The Wisconsin State Fair is a summer staple and one of our family’s summer bucket list entries. From entertainment, rides, games, animals, and plenty of fun snacks, there is something for everyone to enjoy and kicks off on August 4 and runs until August 14, 2022.
We have tips, details, pictures and our favorites outlined for you below. Let us know your favorite part of the state fair or if you have any tips to add below!
FREE Family Fun Highlights & Things to Do
- Daily Parade
This fair tradition occurs every day at 3 pm (2 pm on the final Sunday)! See the Fairest of the Fair, street entertainers, mascots, tractors, marching bands, and more! - Street Entertainers
Street entertainers stroll through the fair with unique shows, including musicians, circus entertainers, balloon shows, magicians, and other fun performers! - Saz’s Racing Pigs
Cheer on your favorite pig—Big Rob, Little Louie, Tito, or Billy Bob—at 11 am, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm, 4:30 pm, 5:30 pm, and 7:30 pm. - K9 Sports Arena
Shows and demonstrations take place hourly on the half-hours on weekdays and more on the weekends. - Exploratory Park
UW Extension offers hands-on stations for kids of all ages! - Discovery Barnyard
Demonstrations and baby animals every day from 9 am – 9 pm. - Farm and Family Building
Veggie racing, life-size board game, scavenger hunt, Plinko, and more!
Discounts & Deals
- Kids 5 and Under are FREE every day.
- Free admission on Tuesday, August 9 for kids 5 – 12 by signing up for the Milwaukee Bucks Bango’s Kids Club.
- Get into the fair for just $5 with a donation of peanut butter or cash to Hunger Task Force on Thursday, August 4, 2022, from 10 am – 5 pm.
- Friday, August 5 is Celebrate Wisconsin Day. This one is for the out-of-towners! Present your out-of-state ID for $17 for two adult tickets from 10 am – 6 pm.
- Meijer Day is Wednesday, August 10. Show your Meijer receipt totaling $45 or more from July 3 – August 10, 2022, to receive $5 off one adult admission.
- Educators are FREE with a school ID or name badge on Thursday, August 11 from 10 am – 2 pm.
- Veterans, military personnel, and their families (up to three members) receive FREE admission on Sunday, August 14th.
- $13 Fair tickets are available until July 29th online or at the State Fair Ticket Office.
- State Fair Bargain Books with coupons for food, beverages and more can be purchased at the fair for $6.
- Rides and Game ticket packages can be purchased at 30% discount in groups of 40 through July 29, 2022.
- Crazy Grazin Day, Tuesday, August 9, 2022: Deals at over 30 stops throughout the fair.
Find more details about the specific discounts >
Good to Know Details Before Visiting
- Parking – Parking is $15 per vehicle. Accessible parking with placards or plates is available at gates 1, 3, and 7.
- Directions – Find directions from all over.
Plug in this address: 640 S 84th St, West Allis, Wisconsin 53214 - Shuttles – There are places to park for FREE and be dropped off at the fair entrances!
- Hours
- Sunday – Wednesday: 10 am – 10 pm
- Thursday – Saturday: 10 am – 12 am
- Ticket sales and fair entry stop one hour before the park closes. Re-entry hand stamps stop two hours before the park closes.
- Admission – If you miss out on all of the possible discounts above…tickets can be purchased at the entrances:
- Adults (12 & over): $17
- Seniors (60 & over): $12
- Military/Veterans with ID: $12
- Youth (ages 6-11): $12
- Children (5 & under): FREE
- Family/Baby Care Centers – Three private areas for feeding little ones in a quiet area and changing diapers are located throughout the fair. Find details here.
- Stroller and Wagon Rentals – $12 for single strollers and $17 for wagons.
- ATMs – 28 ATMs are located throughout the park!
- Check out the daily schedule!
Go Valley Kid’s Favorite Spots
- The Animals! – One of the main attractions of the State Fair is the animals! Agriculture and exhibits have been a tradition since the very first fair. From horses to cows, goats, sheep poultry, rabbits, and more, over 7,000 animals compete each year at the Wisconsin State Fair! Head to the Ag Village to see them up close and personal. Special events include horse shows, live auctions, drills, and more.
- The Milk House – Enjoy a glass of ice cold milk – regular or a fun flavor. Located on South Grandstand Avenue near the Exposition Center. We liked trying them all and sharing.
- The Giant Slide – This was a family favorite! The slide is 200 ft. long and is $3 a ride.
- SkyGlider Ride – This was a nice break from walking and was a great view of the park. We took a ride and planned out our stops. One-way tickets are $5, and round-trip is $8. Tickets are available at each end of the SkyGlider near the Exposition Center and on North Grandstand Avenue.
- Wonderfair Wheel – Take a ride on North America’s largest traveling Ferris wheel! Each gondola holds six people, and the ride lasts about 10 minutes. At 15 stories tall, it offers amazing views of the fair and city and boasts a 10-mile view from the top. The ride costs $6 a person and is located on Wetley Way at Second Street.
The Food – There are so many great options! We enjoyed cream puffs for a snack. Looking to try something different? The Sporkies are nominated by a panel of judges each year. Look for the giant 13 ft. Golden Spork outside of each finalist and winner location during your visit.
Make a Plan
We made a list of things we wanted to check out for sure but left lots of room to explore. We left the rides for last because we knew getting the kids to leave that area would be a battle. Here is a 2022 Wisconsin State Fair Map; you can also download a printable version.
More Information
There is so much to check out! Make sure to check out wistatefair.com for more information. Do you have a great tip? We would love to hear it. Share it below!
