The Central Wisconsin State Fair is happening next week.
Our own “Man on the Midway,” Dale Erickson, had a chance to talk with Dale Christensen, the Executive Director of the Central Wisconsin State Fair, and he gave a preview of what’s happening at the Fair.
And you’ll be able to catch Dale Erickson, “Our Man on the Midway,” at the fair. Find more about the fair and events here: https://www.centralwisconsinstatefair.com/
(AI assisted transcription of the interview by Otter.ai):
Dale Erickson: “The Central Wisconsin State Fair is coming up in less than a week and here to tell me about things about the Central Wisconsin State Fair is Dale Christensen. Dale, first of all, you’ve got admission for this year’s fair.”
Dale Christensen: “Yeah, admission for this year’s fair stayed pretty much everything the same as what we’ve been doing in the past, we’ve got our $10 day for adults, for daily pass, and children is $5. One thing new this year, is we’re doing a Can Do Fair Day on Tuesday, August 19. If you bring two non-perishable, non-expired food items to the gate, you get into the fair free on Tuesday.”
Dale Erickson: “Also, a couple of specials later in the week as well.”
Dale Christensen: “Yeah, we got a couple specials later in the week. We do have our Senior Citizen and Veterans Day is on Wednesday, and seniors and veterans get in for $5 and then we do a BOGO special on Saturday, from 11 to two. If you buy one, you get one free.”
Dale Erickson: “One of the big attractions of the central Wisconsin State Fair is your grandstand. Can you tell us a little bit about some of the acts that are going to be in front of the grandstand, and how folks can get tickets?”
Dale Christensen: “Well, grandstand is packed this year. I think we’ve got a very good lineup. Um, Brady Lee is on Tuesday night. We kind of say he’s a grandstand, but the grandstand, he’s really out in our entertainment tent on Tuesday night.”
“Chris Kroeze, he will be in here August, 20, at 7:30. Chris is gonna play for two hours. On Thursday, we will be rounding it up with Hairball and Hairball has been here for a few years, but they seem to be going over very good. And so tickets are available for Hairball.”
“Then Friday we got country singer Justin Moore coming in. Brett Westgrove will be opening up for Justin Moore. And then the big rock band on Saturday is the World Touring Halestorm. They’re just coming off of a world tour, so we’re right at the tail end of it, before they take a break.”
Dale Erickson: “Another area that has music and other entertainment is the family entertainment tent. You’ve got several acts that are going to be performing. Do you want to highlight just a few of those?”
Dale Christensen: “Well, the majority of our tent stays busy all week long. So, if you come on the grounds, there’s going to be entertainment going on in there and adventure. We go from bluegrass to polkas to country to Hub City jazz will be playing. I mean, we’ve got several going on all night long.”
“We’ve got some regional bands coming in, a few new ones that we haven’t had in years since I’ve been here and a lot of things going on, something for everybody. I say we got Country classics, we got everything.”
Dale Erickson: “The in the animal area, your horse show this year is going to be in memory of one of the show’s founders.”
Dale Christensen: “Yep, sadly, we lost Randy Meyer here this spring and Randy was one of the founding members of our Draft Horse Show. So, the Draft Horse Show this year is being kind of held in Randy’s memory.”
Dale Erickson: “Many people will remember Randy from his years of showing here and also that wonderful 10 horse pyramid hitch that they have done over the years.”
Dale Christensen: “Yeah, the 10 horse hitch has been here the last several years when Randy was here. It’s not making a comeback this year, but I have been told it was down at State Fair this last week, so they’re still getting around, doing things.”
Dale Erickson: “The fair also has the 4-H projects and animal exhibits as well. Can you tell folks when the junior division animals will be here, when the Open Class animals will be here, and where folks can find all of the 4-H project exhibits during the fair?”
Dale Christensen: “Well, Junior fair actually moves in on Monday. The kids will be bringing in animals and there will be some judging going on on Monday. Animal judging starts at eight o’clock on Tuesday and they will be moving here. Junior fair is here, Tuesday, Wednesday. They will be checking out on Thursday at two o’clock and once we get things cleaned up and everything Thursday evening, open class will be moving in.”
Dale Erickson: “4-H project area and the open class project area, where will folks find those on the grounds?”
Dale Christensen: “Well, those will be in the junior fair building as the majority of our junior exhibits will be in there. A lot of the Open Class photography, vegetables, flowers, those types of things. They’re all located over in the hockey building.”
Dale Erickson: “Another area that everyone loves at any fair is the carnival on the midway. Can you tell us a little bit about the carnival that’s going to be here, and any specials that they have as well?”
Dale Christensen: “The specials I will send you to their website or to the fair book. They’re running a different special every day, Mr. Ed’s magical Midways. They’ll be here. This will be their third year with us, and they’ve brought in a couple new rides last year, some bigger, spectacular rides, and they’re a great group to work with. And they’re a very clean, safe show. And we’re very glad to have them.”
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