Milwaukee's Daily Magazine Saturday, May 17, 2008
Today
Hi: 69
Lo: 44
Sun
Hi: 56
Lo: 41
Mon
Hi: 59
Lo: 45
Section Sponsor
Article Tools
Print this Article
Make text larger
In Festival Guide
100 things to do at Wisconsin State Fair
Riding the Giant Slide is fun, if you don't eat/drink too much first.  
By OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writers

Published Aug. 2, 2007 at 5:40 a.m.
Tags: wisconsin state fair, 100 things

The Wisconsin State Fair starts today. With help from the public relations staff at the Fair Park, we compiled this list of "100 Things to See or Do at the Fair."

Feel free to use the Talkback feature to add your own suggestions.

1. Have a cream puff and a beer before 10 a.m. Repeat the combination after 10 p.m.
2. Watch llamas dressed up in costumes.
3. Count tank tops (extra points for those tucked into jean shorts).
4. Buy your dog some treats that are shaped like French fries, chicken wraps and hot dogs from Annie's.
5. Check out the Brew City Bruiser Roller Girls.
6. Sample ethnic foods at World Café.
7. Listen to Bon Jovi, REO Speedwagon and Def Leppard, all covered by your favorite local bar bands.
8. Skate at the Pettit Center (free lessons during the Fair).
9. Have a glass of wine (or three) at Stone's Throw Winery.
10. Stock up on homemade olive oil soap.
11. Eat an ear of corn from the New Berlin Lions Club. (Wipe stray kernels off face).
12. Check out the reggae music at Tropics of the Fair.
13. Build-A-Bear with your child, grandchild, niece or nephew.
14. Ride the Giant Slide.
15. Two words: Pig Races!
16. Watch Native American Dancers.
17. Get a "Fair-Do."
18. Sample the new S'mores on a Stick.
19. Purchase 400-thread count Egyptian Cotton sheets
for only $20 (any size).
20. Watch infomercials come to life inside the Expo.
21. Point out to a stranger "It's not the heat; it's the humidity."
22. Skip the gym and walk the 200-acre Fairgrounds instead.
23. Check out men in skirts - the Bagpipers.
24. Request a song from the dueling piano players.
25. Keep track of fanny packs and Zubas pants.
26. Buy some salt water taffy.
27. Purchase an Icy cold margarita at El Vagabond.
28. Visit Monty's reptiles and meet the giant freak of nature alligator.
29. Munch some roasted nuts.
30. Shop for vintage Victorian jewelry.
31. Buy cotton candy for a child under the age of 7.
32. Cool off with a Sno-cone.
33. Two words: Mr. Sticky.
34. Go see Midnight Star and remember "No parking on the dance floor."
35. Cheer the daily parade.
36. Look for local legends like "Freeway."
37. Heckle the airstaff at the WTMJ radio booth.
38. See the BoDeans at the Fair instead of Summerfest.
39. Have a Miller or a Bud -- the Fair sells both.
40. Have an "only in Milwaukee" moment and try the deep-fried Sauerkraut.
41. Take your loved one for a ride on the Ferris Wheel.
42. Discover what in the Discovery Barnyard.
43. Say "Hi" to the Wacky Wheel Guy.
44. Soar 280 feet in the air on the ejection seat
45. Meet some Milwaukee Wave players. (Ask if they know David and Victoria Beckham).
46. Buffalo Burritos ... mmmmmm.
47. Shop for a deal on a hot tub.
48. Bet on the racing goats. When you don't win, accuse the winner of taking performance-enhancing drugs.
49. All-you-can-eat pancakes, all day, every day
50. Borrow the neighbor's kid and take another ride down the Giant Slide
51. Veggie races...cucumbers on wheels, baby!
52. Head to Saz's and raise a glass in memory of Pork from the Havana Ducks.
53. Buy a VitaMix.
54. Scarf some mini-donuts.
55. Enjoy a stogie at Puro Puro Cigar Lounge.
56. People watch. You won't be disappointed.
57. Watch the fire jugglers. Tip liberally, because they deal with fire.
58. Try the famous Wisconsin cheese curds ... as big as potato pancakes.
59. Find out who the Futurity Girls are.
60. Bacardi Baggo.
61. Watch local celebs chow down in the Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Contest.
62. Milk a goat on Ag Venture Day.
63. Watch the Budweiser Clydesdales.
64. Check out the Dog Fair - jumping poodles, puppies and golden retrievers
65. See how many people you can spot eating a cream puff. How many do it correctly, by unscrewing the top?
66. Call in your order and pick up cream puffs at the drive-thru.
67. Snag some great recipes in the Wisconsin Product Pavilion.
68. Try Sen. Herb Kohl's famous root beer milk.
69. Look at sculptured bonsais, orchids, dinner plate sized dahlias and more.
70. Visit the cool new rain garden (between the Cattle Barn and the Double Decker Livestock Barn)
71. Graze your way through the Fair on Crazy Grazin' Day.
72. Beware of Aqua Net if you check out the Fire Jugglers.
73. Count plaid shirts in and outside of the barns.
74. See if the kids working in the barns are listening to country music or hip-hop.
75. Visit as many of the 30 free stages as possible.
76. Challenge the psychics to guess your correct age, weight or birthday.
77. Splurge for an imported beer.
78. Be a bobsledder in the bobsled simulator at the Pettit (Aug.2-5 only).
79. Let loose and get your moo on! Register for the Moo-la-palooza Mooing Contest.
80. Love Aussies? Check out the Australian vendor with his Didgeridoos and homemade meat pies.
81. Stop by for breakfast on your way to work, the Fair opens at 8a.m. each day.
82. The Wisconsin Wine Associations bar has a bunch of different wines...try them all.
83. Check out all the adorable animals...bunnies, chicks, piglets, horses and more.
84. Ante up at the Governor's Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction. Invite friends over for a giant BBQ.
85. Two words: Beeswax products.
86. Hop on the Sky Glider as a way to avoid the crowds. Laugh at all the flip-flops, sunglasses and cell phones that have been dropped on building roofs.
87. Go back in time with the Classic Car Collection.
88. Count people carrying mops?
89. Visit massage stations throughout the Park
90. Look at the giant pigs -- inside and outside the barns.
91. Check out Timber Tina's World Champion Lumberjills; women with axes.
92. Grab your friends and head to Benno's Mircobrew, and work your way through over 30 micros.
93. Count the mullets.
94. Watch Allie Faith suck down Cream Puffs as she goes for the three-peat.
95. Check out headlights at the Pettit National Ice Center.
96. Talk to people partying outside their RV.
97. Bust out your trucker hat ... they're still fashionable at the Fair.
98. Bust a move with Rock-It the Robot.
99. Say hello to "America's Guest" Jim Lombardo.
100. Pay to park in someone's front yard.



More Information ...
Wisconsin State Fair Park
640 S. 84th St.
West Allis, WI 53214
(800) 884-3247

Related links:

8 comments about this article.
Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...
Posted by Preview
MKE Man about town Red & Fred are the Elder matching & well dressed couple dancing all over Milwaukee ...
upofan Who's Freeway?!?!?!?! Move out of Milwaukee. What about carnie watching at the ...
vyleta Who is Red and Fred? I only know Freeway... ask him about any sports score for ...
vyleta Raffle ticket for the cabin?!?! I've searched and searched and cannot find the ...
mlstanton As far as watching for local legends,Red & Fred we know,Mike & Debbie we know,but ...


Show me the other 3 Talkbacks