The Biggest Fairs in Wisconsin

The Wisconsin State Fair set an all-time attendance record in 2024, drawing 1,136,805 visitors over 11 days in West Allis. Running since 1851, it's been a fixture of Wisconsin summers for over 170 years — famous for its cream puffs (over 400,000 sold annually), big-name grandstand acts, and a dairy showcase that reflects the state's agricultural identity.

Self-described as the largest county fair in Wisconsin, the Walworth County Fair draws an estimated 150,000 visitors each August to Elkhorn in the Lake Geneva area. The 174-year-old five-day fair is known for its strong grandstand lineup, livestock competitions, and the agricultural heritage of one of Wisconsin's most productive farming counties.

Consistently described as Wisconsin's second-largest county fair, the Wisconsin Valley Fair draws an estimated 140,000 visitors to Wausau each August. Serving Marathon County in central Wisconsin, it features a full midway, open and youth livestock competitions, and a grandstand entertainment lineup that draws from across the region.

The Waukesha County Fair ran five days in July 2025 and drew 114,798 visitors — the strongest hard gate count among Wisconsin's county fairs outside of Walworth. Located just west of Milwaukee, it's a community institution over 150 years old, featuring carnival rides, livestock shows, and grandstand acts that draw from the greater Milwaukee metro area.