Top 5 Food Deals at the Wisconsin State Fair

August 3, 2012 by
Filed under: Dining, Entertainment 

There is almost no end to the food choices at the Wisconsin State Fair. Hundreds of food vendors offer everything you can imagine from old standbys like corn on the cob and cream puffs, to unique food items like duck fajitas and deep-fried s’mores on a stick.

I visited the Fair on Opening Day with a mission to find the top food deals. There are lots of food deals, but this list represents my Top 5 Food Deals of the 2012 Wisconsin State Fair.

1.  Grilled Cheese Sandwiches from the Real Wisconsin Cheese Grill

The Real Wisconsin Cheese Grill is located in the Wisconsin Products Pavilion and offers grilled cheese sandwiches with your choice of cheddar or Swiss cheese. The grilled cheese sandwiches are priced at $2 each, or three for $5. The value and quality of these sandwiches isn’t a secret, so expect a long line which typically moves quickly.

2. Cedar Crest Ice Cream Sundaes

Cedar Crest offers ice cream cones and sundaes at their location inside the Wisconsin Products Pavilion. Cedar Crest has sixteen different ice cream flavors available. A huge two-scoop waffle cone is available for only $3.50. The best value however, are the sundaes. The regular price of these gigantic sundaes is $5, which isn’t a bad price considering how big they are. To make it a great deal, use the coupon found in the Fair Deals Bargain Book to save $1.50.

(Special thank you to the nice lady who let me take a picture of her gigantic sundae.)

3. Wisconsin State Fair Souvenir Cup

The State Fair is offering a new souvenir cup in 2012. The 32-ounce cup costs $5 and comes filled with your choice of Coca-Cola products. Refills are available for just $2. The Wisconsin State Fair Souvenir Cups are available at over 100 different food vendors. Even the Root Beer Barrels that sold their own refillable cup for several years are offering the Wisconsin State Fair Souvenir cup this year. To find a participating vendor, look for the Wisconsin State Fair Souvenir Cup posters throughout the fairgrounds.

4. Freebies Throughout the Fair

If you keep your eyes open, there are lots of free samples throughout the State Fair. The Big Backyard area (just west of the Original Cream Puff Pavilion) has several freebies available. I was able to find free Mello Yello, free potato salad and ham and turkey rolls at the Kansas City Barbeque Society tent, and free Leinenkugel’s beer samples! (Apparently the free Leine’s was a one-day special). Vendors inside the Exposition Center and Wisconsin Products Pavilion offer free samples of cheese, chocolate and other products. Even if they don’t advertise a free sample, ask for one if you’re thinking about buying.

Loading up on free samples might seem like a cheapskate’s way to enjoy the Fair, but they will help curb your appetite and save money!

5. Flavored Milk from Herb’s Superb Milk House

The flavored milk from Herb Kohl’s “Herb’s Superb Milk House” is my favorite State Fair food. The milk is ice cold and priced at just 25-cents per cup. There are five varieties of flavored milk to chose from - banana, strawberry, cherry vanilla, chocolate, and root beer. The best flavor by far is root beer, which tastes like a root beer float. There is almost always at long line at Herb’s Superb Milk House, however the line typically moves fast, and even a 15-minute wait to enjoy the milk is worth it!

So, what do you think?

What are some of your favorite State Fair food deals?  Please leave a comment and let me know what else I should check out!

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Comments

6 Comments on Top 5 Food Deals at the Wisconsin State Fair

  1. Jess on Mon, 6th Aug 2012 11:53 AM

    I totally agree about the Herb Kohl milk. Its my favorite!! How about the baked potatoes in the WI products pavilion? Those are an annual tradition for me.

  2. Ed on Tue, 7th Aug 2012 9:32 AM

    Thumbs up for the grilled cheese. I think there is a coupon for those in the state fair coupon book.

  3. Milwaukee Consumer on Tue, 7th Aug 2012 11:50 AM

    Good call on the potatoes Jess! Try to find two other people to buy them with you. They are $4 each or 3/$10.

  4. Milwaukee Consumer on Tue, 7th Aug 2012 12:00 PM

    Ed - the grilled cheese coupon in the Fair Deals Coupon Book is actually for the West Allis Shrine Club which is located in the Original Cream Puff Pavilion. That coupon is for $1.25 off one grilled cheese sandwich (regularly $3.50).

  5. Mary on Sat, 3rd Aug 2013 10:02 AM

    The brat in a pretzel bun in the Wisconsin Products building $3.00 and they taste great!

  6. Cindy on Tue, 6th Aug 2013 9:16 AM

    Yesterday, Patrick Cudahy was handing out free bacon…

    ummmm bacon…..

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