Contact: Amy Hasenberg, (608) 266-2839
WEST ALLIS – Governor Scott Walker today kicked off the 167th annual Wisconsin State Fair and the 50th anniversary of the Giant Slide. This year’s fair runs from August 2nd – August 12th and features more than 80 new food items including Snickers in a Waffle On-a-Stick and North America’s largest traveling ferris wheel, the 400,000 pound, 15 stories-high WonderFair Wheel.
“The Wisconsin State Fair is fun for everyone and it brings more than 1 million visitors to West Allis each year,” said Governor Walker. “Last year’s visitors consumed more than 400,000 Original Cream Puffs, took more than 1 million rides in Spin City, and rode the Giant Slide more than 125,000 times—I’m proud to say I helped contribute to many of those stats, especially the Giant Slide which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this summer. The State Fair is something to look forward to each year, and I hope everyone has a chance to come and eat one, or maybe two, cream puffs this summer.”
In celebration of the 2018 Wisconsin State Fair, Governor Walker issued a proclamation declaring August 2 – August 12, 2018, as “State Fair Days” throughout the state. A copy of the proclamation is attached.
The Governor also declared August 2, 2018 as Giant Slide Day in celebration of the slide’s 50th anniversary. The Giant Slide was created by Fred Pittroff in 1968. Governor Walker presented the proclamation to Mr. Pittroff’s daughter, Stacey Pittroff-Barona, before taking a ride down the Giant Slide. A copy of the proclamation is attached.
The Wisconsin State Fair hours are 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 8 a.m. – 12 a.m. Friday and Saturday; and 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. on the final Sunday of the fair. More information about the 2018 Wisconsin State Fair can be found on their website: http://wistatefair.com/fair/.
