Ellie here. It’s officially August!

While I’m not wishing the summer away, I am, in all honesty, looking forward to fall. I’m excited for cooler temperatures, fall colors, and most importantly, football season.

Switching gears, on Friday I sent out a poll asking you to choose either fried or squeaky cheese curds.

I was surprised by your answers! While it was pretty close, most of you responded that you prefer squeaky. Personally, I’m a fried kind of girl. But, to each their own.

Now, I’ve got another Wisconsin poll question for you: Are you an Old Fashioned sweet or sour person? And if you’ve got a specific reason why, let me know!

Click the badgers to find an event near you!

Another Monday means another Wisconsin event roundup. Here’s what we’ve got going on in the Badger State this week:

🎪 Wisconsin Valley Fair, Wausau (Aug. 4-9)

This classic county fair features plenty of attractions for the whole family, including live grandstand entertainment, carnival rides, livestock exhibits, youth showcases, and an antique farm machinery museum.

🧚‍♂️ Fairyfolk Festival, Sheboygan (Aug. 4-9)

Step into this magical outdoor experience where fantasy comes to life. This event features mythical creatures, interactive activities, storybook landscapes, and enchanting displays for all ages.

🎡 Clark County Fair, Neillsville (Aug. 5-9)

Fried food, carnival rides, and livestock. What’s more Wisconsin? This county fair offers exciting grandstand events, livestock shows, 4-H activities, local food vendors, and plenty of family-friendly entertainment. And don’t forget to dress for the theme: Red, white, and boots.

🎢 Bayfield County Fair, Iron River (Aug. 6-9)

Enjoy four days of family fun, full of carnival rides, livestock and agricultural exhibits, motorsport and rodeo events, and of course, plenty of fair food.

🐃 Rusk County Fair & Rodeo, Ladysmith (Aug. 6-9)

Spanning 52 acres, this longtime community tradition is more than your classic county fair. While it features all your fair favorites, it also highlights local farming and exciting activities, including a demolition derby, rodeo, and lawn mower races.

🎸 XRoads41 Music Festival, Oshkosh (Aug. 6-8)

This festival features country artists and related sub-genres. In addition to live music, attendees can camp at the grounds and shop from various vendors. Notable headliners include Zac Brown Band, Wiz Khalifa, Lainey Wilson, and Flatline Cavalry.

Taking in the beauty of the sunset over the lake from Memorial Union Terrace in Madison is just one of a few fantastic things at this location. (Photo by billrdio/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, seen in a video he posted to social media on July 30, announcing he would be suspending his campaign for governor, with less than two weeks until the Aug. 11 primary.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Ellie Bourdo with stories from Holly Garcia and Pat Kreitlow. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

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