State Fair!

Fair-goers on the Sky Glider. 8/10/24 dwm

Originally, the plan was to attend State Fair August 2nd. That didn't work out for other members of the family and it was going to be very hot and humid.

We made it to West Allis yesterday on the penultimate day of the festivities. Family who could, were there and the weather was spectacularly more than FAIR.

There were sunny skies, a nice breeze, low humidity, and temperatures in the low 70s, it was a perfect day.

While the fair is a long-time family tradition, we also follow the same schedule. We get there around 8:30 in the morning to secure a good parking space then wait for the Flower building to open at 9.

The Springs honors the original farm. dwm

 This year, the Flower Building (now the Grand Champion Hall) didn't open at 9. It opened at 10! Exploratory Park (formerly the Department of Natural Resources park) wasn't open at 9 and the Cream Puff Pavilion had its doors shut too!  

 Exploratory Park wasn't fully open, but by 9:20 we were able to walk around.  After enjoying the quiet of the park and its gardens, we got in line outside the Cream Pull Pavilion.

 Cream Puffs debuted at State Fair in 1924, making this their centennial. To celebrate, the first 100 people in the cream puff line, received one free cream puff. Our group was in one of three lines (one for each entrance) and when the doors opened, our whole family managed to have a coupon! More on the cream puffs Tuesday.

An artful cow in the Flower bldg. dwm

After our cream puffs, we walked through Grand Champion Hall, checking out the photo and quilt galleries while admiring judged flowers, vegetables, and other food. It was strange going out of order like that, but we've gotten used to changes in the past, so I suspect we'll adjust.

 

Across the street from the prize-winning items and floral displays is the Exposition Center, the largest building at State Fair Park, home to most commercial exhibitors.

 

I missed out on a 2024 State Fair park pin by coming the second weekend, as they were sold out. I did get one that is different from my other pins but isn't specific to the 2024 edition.

 

Many of the booths are the same every year, you can see cookware demonstrated, various cleaning devices and food preparation devices, plus discover doo-dads and such that you didn't realize how much you needed.

 

In the center of the building was a race car, an Indy race car, like those that will come to the Milwaukee Mile track Labor Day weekend for two races. HyVee is the corporate sponsor; they were showing off the fancy car and giving away prizes.

 

An Indy car on display. 8/10/24 dwm

 I noticed there were Matchbox-size cars that you could win, which look cool, so I captured the QR code, registered, and then spun the wheel.

 

 Games of chance like that are harmless fun. There is no money on the line, and it wouldn't matter much if I won or lost.

 

 As you may have guessed, I won. It wasn't the only scale-model, cast metal Indy race car they gave away, but it was one of a limited number. A quick search online indicates to buy one costs around $70!

 It looks fast, even in the box. 

My car on the Milwaukee Mile. dwm

I'm not quite sure what I'll do with it, but for a while it will have a home next to the bobble-heads in my work office.

The boxed car was heavy enough I didn't want to carry it around all day, so I walked it to the car parked inside the Milwaukee Mile track, pausing a few minutes to get a photo near the wall in the southwest corner of the track in the distant shadow of the press box at the top of the bleachers.

Our shopping finished at the Expo, we made our way to the amphitheater to find seats for the popular Kids From Wisconsin show. 

 

That's another tradition, which includes having someone go during an earlier stage show to get good seats. My wife got a place in the shade while the FFA Honor Choir performed and sent me to ride the Wonderfair Wheel (more on that Thursday).

It is the 56th season for the Kids From Wisconsin at State Fair. They put on a great show demonstrating musical talent, dancing ability, and cohesiveness.

 

The Kids saluting classic entertainers. 8/10/24 dwm

 The thirty-six singers/dancers and musicians come from all areas of the state and represent the best of Wisconsin.

 There is music for all ages and a great spirit on stage. The group is now more than a summer thing, it's expanded to reach out throughout the year and bring music to schools that don't have it in the curriculum.

 Following their fantastic performance, we had a late lunch in the Wisconsin Products Pavilion, then grabbed a special treat for the ride home. It was great fun, we'll see you next year at State Fair!\

A fountain in the 1851 Steel and Stone water feature in Central Park. 8/10/2024 dwm

The chocolate cake cream puff was part of the cream puff's centennial celebration. 8/10/24 dwm

There is a life-size chessboard in Exploratory Park. 8/10/24 dwm

From Central Park looking at the Wonderfair Wheel, Giant Slide, and Sky Glider. 8/10/24 dwm

The Fair ends Sunday, August 12, I'll have more to write about it throughout the week.