The Wisconsin State Fair’s 11-day stretch of food and festivities started Thursday morning as Gov. Scott Walker joined other public officials and fair leaders for an opening ceremony on fair grounds.
This year’s fair, presented by U.S. Cellular, runs through Sunday, Aug. 16 and will offer patrons a number of new attractions and food items.
Topping the list of new fair features is the “Sea Lion Splash” exhibit, presented by Meijer. The exhibit, part of a traveling sea lion show, will bring sea lions onsite to perform tricks and will also include an educational element about marine wildlife and conservation.
The 2015 fair will also host free sunscreen stations for fair attendees, open a newly expanded Sprecher Landing where fairgoers can enjoy top views along with music and Sprecher beers.
Additionally, the state fair this year will hold an onsite “Sporkies” food competition in which eight vendor finalists will enter their food creations into a voting contest among fairgoers. The finals are scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 12, at noon at the fair park’s Bank Mutual Amphiteater.
The fair will round out its new offering with “Plein Air,” in which artists will “paint their way around the fair,” according to fair officials. Artists will work on fair-inspired masterpieces and will enter a judging competition on Tuesday, Aug. 11, in the Exposition Center Lobby.
Food-wise, the fair plans to introduce 101 new food items to its menu this year, including bacon and cheddar chicken sausage from the West Allis Shrine Club, a bacon and tomato mac and cheese bowl from Siggy’s Gourmet Grilled Cheese, and a bacon cinnamon roll with icing from Cinnamon Rolls.
For a complete list of new food items, many of them bacon flavored, click here.
The fair is held at the Wisconsin State Fair Park, 640 S. 84th Street in West Allis.
The fair’s opening day runs from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
