After three years, I’d say we’ve got this Wisconsin State Fair thing down pat.
We were rookies during our first visit in 2024, and it showed. For starters, we went on a Saturday…and ran into a traffic jam so long, it took us an hour to travel the last mile. And then, we wandered around aimlessly, without a plan. I’m all for spontaneity (err…sometimes), but when it comes to navigating the nearly 200 acres that comprise the West Allis fairgrounds, you really need a strategy. We never saw the Exposition Center and its hundreds of shopping vendors, walked blindly past the Grand Champion Hall housing prize-winning exhibits. Even our food choices were willy-nilly that first year. I got a freakin’ potato pancake, if you can believe that shit.
We were such newbies.
Last year, we were smarter. We decided to go in the middle of the week to beat the crowds and traffic. And we started paying more attention to the Sporkies and Drinkies…the silly-named-but-always-intriguing food and beverage competition that highlights unique, creative, and unconventional menu items from fair vendors. Why settle for a plain ol’ corndog when you can get a golden, flaky puff pastry filled with tender pulled pork, zesty peach filling, layered with creamy garlic and herb cheese, and finished with a drizzle of hot honey and a sprinkle of mustard seeds instead?
Yesterday, we made our annual pilgrimage to the fair. Again on a Wednesday. There’s a lot to be said for breaking up the work week that way! It feels like a mini weekend. And this time, we focused almost exclusively on the Sporkies and Drinkies winners and finalists.
The fair’s always about the food, right?
Left to right: the Cream City Cone (a warm, buttery pretzel shaped like a cone, dipped in dill pickle mustard, packed with a savory mix of bratwurst, sautéed onions and mushrooms, and melted cheddar, and topped with a breaded white cheddar cheese curd); Al Pastor Pizza (marinated al pastor pork, mozzarella cheese, pineapple, cilantro, onion, lime, and a signature special sauce), and Sweet Lemon Berry Cheese Curds (fried white cheddar cheese curds tossed in a cinnamon-sugar mix with a raspberry sauce and a side of sweet lemon zest whipped cream).
Holy hell. All three were really good, but we both agreed the curds were the best thing we put in our mouths yesterday. It’s an odd combination that shouldn’t work, but somehow, does. Sweet, savory, and crispy. Every box was checked.
With so many foods to try, including the Porky Puff, we shared everything. And still didn’t get around to the Birria Flamin’ Bombs, Deep Fried Horchata Balls, Bayou Crunch Cup, Color-Changing Swamp Juice, Hot Honey Chicken Lemonade, Deep Fried Ranch, Soft Serve Beer (I’m dead serious), or dozens of others. One only has so much room in one’s stomach! You really have to pick and choose, which is why I spent an hour researching the choices ahead of time, even dipping into Reddit reviews, to map out a culinary game plan. Literally: I all but drew a map. I can’t help it; I’m a planner at heart.
(So much for that “spontaneity” B.S. above.)
Total splurge day, as it always is…but we also logged 15,000 steps just walking around the immense fairgrounds. In the heat and humidity, I might add. Luckily, there were cold beers and canned cocktails to help.
One thing that separates the Wisconsin State Fair from the Jefferson County Fair: the talent is much higher. Remember how I’d planned to submit a couple of photos in the Open Amateur Photography category at the JeffCo Fair but missed the deadline? Scoping out the entrants the day we visited, I was convinced I would have had a real shot at a blue ribbon. At the State Fair? Not so much. There were some truly exceptional photographs submitted. I’d be lucky to snag an honorable mention.
About the only downside was the muggy weather. At least it didn’t rain, like it is today…guess we dodged a bullet there! Regardless, we spent a solid six hours at the fair, and might’ve stayed longer if we weren’t drained and it wasn’t a “school night.” Tara suggested we go in the evening next year, and I’m not totally opposed to the idea. It would be a whole different vibe, and seeing everything lit up after dark, all the bright lights and flashing neon, would be fun. But it would also be more crowded and traffic-y, so we’ll see how we feel about that 52 weeks from now.
Now that our annual State Fair trek is complete, it feels like summer is winding down. Granted, it doesn’t truly end until Labor Day weekend–the Taste of Madison always feels like the last big hurrah–and we have lots more outdoorsy stuff planned, but the signs are there. It’s dark(ish) again when I head out on my morning walks, and. tomorrow is our last 8:00 sunset. Tara’s harvesting tomatoes left and right, and our lightning bugs are all but gone now (sniff).
Sadly, I can’t say the same about the mosquitoes.
What’s your go-to fair food? Any late-summer plans on your radar?
Mark My Words 
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