Little girl enjoys sack race at Wisconsin State Fair.
Wisconsin State Fair officials are excited to announce new attractions and activities for the 2010 Wisconsin State Fair. In addition to the beloved, highly anticipated traditions Fairgoers look forward to, this year’s celebration will showcase a variety of new family friendly shows and displays, agriculture experiences and breathtaking horticultural exhibits. The 2010 Wisconsin State Fair, presented by U.S. Cellular, will take place Thursday, August 5 through Sunday, August 15 in West Allis.
Fair officials are excited to announce a new interactive exhibit that will be a blast from the past for Fairgoers. Days of the Dinosaur presented by 99.1 WMYX is an unbelievable 6700 square foot simulation exhibit with a dozen life-sized, state-of-the-art animatronic dinosaurs. Children and parents will be awed by the astoundingly lifelike sights and sounds of these prehistoric creatures from over 250 million years ago. Both entertaining and educational, the historically accurate presentation features multiple exhibits and an Interactive Area with a chance to play paleontologist and discover hidden bones. With plenty for the whole family to do, this attraction promises to please and is a great value – only a $1 admission per person. Days of the Dinosaur can be found in the Big Backyard on Wetley Way.
Those with the itch to do some home remodeling will want to plan a visit to the $20,000 Custom “Rockin’ Remodel” located at the south end of the Wisconsin Exposition Center. Fairgoers can enter to win $20,000 worth of home remodeling options from Affordable Bath & Kitchen, America in Home, Bath Fitter, Kitchen Creators, Malkin’s Carpets, Milwaukee Appliance, Seider Heating, Stone Oak Landscapes, Water Doctors and Weather Tight Corp. Raffle tickets will be sold for $2 each, 3 for $5 or 6 for $10, and proceeds go to a fantastic cause, the Ronald McDonald House. The winner of the $20,000 Custom Remodel will be drawn on Sunday, August 15 at 6pm.
Fairgoers in need of a haircut should hold off and head to the Fair on Monday, August 9! Stylists from Milwaukee- area Great Clips salons will be offering FREE haircuts to encourage donations for a fantastic cause that helps families from all over – the Ronald McDonald House! Haircuts will take place on August 9 from 9 am until 4 pm on the Jeffrey Scott® Activity Stage in the Wisconsin Exposition Center. “Sudz,” the Great Clips mascot, will be offering special discount hair coupons, and Fairgoers can register to win free autographed Great Clips NASCAR merchandise. It’s a great way to sit back and relax with Great Clips!
2010 marks the debut of the Cream Puff 3-Pack! Fairgoers can now pick up a 3-Pack of everyone’s favorite Fair indulgence to enjoy at the Fair or grab one on the way out to enjoy at home. 3-Packs will be $10 and available at the Original Cream Puff Pavilion and walk-up window and at the two convenient Cream Puff Express locations (Gate 4 in the Big Backyard and North Point on Grandstand Avenue).
Everyone’s dog can sit, stay and fetch, but not many can catch air like the dogs at the Fair. This year, the gifted pooches in the Dog Diving competitions will keep audiences smiling from 9 am until 8 pm, August 9 – 11 in the Poultry & Rabbit Palace. The hardest part will be picking which dog to cheer on!
People aren’t the only ones who like to be pampered and primped. Our canine friends like to indulge a little too. Each Sunday of the Fair, August 8 and 15, from 9 am until 3 pm, novice and advanced dog groomers will showcase their skills at the Dog Grooming Contests in the Animal Care Building located in Ag Village. The Advanced contest will be held on August 8 and the Novice groomers will compete on August 15.
Fair officials have responded to the immense popularity of the Champions Challenge in 2009. This year, more challenges will be held featuring magnificent, graceful horses and their talented riders. Last year’s enormously popular Gymkhanna Speed Events Champions Challenge will return on Monday, August 10 at 6:30pm. In addition, the new Hunter Over Fences Champions Challenge will take place on Thursday, August 12 at 2 pm and the Trail Champions Challenge will take place on Sunday, August 15 at 3:30 pm. All three challenges will take place in the Coliseum and are presented by the Wisconsin State Equine Horse Council Foundation.
Roller coaster lovers will want to make their way to Jack’s® Pizza Spectacular Midway to ride the Jack’s® Pizza Comet II! The Jack’s® Pizza Comet II is the largest portable steel roller coaster in the USA and the Wisconsin State Fair is one of two fairs in the country where it will be in 2010! The Jack’s® Pizza Comet II is 60 feet high, has over 1800 feet of rail track and four large drops! Roller coaster enthusiasts should mark it down on their “to do” list for the Fair.
The first ever Grand Champion Floral Challenge will take place in the Horticulture, Craft and Culinary Pavilion on Saturday, August 7 from noon until 3 pm, showcasing three award winning florists competing for the ultimate Grand Champion title. Competitors will be given an equal amount of flowers to arrange and a floral expert will be announcing the techniques and skills the arrangers are using. The Grand Champion Floral Challenge winner will be selected by a panel of expert judges and will receive points, giving them a chance to be eligible to move on to a national competition. Fairgoers will also be able to vote on their favorite arrangement.
Kids at the Fair can now test their skills as tomorrow’s farmers. Kids of all ages are invited to give their best shots at towing during Kiddie Tractor Pulls. Mini pedal tractors with sleds in tow will be available for children to try out Monday, August 9 through Wednesday, August 11 from 9 am to 6pm.
Two new dining areas have been created for Fairgoers this year. The Beef Corral, adjacent to the Beef Producers booth, is a great place to grab a burger from the Beef Trailer and have a seat. Directly behind the Wisconsin Pork Producers’ booth by the Ag Oasis, Fairgoers can relax at the Pork Patio and enjoy a Wisconsin Pork Sandwich, one of the most popular foods at the Fair.
Planning ahead and reserving electric scooter rentals makes the process fast and easy for Fairgoers. Rental fees are $45 per day plus a $5 reservation processing fee. Rentals must be returned by 10:30 pm Sunday – Thursday, 11:30 pm Fridays and Saturdays, and at 8:30 pm the Final Sunday of the Fair. Call 877.588.4782 or visit www.vistamobility.net/reservation.aspx to reserve your scooter today.
An added convenience at the Fair this year, Fairgoers can now rent lockers to store all of their belongings with ease. With a $5 deposit, lockers will be available for $1 per in and out or $5 for unlimited access during the day. Lockers will be located outside the Wisconsin Exposition Center on the north side of the facility and near the restrooms on the corner of Grandstand Avenue and Benno’s Micro Alley. Lockers are also indicated on the map of the Fair Park that is available online at WiState- Fair.com and those that are stationed at various points throughout the Park itself.
Fairgoers can be the first to receive information on discounts, promotions, and special offers from the Wisconsin State Fair, through our text alerts, powered by U.S. Cellular. Just text “FAIR” to 27765 or log on to www.textrules.com/wisf to sign up.
The 2010 Wisconsin State Fair, presented by U.S. Cellular, will take place Thursday, August 5 through Sunday, August 15. The Wisconsin State Fair offers an original experience to all that attend and is a phenomenal value with 30 FREE entertainment stages, thousands of animals, endless family activities, events, contests, vendors and culinary delights. For the most up-to-date information visit WiStateFair.com.