9 of the biggest moments in Wisconsin State Fair history

We love state fair season! Where else can you eat a burger on a donut, an ear of sweet corn, and a deep-fried Twinkie on-a-stick all before 10 a.m. without any judgment? During the “Best 11 Days of Summer,” of course!

The 2024 Wisconsin State Fair starts Thursday, Aug. 1 and runs through next Sunday, Aug. 11. But, before you head to West Allis, let’s brush up on a little history…

Can you believe admission to the first fair in 1851 was as little as 10 cents? Here are nine more milestones you might not remember OR have been alive to experience:

📸 Click Here to View This Timeline in Photos

1887 – More than 200 sheep and 300 poultry entries caused officials to add a limit to the number moving forward.

1907 – The fair’s Dairy Cattle Barn was built. It’s still the oldest building at State Fair Park!

1924 – The cream puff made its debut in the Dairy Building.

1942 – 124,783 people attended the fair in a single day—setting a new record.

1972 – The now-iconic snowflake logo was introduced to symbolize the year-round use of State Fair Park.

1989 – The Belle of Wisconsin, a 40,000-pound block of cheddar, ended its nationwide promotional tour at the State Fair.

1998 – A 130-foot platform was built so visitors could try bungee jumping.

2009 – “On-A-Stick”-mania reached new heights, with food options like chocolate-covered bacon-on-a-stick, fried peanut butter and jelly-on-a-stick, cherry pie-on-a-stick, mini burgers-on-a-stick, and cookie dough on-a-stick.

2011 – The largest Cream Puff ever made measures in at 7.5 inches tall by 38 inches wide and a whopping 126 pounds, earning a spot in the Guinness World Record books.

2020–The State Fair was canceled for the first time since 1945 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

MORE: 7 Things You’ll Only Find at the Wisconsin State Fair