Biggest County Fair In Wisconsin - Walworth County Fair, Elkhorn, WI
This post contains affiliate links. By purchasing through one of these links, you help keep this blog going so I can continue to share great travel ideas for you, your family and friends, at no additional cost to you. It's a win, win! Thank you for your love and support. All photographs in this post were taken by me. To purchase them, click on the links below the photos.
The Walworth County Fair in Elkhorn, WI. which always takes place over Labor Day weekend, starting the Wednesday before Labor Day and ending on Monday marks the end of summer for all the locals and visitors. It is known as the largest county fair in the state of Wisconsin. My family and I have attended the fair for many years. As soon as you walk through the gates, you know a fun and exciting day of activities and entertainment, great food and big contests, thrilling rides and midway games, farm animals and races, art and food exhibits, concerts and pageants, tractor pulls and demo derbies will fill your day/week.
The animals are a huge part of the fair. Whether it's looking at all the animals that are on exhibit in the animal barns, watching the barrel racing horses, going in the discovery barn and seeing the babies or watching duck races, pig races, trained dogs or sheep, the fair always has some surprises to get you excited about. My personal favorite has always been pig racing. These little pigs actually race for Oreo Cookies. Cutest thing ever!!!
The evening Grandstand entertainment is always the best. Some years they have the rodeo come to town. It can be fun to see how long those riders can stay on those horses with a grandstand full of people to cheer on each rider.
When the monster trucks come, my boys are always very happy campers. They also love the Truck and Tractor pulls because they absolutely love the smell of all that diesel smoke. I'm usually gagging and finding a reason to go walk through the fair after I take a few photos. This year, 2019, they will have motorcycle racing. That's something I haven't seen yet.
On the last day of the fair, they always end with a Demolition Derby! By far, that has always been my family's favorite part of the fair. We all decide who we want to win and cheer like crazy. It's always been a crazy dream of mine to be in a demo derby. It just looks like such a fun way to take out all your frustrations, especially if you own a vehicle that keeps breaking down. I think I would enjoy spray painting a vehicle in some sort of crazy way to draw attention to the crazy lady behind the steering wheel. Every once in a while, a car will start on fire, and that's a bit scary, but for the most part, just a lot of wreckage. May the best one win!
I am usually a health nut, but I do cheat at the fair. After all, we have to live a little and if we are risking our lives on those carnival rides, I feel that a few deep fried things for one week probably isn't any more of a risk. The Walworth County Fair has a vendor with the absolute best fried Jalapeno Cheese Sticks ever! I have never tasted anything quite like it and I never see this vendor anywhere else I go. No other fried cheese compares. Simply the BEST! I also enjoy a good gyro when I go to the fair. When I was pregnant with my first child, I would go to any fair I could, just so I could have a gyro. I craved them. I don't crave them anymore, but I usually will have one when the opportunity is right. My family also is in love with SuWings egg rolls. Unlike most egg rolls, they use peanut butter in their recipe, and unless you are allergic to nuts - let's admit - peanut butter in savory dishes is the best! This fair offers all your favorites! Deep Fried Oreos, Deep Fried Snickers, Deep Fried whatever you can imagine... and did I mention cream puffs? Another one of my weaknesses. Whatever you're craving, you're sure to find it at the fair.
Walking through the animal barns is a real treat. You get to see all the prize winning animals and if you stop and talk to the kids and farmers who raise these animals, you can really learn a lot of information. You can watch the animals being judged and you see sheep being sheared and cows being milked. If you don't live in the country or on a farm, this is a great way for kids to learn all about where their food supply comes from. They also have an auction in the Wiswell building where they auction off the animals.
The North Hall building is always filled with interesting decorated cakes, cookies, canned food, quilts, crocheted and knitted items and a whole host of things that will spark your creativity. I have enjoyed entering the food categories many times. There's something fun about competing to win Best of Show in one of the food categories! The other end of the North Hall is filled with commercial exhibits. There is one that is always tempting and it is usually when you first walk in the doors to the North Hall. The vendor has about 50 varieties of fudge that smell so delicious!
Every year, they have a talented chainsaw artist that comes and makes incredible works of art before your eyes. It is always fun and exciting to watch an entire piece be made from a tree stump. Near the end of the fair, they auction off all the pieces over at the fair Park Stage. I always thought it would be pretty cool to own a piece that you witnessed being made. One of my children's favorite things is trying to guess what he is making before anyone else.
This man always makes the German food booth feel quite authentic. His happy, accordian music transports you to a festival straight out of Germany.
All of you who have children will love Nick's Kid's Show. He has been at the fair every year as long as I have been a parent. I think my children think of him as a relative they get to see once a year. All of our kids have grown up with Nick and his songs, games and eating contests. It is a favorite hangout place for kids. He is energetic, fun, motivating and seriously, he never seems to age. I love that some of my grandchildren have also gotten to attend Nick's Kid's Show. It wouldn't be the Walworth County Fair without him.
My children have grown up with the fair marking the end of summer for them. My kids love the fair. I even had one daughter who chose to have her senior pictures taken at the fair. The church we now attend was because we first heard the pastor preach a sermon at the Sunday worship service at the Park Stage. We are thankful for all the work everyone puts into making the Walworth County Fair the biggest and best in the state.
What You Should Know Before You Go
If you plan to go more than two times in the week then it is more profitable to get a season pass which you can use the entire fair.
Remember to wear comfortable shoes, bring plenty of Sunscreen, and also be prepared for cool days as well. We have been at the fair when it was 90 degrees and also when it was in the 50 degree range. You just never know this time of year. Sometimes you want ice cream and sometimes you are buying hot herbal tea, coffee or hot chocolate.
Make sure you bring cash as many of the vendors still only take cash, but ATM are always located on the fairgrounds.
To get a copy of this years schedule visit the Walworth County Fair's website.
To get a copy of this years schedule visit the Walworth County Fair's website.
In order to get your kids excited about going to the fair, here are a few recommendations for you.
For the Pre-school/Early Reading ages, Fun at the County Fair (John Deere Lift-the-Flap Books) by Dena Neusner will be a fun treat. Your kids will enjoy lifting all the flaps as they watch the tractors do all the things they need to do to get ready for the County Fair. If your child enjoys the fair, this book is sure to become one of their favorites.
For those children who are hooked on "Little House on the Prairie," they have a cute little book called, County Fair by Laura Ingalls Wilder where Almonzo is excited to see what the judges think of his special pumpkin that he is entering in the fair.
For teens and adults, you may be interested in reading specifically about the history of the largest county fair in Wisconsin by reading Walworth County Fair (Images of America) by Taylor Pipes. It is kind of interesting to read about a time when trains brought the fair goers to the fair.
When I had all ten children at home, we would wear matching shirts to the fair. It was easier to keep track of them all. If you don't already have matching shirts, you might enjoy getting a special fair shirt like this. Or if you have children in the 4H program, you might prefer a shirt like this.
If you are taking children to the fair, I highly recommend taking a picture of them each day before you enter the fair. If your child were to get lost it is good to have a picture of what they were wearing that day. We did have this happen one time. Our little guy got lost, but all of us knew what each other was wearing and it was easy to get people to help us find him. The fair also hands out stickers that you can write your cell phone number on and put it on the back of the child. It is good to have a buddy system and also good to have a meeting place. Make sure your child understands not to leave the fairgrounds with anyone but you.
Enrichment Ideas For After The Fair
What happens when the fair is over and you are totally bummed that you were too full from eating that corn dog and cotton candy to try that deep fried Oreo? Never fear, I've got you covered. Fair Foods: The Most Popular and Offbeat Recipes from America's State and County Fairs by George Geary is your answer. Now, you can copy your favorite fair food recipes right in your own home. How about a mid-winter fair food night where you invite your friends over for some fun food and games to help winter not seem so long and to remind you of the fun you had at the fair.
A fun game to play at your winter fair themed dinner party is The County Fair Game by J. Bell-Jones. A family friendly game that celebrates family and agriculture, the domestic arts, livestock and the outdoors. It will be sure to delight everyone involved.
The County Fair Coloring Book for Adults is a fun, relaxing, winter activity that will remind you of all the fun you and your family had at the fair that year. Maybe you could use some of the pictures you color to decorate for your fair themed dinner party.
For the little ones in the family that probably fell in love with all the giant tractors at the fair, this John Deere Animal Sounds Preschool Toy would help them to remember the fair throughout the year.
We are a big Lego family. My children love building with Lego's and love it even more after they have experienced something fun. For all of you who have Lego loving children, I recommend this Lego 3 in 1 Fairground Carousel Building Kit. It is sure to entertain your children for hours. For the older teens in your home that love Lego's, I recommend this Lego Creator Expert Ferris Wheel Construction Set. It will really help them to get some idea of how these rides work.
For the real adventure seekers out there that love the fair and are good with your hands, try the K'NEX Thrill Rides 6 Foot Ferris Wheel. I actually saw one of these built and put in a store front window. It was super cool!
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy the fair. Let me know what your favorite part of the Walworth County Fair is in the comments section below.
Until next time, always choose the scenic life!
Hannah Babiak is a stock photographer and travel blogger. For writing assignments or ideas for future posts, please contact her at alwayschoosethesceniclife@gmail.com or leave a comment below.
Hannah Babiak is a stock photographer and travel blogger. For writing assignments or ideas for future posts, please contact her at alwayschoosethesceniclife@gmail.com or leave a comment below.
Comments
Post a Comment