By Matt Mueller Culture Editor Published Aug 03, 2022 at 10:06 AM Photography: Wisconsin State Fair Facebook

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The Wisconsin State Fair is just a day away – and hopefully you've saved up some moo-la to help live it up for a whole week and a half of fair fun, food and festivities. And if you haven't saved up, well, the State Fair has your bank account's back with a number of ways to make sure that you make the most out of your 2022 fair experience while also spending the least. Here's a list of deals and promos for this year's State Fair – from cheap admission right at the gate to discount food days and more. Because all the money you save is money that can go toward another cream puff. 

Now dig into these deals!

Admission deals

Wells Fargo $5 Day

Save money right when you enter on the opening day of State Fair as tickets cost just $5 when you bring a jar of peanut butter or make a cash donation to Hunger Task Force at any State Fair admission entrance. The deal is available from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Celebrate Wisconsin Day

On Friday, Aug. 5, out-of-towners hitting up the State Fair will find some of that famous Midwestern hospitality and friendliness right at the gate as those with an out-of-state ID can get two State Fair adult admissions for the price of one. This promo runs from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at any ticket window.

Meijer Day

Shop your way to savings on Wednesday, Aug. 10 at Wisconsin State Fair! Those who present a receipt for $45 or more from Meijer between July 3 and August 10 at a Fair ticket window will save $5 on an adult admission ticket (limit one receipt per person). The promo will run from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. 

Prairie Farms Dairy Day Honoring Educators 

It pays to be a teacher – at least on Thursday, Aug. 11 as all educators who show a school-issued ID or name badge at the ticket window will get into the State Fair for free between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Veterans & Military Recognition Day

The last but certainly not least of State Fair's gate admission deals, on Sunday, Aug. 14, veterans, military personnel and up to three family members will receive free admission when they present a military ID at the ticket window. The promo will run from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on the final day of the State Fair. 

Ticket packages

The Wisconsin State Fair has teamed up with a number of fellow local festivities and fun to offer double the discounts and double the Brew City entertainment. Ticket packages this year include tandem deals with Irish Fest – score a ticket to both events for just $20 total – the Lakehore Chinooks baseball team, the Milwaukee Milkmen baseball team and the Milwaukee County Zoo. For more information on these tandem ticket packages, visit the Wisconsin State Fair's website

Library reading program deals

Here's a story with a happy ending: savings! Indeed, several Wisconsin library systems – including Monarch, Bridges, Lakeshores and Milwaukee County – offer a free youth admission ticket to the State Fair for kids who participate in their summer reading programs. To learn more about participating libraries and the reading programs, click here

Front Row Fridays

TGIF indeed, as the Wisconsin State Fair offers chances to win front row tickets to its biggest shows every Friday. Visit the Fair's various social media platforms for a chance to win the best seats in the house for their Main Stage shows – and if that wasn't enough, a $25 gift card for Festival Foods. 

Crazy Grazin' Day

There's a lot of tasty unique eats down at the Wisconsin State Fair – and while you're getting full, your wallet can start getting skinny. Thankfully, there's Crazy Grazin' Day at the State Fair on Tuesday, Aug. 9. On that special day, more than 30 vendors throughout the grounds will offer smaller portions of their favorite fair foods at discounted prices. This year's Crazy Grazin' Day menu offerings include tasty drinks; specialty snacks like corn dogs, walking tacos, Saz's pulled pork sandwiches, pizza and stuff on a stick; a number of delectible desserts; and even some classic State Fair oddball options like edible bugs and Rocky Mountain oysters. For the full menu, click here – and dig in!

For more information on deals at the Wisconsin State Fair and more, click here. And stay tuned to OnMilwaukee for more State Fair features and fun!

Matt Mueller Culture Editor

As much as it is a gigantic cliché to say that one has always had a passion for film, Matt Mueller has always had a passion for film. Whether it was bringing in the latest movie reviews for his first grade show-and-tell or writing film reviews for the St. Norbert College Times as a high school student, Matt is way too obsessed with movies for his own good.

When he's not writing about the latest blockbuster or talking much too glowingly about "Piranha 3D," Matt can probably be found watching literally any sport (minus cricket) or working at - get this - a local movie theater. Or watching a movie. Yeah, he's probably watching a movie.