Milwaukee With Kids is a proud partner of Wisconsin State Fair.
The smell of corn on the cob (and manure!) is in the air, and so is a sense of pride for all things Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin State Fair is back this year, and it’s a celebration of agriculture, local delicacies, and yes, food-on-a-stick.
Some things will be the same as ever, and other things will be different.
Read on to find out what you need to know this year, plus our suggestions for the best things to do -and eat – with kids.
THINGS TO KNOW FOR 2022
Dates: The Wisconsin State Fair will run Thursday, August 4- Sunday, August 15th, 2022 at the Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis.
Updated Hours: There are updated hours of operation this year. The State Fair will be Sunday – Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Thursday – Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to midnight.
You can find Building Hours and SpinCity Ride & Game Area Hours here.
Admission: Kids 5 and under are free! At the gate, adult admission (12 and over) is $17. Seniors (60 & over), military/veterans with ID and youth (ages 6-11) admission is $12. Only credit cards are accepted at the gate.
You can get $4.00 off an adult admission if you purchase now through July 29th online.
Milwaukee Bucks Kids Deal: In the month of July, young Bucks fans, ages 5-12, can receive a free youth State Fair admission ticket after signing up for the FREE Bango’s Kids Club, sponsored by BMO Harris Bank. Tickets are valid on Tuesday, August 9 only. Promotion runs 10am-6pm.
Get in Free: Kids 5 and under are always free! Educators get in free with a school ID on Thursday, August 11th from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., and on August 14th from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Military and Veterans plus three family members get in free on Sunday, August 14th.
Carry-ins: No carry-in alcoholic beverages or weapons allowed. Unopened bottled water and food for infants or those with food allergies is permitted.
Parent Supervision: Fairgoers under 18 years of age entering after 6 pm must be accompanied by a parent or guardian 21 years of age or older. Proof of age is required.
Family/Baby Care Centers: Families can visit one of three private, air conditioned, comfortable areas designated as Family/Baby Care Centers in the Exposition Center, Guest Services Pavilion, and at North Grandstand Avenue & Fifth Street. Each location offers an area for nursing mothers as well as a diaper changing station. Diaper changing stations are also available in most restroom facilities throughout State Fair Park.
ID Wristbands: We Energies identification wristbands are available at the Reconnection Centers, Police booths, and at We Energies Energy Park on Wetley Way.
Restrooms: Nearly every permanent building at State Fair Park includes restrooms inside of it, excluding smaller exhibit halls and open-air livestock barns. Dedicated restroom structures and portable restrooms are also spread out through the grounds.
Stroller & Wagon Rental: Vista Mobility provides onsite rentals for strollers, wagons, wheelchairs, and electric scooters. Rental fees are as follows: $12 per Single Stroller, $17 per Wagon, $25 per Wheelchair, $60 per Electric Scooter ($40 after 6 pm). You can find them outside the UScellular Main Entrance, and the West Entrance C at Gate 4, and at the admission entrance on the northeast corner of Grandstand Avenue and Main Street.
Parking:
Cost: $15 per vehicle, $8 per motorcycle
General and motorcycle parking are available through the following vehicle gates:
- Gate 1 – located at W. Greenfield Avenue and S. 79th Street | Opens at 6am daily
- Gate 7 – located on Kearney Street (I-94 Frontage Road) between S. 84th & S. 76th Streets | Opens at 9am daily
- Gate 9 – located at W. Pierce Street and S. 76th Street | Opens at 9am daily
All parking is first-come, first-served.
NEW THIS YEAR
Sensory-Friendly SpinCity Morning: Fairgoers who have special sensory needs can play games and experience rides and attractions from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on Monday, August 8th. Lights, sounds, and non-safety related announcements will be reduced. (Some operational noises will be noticeable during this time, and some attractions are not able to be fully silenced.)
Wisconsin State Fair Park Foundation Milk House: The Milk House is back this year with traditional (and not-so-traditional flavors of milk). All the proceeds fund improvements at Fair Park.
BMX Pros Trick Team: Take your kids to watch the BMX PROS Trick Team do fun choreographed stunts on the ground and in the air. It’s located on South Grandstand Avenue.
Central Marketplace: The Central Marketplace has a whole new look and vibe this year, with a focus on small businesses. It’s located near the Bank Five Nine Amphitheater.
10 THINGS TO SEE & DO (WITH KIDS!)
1. KIDZBOP
Get ready to jam with KIDZ BOP LIVE 2022 as the tour returns to the Main Stage on Tuesday, August 9th.
The ultimate pop concert for kids (and grown-ups too!) is all new for 2022. Sing and dance along with the KIDZ BOP Kids as they perform today’s biggest hits live on stage, including “Good 4 U” and “Dance Monkey.”
All seating for this show is reserved, and tickets will be $25, $30, and $35. Each concert ticket includes admission to the State Fair for the day of the show when purchased in advance. Venue opens at 6:30 pm for show seating.
Get tickets here.
2. MILWAUKEE BUCKS KIDS DAY
Milwaukee Bucks Kids Day is Tuesday, August 9th, when families can snap a photo with the Larry O’Brien trophy, watch live performances from the Bucks Entertainment Network, meet Bango and other mascots, make a souvenir craft on-a-stick, and more!
3. COMPEER FINANCIAL DISCOVERY BARNYARD
A must stop for kids and families is the Compeer Financial Discovery Barnyard, located near Ag Village, where you’ll find hundreds of baby animals. Last year, 600 chicks and 21 piglets were born there. You’ll also find a cows and calves, ewes and lambs, dairy goat kids, and ducklings.
Nearby, you can take pony rides on Sue Wetley Court, or visit the “Neigh”borhood Corral, an in-depth exhibit focused entirely on horses, complete with grooming demos, educational displays, and more. It’s located in the Farm & Family Building on Sue Wetley Court, across from the Discovery Barnyard.
The Alpaca area is also located next door!
4. SAZ’S RACING PIGS
Saz’s Racing Pigs are a State Fair staple. Pick your favorite pig and cheer them on during races held throughout the day. It’s located on Second Street and Badger Avenue.
This year, you can cheer for Big Rob, Little Louie, Billy Bob, and Tito.
5. THE MILKING PARLOR
The milking parlor is where your kids can learn where the milk you get in the grocery store comes from.
View the cow milking demonstrations four times daily at 11am, 1pm, 3pm, and 5pm and goat milking demonstrations 12pm, 2pm, and 4pm.
It’s located in Ag Village at the southeast corner of the Livestock Horse Barn on Central Avenue.
6. K-9 SPORTS ARENA
Stop by the K-9 Sports Arena, located in the Big Backyard, for shows and demonstrations like dog dock diving, frisbee, agility courses, Police K-9 units and more.
7. THE GIANT SLIDE
It will be difficult to resist (and hard to miss!) the Giant Slide, which has been around for over fifty years. Hop onto a burlap sack and take a ride down the iconic 200 foot slide for $3 each. It’s located on Second Street, just north of Central Mall.
8. WONDERFAIR WHEEL
Near the Giant Slide is North America’s largest traveling Ferris Wheel, the Wonderfair Wheel, which stands 15 stories high and features 36 fully enclosed, brightly colored gondolas.
Each gondola has a capacity of six people, and one gondola offers accessible seating. The ride time from start to finish is approx. 10 minutes. You’ll get a breathtaking view of the city, with visibility of over 10 miles from the top of the wheel.
Rides on the WonderFair Wheel cost $6 per person. It’s located on Wetley Way at Second Street.
9. WILDERNESS RESORT FAMILY VARIETY STAGE
For more family entertainment, head to the Wilderness Resort Family Variety Stage, where there will be jugglers, comics, musical fun, magicians, illusionists, and more.
Photo: wistatefair.com
10. SPINCITY KIDS AREA
For amusement rides with lower minimum heights and exciting games of chance, head to the SpinCity Kids Area on west side of the Grand Walkway in SpinCity.
Photo: Instagram, @wistatefair
You should also check out…
The Animal Buildings are open this year from 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Each year, the State Fair welcomes over 10,000 animals to Ag Village for competitions and exhibitions. You’ll see cattle, horses, sheep, poultry, rabbits, goats, and swine.
When you need a calming break from the fun, your kids might also love Exploratory Park, where they can explore Parade Pond, an oversized chest board, hopscotch, bag toss, quirky toad stools, a dragonfly bench, a sand box, and more.
For thrill seekers, check out the Salto Power Jump Trampolines on Wetley Way across from the K-9 Sports Arena.
For kids who love tractors, stop by the Case IH Tractor Display on Wisconsin Way in Ag Village.
WHAT TO EAT
Wisconsin Products Pavilion: When you’ve worked up an appetite, the Wisconsin Products Pavilion offers higher-quality local faire like Door County cherry products and artisan jerky, as well as kid favorites like grilled cheese, pizza, and their famous baked potatoes.
Food On A Stick: For old favorites, search for corn on the cob, pork chops, and some kind of Food On A Stick. From BBQ-Pork-On-A -Stick to Cheesecake-On-A-Stick, there is something for everyone. Check out a complete directory of Foods On A Stick here.
New This Year: New foods being offered in 2022 include Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Chicken On-A-Stick, a Brandy Old Fashioned S’more On-A-Stick, Fried Pickle Cheese Curd Tacos, and a Cinnamon Toast Crunch Latte. Check out all of the new foods here.
Cream Puffs: For the true State Fair experience you’ll want to cap off your visit with an Original Cream Puff. Approximately 400,000 are consumed every year. The decadent cream-filled pastries have been sold at the Fair since 1924. You can get them in three or six packs.
Crazy Grazin Day: Real foodies will go crazy for Crazy Grazin Day on Tuesday, August 9th, when you can get deals at over 30 stops throughout the fair.
READER RECOMMENDED!
We asked our Instagram community what their favorite thing to eat at the fair was, and these were their answers:
Baked Potatoes & Island Noodles
Fried Veggies
Maple Syrup Cotton Candy
Hot Wisconsin Cheese
Roasted Corn
BBQ Pork Chop Sandwich
Pierogis
Corn in a Cup
Truffle Tots
Flavored Milk
Mexican Corn
Corndog
Dill Pickle Pizza
Deep Fried Mac N Cheese
Deep Fried PB & J
Chicken & Waffles
Head to the Wisconsin State Fair website for even more information about this year’s fair.
