Skip to main content

To Chippewa Falls for the Northern Wisconsin State Fair

By
I saw that the Northern Wisconsin State Fair was happening and we didn't have anything else planned. We booked a campsite at Lake Wissota State Park and we were on our way. 

We hadn't been to a county fair yet and this seemed like it might be even better.

We set up camp first in case we would be back late.

This was a good excuse for a quick camping trip. Plus we'd never been to Lake Wissota State Park before or Chippewa Falls, really.

Since 1897 Chippewa Falls has been hosting the Northern Wisconsin State Fair. More of a super-regional county fair, Wisconsin’s other state fair started as a way for folks up north to avoid the grueling, long haul down to Milwaukee County.

Our first stop was to fill up our big jug of lemonade. I think this is the 4th year of this big jug.

Brooke brings a couple of our old lemonade jugs with just in case. Then you get the refill price.

The food at the 4H stand or local church is usually the best deal for your money.

We passed through the midway, but wanted to check out the animals first.

We watched the sheep competition for a bit. 

Theo did not want to see the stinky animals.

He hates the smell of barns, such a city kid. 


Much better.


These county fair ride prices are getting out of hand. Lucky for us the kids are super picky.

We've been spoiled by Bay Beach so any other amusement park feels outrageous. 

We saw that the Kiwanis Club was selling our new favorite ice cream, Olson's, and had to get some. Theo ordered first and the guy gave him an extra big scoop. 

We saw this traveling family circus last year in Owatonna. They must go to a new fair every week. The slinky guy was a freaking hoot.

The dancing slinky really was the best part. 

The kids don't really care for the carnival games.

I was just walking back from the only place at the fair to get water for free. Ha.

Pig races!

And Geese!

The pig and goose races were a hoot.

My favorite display were all the old flyers from Northern Wisconsin State Fairs past.

I liked that they had an antique competition. Hey I recognize that plate from our wedding. 


Just a few more snacks before heading back to the campsite.

Should have ate here.

Yup. They had the good brats. Though the Optimist Club were famous for their Leine's-battered cheese curds.


Well, I lied. We actually got more lemonade and a cream puff. It wasn't as good as the one at the main Wisconsin State Fair, but it would do.

The pastry was just OK, but the filing was great and the chocolate sauce was a nice touch.


Dang you AI!

Sometimes we get camping gifts for Christmas and have to wait a long time to use them. These new string lights fit perfectly in our tent. 

In the morning we ate pancakes at our campsite.

We got ourselves a WI State Park pass. Will have to check out more of their parks.  

Two or three visits and it will pay for itself.

It was going to be hot today, perfect day to swim at the beach.

The beach is on the inlet from the Yellow River into Lake Wissota. If you were wondering it's a manmade lake, dammed up stream of the Chippewa River.

For lunch we checked out Dave's Drive-In. The owners had originally hoped to revive a defunct drive-in, but the building was too far gone. Thus the super cool trailer became the home to this makeshift drive-in.

I wish it wasn't so hot, but this place was nice. They had yard games to play while you wait for your food.

They even made their own root beer. All the sandwiches were po' boy style. We'll definitely be back.



Then we had to try Olson's Ice Cream at their actual storefront.

Unfortunately all the seats were full inside. But we still managed to enjoy their ice cream for a third time in a week.

Until next time, Chippewa Falls.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Meadow's 13th Birthday Party

By
We woke up to down pouring rain.  Once the rain had slowed down, Theo and I walked over to the Kingfield Farmers Market. Theo picked another Bundt cake as his treat. I have never seen it so dead.  I got some rhubarb to make jam and Israeli bagels that I wasn't expecting to be long. On our walk home we also picked up some free pots and a Minecraft book.  Both of our vacuums have bit the dust. I was trying to hold out until Black Friday to buy another one when I saw there was deals thanks to Prime Day. Theo said he's never seen me this excited before, not even my birthday.  I used up all of my gift cards I'd earned from Medica. Yeah, I know, it's weird. Walking for two years got us a vacuum. I had vacuumed in the morning with our old vacuum and then again with our new one. Ew. Usually I'm the one stressing out before guests come over but this time it was Scott. He was deep cleaning everything.  We both have blind spots for different parts of the house I guess. We ...
Post a Comment
Read more

A 250th 4th of July in Three Lakes

By
A couple of weeks after we were last up at the cottage, you say? Not soon enough, we say. We assumed dinner would have already been done by the time we arrived so we stopped to eat at Culver's in Rhinelander. While we were eating, I got a text from my dad saying he was in Rhinelander with Chelsea at Urgent Care. I guess Viola had taken a hard fall. When we got to the cottage Daniel was just starting dinner.  We hadn't seen Viola since Christmas, she's a little girl now. She was super shy around us at first.  She did also just get back from the hospital. I'm not sure if I approve of fireworks the night we get there, but due to scheduling conflicts that's when Three Lakes got in their fireworks show. 2nd of July fireworks would do. The next morning Blake made us croissant breakfast sandwiches for breakfast. Then Viola and I played down by the dock. Theo would have made a good big brother. Chelsea gave her boys haircuts and even trimmed my neck hair. Every boat we own ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Backcountry Camping with Kids in Theodore Roosevelt National Park

By
Day 1  Back in May I stumbled upon Theodore Roosevelt National Park. I had no idea there was a National Park in North Dakota and that it was the northern end of the Badlands. Usually our summer vacations coincide with Scott's work trips. Since he didn't have any this summer I thought we should take advantage of actually taking a vacation. What, my workcations are always classics? I suppose a second real vacation this year wouldn't hurt. We definitely have more time than normal. As long as we took Covid-19  precautions and avoided people. We finally settled on a time to go. Blake joined us so we borrowed our dad's van so we could ride together. Scott had just driven from Michigan the day before. Blake had met my parents in Wisconsin to get the van and then drove from Duluth to pick us up. I offered to drive since I literally only drive twice a month.  I was still pretty tired from a long drive home. Since we were near Fergus Falls we had to stop by the abandoned state ho...
Post a Comment
Read more