Wisconsin State Fair

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8 am, 8/5-15, State Fair Park, West Allis, with agricultural & commercial exhibits, carnival, entertainment & more. Main Stage: Skillet, Colton Dixon, Ledger, 8/5; Chris Young, 8/6; Brothers Osborne, 8/11; Boyz II Men, Ginuwine, 8/13; Beach Boys, 8/14. 2020 Fair canceled.

press release: Wisconsin State Fair Park Officials are excited to announce four rescheduled concerts for the 2021 Wisconsin State Fair, despite the cancelation of the 2020 State Fair due to COVID-19. The 2021 Wisconsin State Fair will run Thursday, Aug. 5 through Sunday, Aug. 15 at Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis.

Grammy-nominated Christian rock band Skillet will shake the Main Stage on opening night of the Fair, Thursday, Aug. 5. The band formed in 1996 and garnered a massive following behind soaring metal anthems and a relentless touring schedule. Their 2006 album “Comatose” spent 206 weeks on the Billboard Christian Music chart, with the title track winning the GMA Dove Award for Rock Song of the Year. Skillet’s newest release “Victorious” reached No. 1 on the Billboard U.S. Christian Albums chart and No. 3 on the Billboard U.S. Top Rock Albums chart.

Colton Dixon and Ledger open the 7:30 p.m. show. Colton Dixon first gained notoriety during a Top 10 finish on Season 11 of American Idol and has since won two GMA Dove Awards for Best Rock/Contemporary Album (“A Messenger” and “Anchor”). Ledger is the solo alternative rock project of Skillet drummer Jen Ledger. All seating for this show is reserved, and tickets will be $39 and $29.

Multi-platinum entertainer Chris Young will headline the Main Stage on Friday, Aug. 6 at 7:30 p.m. Young has accumulated an impressive list of accomplishments, including membership in the iconic Grand Ole Opry, two billion on-demand streams and 11 career No. 1 singles. The Grammy and ACM nominated vocalist headlined the Raised on Country World Tour in 2019, playing to more than 400,000 fans in three countries. Chris’s newest hits – “Drowning,” “Raised on Country” and “Town Ain’t Big Enough” featuring Lauren Alaina – will be included on a new album releasing this year. An opening act will be announced at a later time. All seating for this show is reserved, and tickets will be $54 and $49.

Iconic R&B group Boyz II Men will bring their decades of hits to the Main Stage on Friday, Aug. 13. The trio holds the distinction of being the best-selling R&B group of all time, with an astounding 64 million albums sold. Boyz II Men continues to tour across the country and around the globe, performing a mix of their latest tracks and treasured classics including “End of the Road,” “I’ll Make Love to You,” “One Sweet Day,” “Motownphilly” and many others.

Singer, dancer and actor Ginuwine will open the 7:30 p.m. show. Ginuwine became one of R&B’s top artists during the late 1990s and early 2000s, highlighted by singles “Pony,” “Differences” and “So Anxious.” All seating for this show is reserved, and tickets will be $49, $44 and $39.

California surf rock legends The Beach Boys will return to the Main Stage on Saturday, Aug. 14 at 7:30 p.m. Since their formation in the early 1960s, The Beach Boys have had 36 songs chart in the U.S. Top 40 (the most by a U.S. rock band) and have sold more than 100 million records worldwide. All seating for this show is reserved, and tickets will be $40, $35 and $30.

All previously purchased tickets for these shows are valid for the new 2021 show dates. Refunds for tickets are available. All refund requests must be initiated by July 27, 2020 to receive a refund, or tickets will automatically roll over to the 2021 State Fair Main Stage show date.

Tickets for all four shows are ON SALE NOW at WIStateFair.com and the State Fair Ticket Office. Print-at-home and mail-order options are available online, and service fees will apply. The Ticket Office is located at 7722 W. Greenfield Ave. in West Allis and is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All Main Stage tickets INCLUDE FAIR ADMISSION when purchased prior to entering the Fair Park.

For several months the Wisconsin State Fair Park Board of Directors and staff have been working tirelessly analyzing all facets of the annual event, in hopes of being able to provide the Wisconsin State Fair experience that fairgoers have come to know and love over the past 169 years.

On Tuesday, May 26, the board voted unanimously to authorize Chairman John Yingling to make the determination on whether events currently scheduled at State Fair Park, including the 2020 Wisconsin State Fair, are to be canceled, after extensive input from each Board member and Kathleen O’Leary, Executive Director/CEO. Today Chairman John Yingling announced that for the safety of fairgoers, staff, vendors, entertainers, exhibitors, sponsors, suppliers and the broader community, the 2020 Wisconsin State Fair has been canceled.

The board and staff have been closely monitoring COVID-19 data from local, state and federal health officials during this time. While some restrictions have recently been lifted and businesses are beginning to re-open, most are requiring strict safety measures, including social distancing, the wearing of masks and temperature checks. The evidence that this disease spreads quickly and easily when people are in densely populated areas has led several agencies to continue their recommendation to avoid mass gatherings.

Considering the Wisconsin State Fair is the largest event in the State of Wisconsin, drawing more than one million people over the course of 11 days, this weighed heavily into the decision to cancel the 2020 Wisconsin State Fair. The safety of all fairgoers and staff, as well as the above-mentioned partners who are so important to putting on a successful fair, has always been the number one top priority.

In addition, the magnitude of the financial implications associated with hosting a fair with significantly reduced attendance, as well as implementing the recommended mass gathering safety measures, could be detrimental to the future of State Fair Park. The State Fair Park Board has the responsibility to be stewards of the public funds entrusted to Wisconsin State Fair Park and ensure the financial viability of the Fair Park not only heading into 2021, but for years to come.

“On behalf of the entire State Fair Park Board of Directors, please know that the decision to cancel the 2020 Wisconsin State Fair was not taken lightly," said Wisconsin State Fair Park Board Chairman John Yingling. “Months of deliberation took place, considering all options to host a Fair that adheres to the highest standard of safety without compromising the experience. We explored countless models, but ultimately safety cannot be compromised. The risks associated with hosting an event of this size and scope right now are just too great.”

As a state of Wisconsin agency, Chairman Yingling and the State Fair Park Board of Directors have been in communication with Governor Evers, as well as the Department of Administration, and have their support.

“The Wisconsin State Fair is so much more than just a fair – it is a celebration of everything we are so proud of in Wisconsin,” said Kathleen O’Leary, CEO of Wisconsin State Fair Park. “We understand the magnitude of disappointment you may be feeling. We feel it too. However, safety is our top priority, and that cannot be compromised under any circumstance. We have tremendously loyal fairgoers, vendors, partners and exhibitors. For that we are forever grateful, and our greatest responsibility is to ensure that the fair remains strong and resilient for future generations.”

For those who have already purchased admission tickets during the annual holiday sales promotion, tickets will be valid for the 2021 Wisconsin State Fair. However, refunds are also available through June 30, 2020. Main Stage concert tickets are eligible for a full refund. Concert tickets purchased with a credit card will automatically be refunded to the card used for purchase. For more details, as well as answers to many other questions, please visit Wistatefair.com.

Moving forward, the board and staff will continue to analyze the data and prioritize the safety of all Fair Park visitors when making decisions about other events scheduled to be held at State Fair Park. The 2021 Wisconsin State Fair, presented by U.S. Cellular, is scheduled to take place August 5 – 15.