After 11 incredible days of feeling good fun at the 173rd Wisconsin State Fair, presented by UScellular, Wisconsin State Fair officials announced a record-breaking 1,136,805 Fairgoers visited the annual event, beating the previous record of 1,130,572 from 2019.
“I am so proud of the State Fair Park staff, and thankful for our sponsors, vendors, exhibitors, and Fairgoers who helped make the 2024 Wisconsin State Fair so successful,” said Shari Black, Chief Executive Officer of State Fair Park. “The past few years we have focused on enhancing the State Fair Park experience and brand, as well as bringing additional value to our consumers. This year’s attendance and revenue are a testament to the hard work of everyone I mentioned. I am truly grateful to work with such an amazing team.”
Chairman of the Board John Yingling said, “We not only recognize the Wisconsin State Fair as one of the top fairs in North America but also prove that we truly deserve this recognition by breaking our own attendance record.” I believe we are the best State Fair in the country. I’d like to thank the Fairgoers who joined us for the best 11 days of summer and congratulate the State Fair Park Board and staff. It is their passion and dedication that made this a record-breaking year.”
The Numbers At a Glance
Well over 10,000 competitive exhibits were judged with 9,800 exhibits showcased in Grand Champion Hall alone. With an abundance of history to celebrate, including 100 years of Cream Puffs, the inaugural History Walk was very popular. Over 1,000 ribbons were handed out to Fairgoers who explored the rich history of the fair.
This year saw extremely successful auctions once again as well. The Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction raising $426,750 and the Blue Ribbon Dairy Products Auction raising a record-breaking $65,080. A significant portion of funds raised at these auctions benefit Wisconsin’s youth agriculture programs and provide scholarships.
The Original Cream Puff Team served up 352,000 Original Cream Puffs this year. An additional 21,000 Specialty Flavored Cream Puffs were dished out to Fairgoers looking for a delightful new twist on this favorite dessert. The Sporkies and Drinkies, Wisconsin State Fair’s food and non-alcoholic beverage competition, saw many innovative savory and also sweet dishes. This year’s first-place award went to Saz’s BBQ. Saz’s served over 28,000 orders of Deep-Fried Lemonade Bites and the now two-time Drinkies winner, Old Fashioned Sipper Club, served nearly 9,000 Fairway Fusions.
Eleven families were crowned the UScellular Fairgoers of the Day. This was a brand-new program to surprise as well as delight Fairgoers who embody the Fair spirit. As the presenting sponsor of the State Fair, UScellular prioritizes Fairgoers with exciting, interactive activations over the 11 days. This year, the Cream Puff Lovin’ Celebration, presented by UW Credit Union, features eating contests and dance parties. The event also honors the Kremer family and Wisconsin Bakers Association for their Cream Puff contributions to the State Fair.
Fairgoers enjoyed over 90,000 trips on the SkyGlider and over 35,000 potatoes from the Wisconsin Products Pavilion. The Wisconsin State Fair team is already preparing for the 2025 event, set for July 31 to August 10.
