waiting in line at his milk stand.
fairgrounds in 1922. Senator Herb Kohl visits the fair almost every year to chat with Wisconsinites waiting in line at his milk stand.Cream Puffs!
One of the favorite fair traditions of the highly anticipated Cream Puff! The Cream Puff, the longest selling item at the fair, originated with the Wisconsin bakers Association, who began selling the famous Cream Puffs in 1924. The Original Cream Puff Pavilion is located in the heart of the park west of Central Mall. Cream Puffs, considered a Wisconsin State Fair “Must” are a highly anticipated creamy treat for fairgoers, which is why hundreds of thousands of cream puffs are sold every year.
Wisconsin State Fair Information
The Wisconsin State Fair, presented by U.S. Cellular, is being held August 6 – 16 at the fairgrounds in West Allis. For additional information see the Wisconsin State Fair website.
Fair Hours- Sunday – Thursday 8 am – 11 pm
- Friday – Saturday 8 am to midnight
- Final Sunday 8 am to 9 pm
Admission
- Adults $9
- Senior (60+) $6
- Youth (7-11) $4
- Children (6 and under) Free
- Parking $10 per vehicle
- There is free offsite parking with shuttle service available.
Wisconsin State Fair Park is in West Allis, which is just west of Milwaukee. The address is 640 South 84th Street, West Allis, Wisconsin 53214
Bristol Renaissance Faire for family entertainment
Tempel Lipizzans perform while awaiting 2016 Chicago Olympic decision
Indian Summer Festival and Pow Wow in Milwaukee September 11 - 13
EAA Air Ventures a gathering of airplanes and aviators in Oshkosh Wisconsin
Headlining entertainment at Wisconsin State Fair Time Warner Stage
Visit Illinois State Fair in Springfield August 13 to 23
Iowa State Fair in American Heartland August 13 - 23
Tuesday savings at Wisconsin State Fair
Enjoy Sights Sounds and Tastes of Wisconsin State Fair
More About:
wisconsin state fair
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
Lincoln Park Zoo is transformed into a winter wonderland for the 15th Annual ZooLights,. Over 1.5 million shimmering lights have transformed the …
Brookfield Zoo in the Chicago area spreads some holiday magic with the 28th Annual Holiday Magic Festival. During the holiday season bundle up the …
- Bonnie Hunt at Christmas Tree Lighting in Chicago
- McDonalds Thanksgiving Day Parade in Chicago
- German Christmas Market at Daley Plaza in Chicago
- Dancing Horses Holiday Extravaganza in Lake Geneva WI
- Holiday Music at Metropolis in Arlington Heights
- Holiday Entertainment at Metropolis in Arlington Heights
- My Three Angels at Attic Playhouse in Highwood
- Chicago Concert Series decks City Hall with holiday cheer
- Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences presents A Christmas Carol the Musical
- Miracle at 34th Street at Porchlight Theatre
- Holiday charm in historic Long Grove
- Black Friday Chicago malls opening at midnight
- Cirque Dreams Illumination at Genesee Theatre
- Milwaukee offers out of the ordinary holidays
- Chicago Christmas Market opens Wednesday before Thanksgiving
- Victorian Christmas in Woodstock and Richmond
- Holiday Tree Lighting in Lake County Illinois
- The Rat Pack is Back for the Holidays at Genesee Theatre
- Christmas Tree Lighting and Santa in Schaumburg
- Wonderland Express lights up Chicago Botanic Garden
- Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier Chicago
- Santa and Scrooge at Metropolis brunch in Arlington Heights
- Canadian Pacific Holiday Train Midwest starts in Gurnee
- Messiah a free concert in Antioch
- Dickens of a Holiday in Libertyville
- Winter Wonderland at Cuneo Museum in Vernon Hills
- Pictures of German Christmas Market in Chicago
- ZooLights Holiday Light Show at Lincoln Park Zoo
- Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo
- Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides at Apple Holler
- Winter WonderFest at Navy Pier for family fun
- Metropolis presents Pump Boys and Dinettes in Arlington Heights
- Street Dance in Libertyville on September 26
- Hairspray at Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire
- Outdoor Autumn Theatre Experience at Apple Holler
- Richardson Corn Maze in Spring Grove great family entertainment
- Fall and Halloween fun in Naperville this October
- Parke County Covered Bridge Festival in Indiana starts October 9
- Balloon Rides at Navy Pier in Chicago
- Gurnee Six Flags Great America new attractions
- Lincoln Bicentennial Events in Lake and McHenry County
- Lamb's Farm Barnyard open weekends in Libertyville
- Arlington Park opens for season May 1
- Chicago Botanic Garden Model Railroad opens May 9
- Six Flags new Buccaneer's Cove pirate ride in Gurnee
- Classic movies at Genesee Theatre in Waukegan
- Hairspray at Marriott Theatre Lincolnshire
- Halloween events at Chicago Botanic Garden
- Fright Fest scary good times at Six Flags in Gurnee
- Wedding by Christine
- Gangsters by Christine
- Eco Friendly Travel by Christine
- Pet Friendly Travel by Christine
- Cable TV by Christine
- Eco Friendly Living by Christine
- Healthy Living by Christine
- Beautiful by Christine
- Holiday by Christine
- Animal World by Christine
- Chicago by Christine
- Home Style by Christine
- Midwest Travel by Christine
- Festivals by Christine
- Celebrity by Christine
- Christmas by Christine
