WAUSAU – After a year withoutcarnivals,crowds and deep-fried cheese curds,the Wisconsin Valley Fairis bringing its community events and carnival mainstays back to Wausau Aug. 3-8.
The fairgrounds are located inside Marathon Park at1201 Stewart Ave. Daily admissionis $6 before noon and $9 after. If you'll be returning a couple of times during the week,you may want to pick up a season pass, which is $22 onlineand $25 at the gate.
Parking on the fairgrounds is$6 per day or $18 for the season. Parking is alsoavailable on the street around the park. Lot spaces will also be sold across Stewart Avenue at John Muir Middle Schooland east of the fairgroundsat the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point at Wausau.A limited amount ofaccessible parking is available in the lot north of the East Gate Hall near Gate 3.
Strollers are welcome, but pets — except for exhibitand service animals— should be left at home. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the fair is asking anyone who feels sick to stay home. It is alsoincreasing sanitation procedures and encouraging people to wash their hands often.
The carnival midway returns
Whether your favorite ride is the Tilt-a-Whirl, the Ferris wheel, the Gravitronor something else,you'll have the chance to find them at the fair this year. The carnival midwaykicks off at 5 p.m. Aug. 3. On Aug. 4-6, the rides open at 1 p.m., and Aug. 7-8, the rides open at noon.
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Tickets for the rides cost $2 each, and most rides will need more than one ticket. Wristbands are goodfor one day ofunlimited carnivalrides Aug. 4-8. They're$25 in advance at the fair office or at Jerry's County Market,220 S. 18th Ave., Wausau, and $30 at the gate.
Jams at the grandstand
On Aug. 3-6, the grandstand will host live music every night. Boogie and the Yo-Yo'z, a pop band with a three-piece horn section, starts playing at 7 p.m. Aug. 3. Roots & Boots, a collaboration between country songwriters Aaron Tippin, Collin Raye and Sammy Kershaw,will perform at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 4. Randy Houser, a country singer famous for songs like "Boots On," "How Country Feels" and "Runnin' Outta Moonlight," will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 5. Ezra Ray Hart — featuringKevin Griffin of Better Than Ezra, Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray and Emerson Hart of Tonic— will perform at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 6.
Concerts are free with admission to the fair. Reserved seating, which guarantees one of the front-row seats in the grandstand, is an additional $25 in advanceor $30 at the gate.
Animalraces and learning spaces
There's also plenty to do if you're just at the fair for the day. You don't want to miss the duck, pigand goat race, held every two hours behind the food court on fair afternoons. Races start at 1 p.m. Aug. 3-7, and the final race of the day is at 7 p.m. Aug. 3-6 and at 5 p.m. Aug. 7. Fair Administrator Jodi Langenhahn said families get a kick out of seeing the animals, whousually wear costumes. "If you haven’t seen these, you need to go," she said.
In the past, families have also flockedtothe Ag Adventure tent, hosted by the Marathon County Partnership for Progressive Agriculture. Visitors can learn about agriculture through activities, product samples andinteractive displays. The Marathon CountyFuture Farmers of America and the 4-H Club, along with other members of the community, will also be showing theiranimals and projects in the tents andexhibition buildings near Gate 3.
Rodeos and wrecked rides
Two of the most popular events at the Wisconsin Valley Fair are a mix of old and new.The rodeo was added to the grandstand entertainment lineup in 2019, and it will be back this year at 7 p.m. Aug. 7.The event is free with general admission, but if you want a close-up look at the action, reservedseating costs $10 per ticket.
The demolition derby, which has thrilled audiences foryears, willbe returning at 5 p.m. Aug. 8 at the grandstand.General admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children ages 4-10. You can buy your demo derby ticket at the fair office all week, especially if you want to avoid the lines on Sundayafternoon — the stands fill up fast.
A complete schedule, map of the fairgrounds, and reserved seating and season pass ticketsareavailable at wisconsinvalleyfair.com. You can also find out more by calling715-261-1539 or checking out the fair's Facebook page.
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