By Matt Mueller Culture Editor Published Aug 10, 2024 at 8:56 AM Photography: Wisconsin State Fair Facebook

The Great Milwaukee Summer is HERE! Your guide to what you'll be doing, where you'll be drinking, who you'll be hearing and how you'll be getting a sweet tan this summer is on OnMilwaukee. The Great Milwaukee Summer guide is brought to you by Geis Garage Doors and Peoples State Bank

It's finally time for the ultimate annual Wisconsin celebration – no, not National Cheese Curd Day, but the Wisconsin State Fair, firing up its rides, frying stuff on sticks, sending kids young and young-at-heart down the giant slide, and rocking from day to night now through Sunday, Aug. 11. 

The only thing more massively filled than a classic State Fair cream puff? The lineup of performances, demos, animal events and Sconnie showcases headed West Allis' way these next several days. (And that's not even including all the Sporkies, Drinkies and new foods the Fair's cooking up for you this year.) So, to help set up the most splendiferous State Fair possible, here's the complete schedule for the 2024 late summer spectacular – from Main Stage headliners, to cover band classics, to contests ranging from goats to gastronomy, to diving dogs and hogs in a hurry, and so much more. 

Saturday, Aug. 10

State Fair Main Stage

  • 7:30 p.m. – Foreigner with Melissa Etheridge

Bank Five Nine Amphitheater

  • 10:30 a.m. – WI State FFA Honors Band
  • 11:30 a.m. – WI State FFA Honors Choir
  • 1 p.m. – Kids From Wisconsin
  • 2:30 p.m. – Kids From Wisconsin
  • 4:30 p.m. – The Cleverlys
  • 5:45 p.m. – The Cleverlys
  • 8:30 p.m. – MacKenzie Porter

Music stages

Apollo's

  • 1 p.m. – The Cactus Bros. 
  • 7 p.m. – Thy Dirty Deuce

Big Sky Country Bar & Grill 

  • 1 p.m. – Hey Julie
  • 6 p.m. – Jim Gaff & The Wild Coyote Tails

Blue Moon Tavern at the Park

  • 11 a.m. – Catch A Wave
  • 3:30 p.m. – Conscious Pilot
  • 8:30 p.m. – The Now Band

Bud Pavilion

  • 11 a.m. – FM Rodeo
  • 3:30 p.m. – The Cheap Shots
  • 8 p.m. – Cherry Pie

Camp Bar

  • 11:30 a.m. – Joe Wray
  • 2 p.m. – Dirty Boogie
  • 5 p.m. – Joe Wray
  • 8 p.m. – Rebel Grace

Charcoal Grill Roadhouse

  • Noon – Granny Bingo with Ester
  • 3:30 p.m. – Milwaukee's Addiction
  • 7 p.m. – Metal Men

Cracovia

  • 4 p.m. – Still Stormin'

Double K Ranch Grub & Suds

  • 1 p.m. – Goldyn Heartz
  • 7 p.m. – C.I.A. - Caught In the Act

Knucklehead

  • 11 a.m. – 90s Jake
  • 3 p.m. – The Noisy Neighbors
  • 7:30 p.m. – Chris Stapleton and Eric Church Tribute Band

Leadfoots Race Bar & Grill

  • 11:30 a.m. – Nate Scheurell
  • 3:30 p.m. – Milwaukee Blues Rock Collective
  • 7:30 p.m. – Buddy Love

Leff's Miller Lite Sports Bar & Grill

  • Noon – Lights Out
  • 3:45 p.m. – Infinity
  • 5:45 p.m. – Journey Recaptured
  • 8:15 p.m. – The LoveMonkeys

Major Goolsby's Heartland

  • Noon – Rebecca & The Grey Notes
  • 4 p.m. – Substitute - Tales From The Who
  • 7:30 p.m. – Weird Science

Pistol Pete's

  • 11 a.m. – Charles Barber
  • 3:30 p.m. – Crossfire
  • 8 p.m. – Mt. Olive

Robert's

  • 11:30 a.m. – Nate Scheurell
  • 3:30 p.m. – Milwaukee Blues Rock Collective
  • 7:30 p.m. – Buddy Love

Saz's BBQ

  • 1:30 p.m. – Southbound
  • 7 p.m. – Nashville Pipeline

Saz's Miller High Life Pavilion

  • 10 a.m. – Central Standard Time
  • 1 p.m. – The Gabriel Sanchez Trio
  • 7:30 p.m. – Bobby Friss

Slim McGinn's Irish Pub

  • 4 p.m. – Trivia with America's Pub Quiz
  • 5:30 p.m. – Trivia with America's Pub Quiz
  • 7 p.m. – Trivia with America's Pub Quiz

Tropics

  • 11:30 a.m. – Downtown Harrison
  • 3 p.m. – Bobby Way
  • 7 p.m. – Indika Reggae Band

WurstBar

  • 1 p.m. – Brett & The Dandys
  • 7 p.m. – Road Crew

Agriculture judging and events

The Coliseum

  • 8 a.m. – Open Beef Cattle Breed Show
  • 11:30 a.m. – Open Dairy Heifer Breed Show
  • 5:15 p.m. – All-Breeds Futurity "Cow Prom"
  • 7:30 p.m. – Champions Challenge - Trail

Cattle Barns

  • Featuring Beef & Dairy Cattle

Livestock Horse Barn

  • Featuring Saddle Horses

Poultry & Rabbit Palace

Featuring poultry

  • 2 p.m. – Open Poultry & Waterfowl Show

Sheep & Goat Barn

Featuring sheep

  • 8 a.m. – Open Sheep Meat Breed Show

Swine & Goat Barn

Featuring dairy goats

  • 8 a.m. – Open Dairy Goat Show - Young Stock & Non-Milkers
  • 4 p.m. – Open Dairy Goat Show - Milkers

Animal attractions

K-9 Sports Arena

  • 10:30 a.m. – Dock Diving Demonstration
  • 11 a.m. – Nosework Demonstration
  • 11:30 a.m. – Stunt Dogs Demonstration
  • Noon – Group of the Day Demonstration
  • 12:30 p.m. – Dock Diving Demonstration
  • 1:30 p.m. – Group of the Day Demonstration
  • 2:30 p.m. – Dock Diving Competitions
  • 3:30 p.m. – K-9 Police Demonstration
  • 4:30 p.m. – Dock Diving Competitions
  • 5:30 p.m. – Dog Agility Demonstration
  • 6:30 p.m. – Dock Diving Competitions
  • 7:30 p.m. – Dock Diving Finals
  • 8:30 p.m. – Stunt Dogs Demonstration

Milking Parlor

  • 11 a.m. – Cow Milking Demonstration
  • Noon – Goat Milking Demonstration
  • 1 p.m. – Cow Milking Demonstration
  • 2 p.m. – Goat Milking Demonstration
  • 3 p.m. – Cow Milking Demonstration
  • 4 p.m. – Goat Milking Demonstration
  • 5 p.m. – Cow Milking Demonstration

Racing Pigs Arena

  • 11 a.m. – Saz's Famous Racing Pigs, presented by the Milwaukee Admirals
  • 12:30 p.m. – Saz's Famous Racing Pigs, presented by the Milwaukee Admirals
  • 1:30 p.m. – Saz's Famous Racing Pigs, presented by the Milwaukee Admirals
  • 3:30 p.m. – Saz's Famous Racing Pigs, presented by the Milwaukee Admirals
  • 4:30 p.m. – Saz's Famous Racing Pigs, presented by the Milwaukee Admirals
  • 5:30 p.m. – Saz's Famous Racing Pigs, presented by the Milwaukee Admirals
  • 7:30 p.m. – Saz's Famous Racing Pigs, presented by the Milwaukee Admirals

Free fun stages

Grand Champion Hall & Stage

  • 11 a.m. – Wisconsin County Fair "Cream of the Crop" Cheesecake
  • 1 p.m. – Floral Demonstration
  • 2 p.m. – Wine Making Demonstration
  • 3 p.m. – Bonsai Demonstration
  • 4 p.m. – Plant Demonstration
  • 5 p.m. – Orchid Demonstration

We Energies Energy Park

  • 10:15 a.m. – Raptor Meet & Greet
  • 10:45 a.m. – Melinda Myers, Horticulture Expert
  • 10:45 a.m. – Cowabunga
  • 11:30 a.m. – Schlitz Audubon Raptor Program & Flight Demonstration
  • 1:15 p.m. – Wildlife of Wisconsin
  • 1:30 p.m. – Melinda Myers, Horticulture Expert
  • 2:30 p.m. – Schlitz Audubon Raptor Program & Flight Demonstration
  • 4 p.m. – Melinda Myers, Horticulture Expert

Wilderness Resort Family Variety Stage

  • 11:30 a.m. – Mark Hayward: Yo-Yo Tricks & Juggling
  • 12:30 p.m. – Kenny Ahern: Physical Comic
  • 1:30 p.m. – Bex in Motion: Hula Hoop Show
  • 2:30 p.m. – Mark Hayward: Yo-Yo Tricks & Juggling
  • 3:30 p.m. – Kenny Ahern: Physical Comic
  • 4:30 p.m. – Bex in Motion: Hula Hoop Show
  • 5:30 p.m. – Mark Hayward: Yo-Yo Tricks & Juggling
  • 6:30 p.m. – Kenny Ahern: Physical Comic
  • 7:30 p.m. – Bex in Motion: Hula Hoop Show

Wisconsin Products Pavilion

  • 11 a.m. – Pop's Kettle Corn
  • 11:30 a.m. – Urbal Tea
  • Noon – WI Dairy Promotion
  • 1 p.m. – Alice in Dairyland
  • 2 p.m. – Portesi Pizza
  • 3 p.m. – WI Honey Producers
  • 4 p.m. – Ketchup Please
  • 5 p.m. – WI Department of Tourism
  • 6 p.m. – Olympia Granola

Sunday, Aug. 11

State Fair Main Stage

  • 7:30 p.m. – The Happy Together Tour

Bank Five Nine Amphitheater

  • 10:30 a.m. – WI State FFA Honors Band
  • 11:30 a.m. – WI State FFA Honors Choir
  • 1 p.m. – Kids From Wisconsin
  • 2:30 p.m. – Kids From Wisconsin
  • 5:30 p.m. – Pat McCurdy

Music stages

Apollo's

  • Noon – The Cactus Bros. 
  • 5 p.m. – Driving Miss Crazy - Unplugged

Big Sky Country Bar & Grill 

  • 11:30 a.m. – Ira DeBoer
  • 4:30 p.m. – Jenn & Alex

Blue Moon Tavern at the Park

  • Noon – The Positions
  • 5 p.m. – Wet Possum

Bud Pavilion

  • 11:30 a.m. – TallBoy
  • 2:30 p.m. – Eddie Butts Band
  • 6:30 p.m. – Boo! The Band

Camp Bar

  • Noon – Myles Wangerin Band
  • 3 p.m. – Joe Wray
  • 6 p.m. – 5 Card Studs

Charcoal Grill Roadhouse

  • Noon – Granny Bingo with Ester
  • 3:30 p.m. – Our House
  • 7 p.m. – Flight - A Tribute to the Eagles

Cracovia

  • 3 p.m. – Still Stormin'

Double K Ranch Grub & Suds

  • Noon – Goldyn Heartz
  • 5 p.m. – Danny Moore & The Boogie Woggie Flu

Knucklehead

  • 11 a.m. – Take Two
  • 2 p.m. – Dirty Boogie
  • 6 p.m. – Borderline Reckless

Leadfoots Race Bar & Grill

  • 1 p.m. – Milwaukee Blues Rock Collective
  • 6 p.m. – Rock Party

Leff's Miller Lite Sports Bar & Grill

  • 11 a.m. – Mission Accomplished
  • 2:15 p.m. – Scotty Tyce & Power Take Off
  • 6:30 p.m. – Off Tha Hook

Major Goolsby's Heartland

  • Noon – Rebecca & The Grey Notes
  • 4 p.m. – Tangled Lines

Pistol Pete's

  • p.m. – The Sensations
  • 6:30 p.m. – Retrosonic

Robert's

  • 1 p.m. – Milwaukee Blues Rock Collective
  • 6 p.m. – Rock Party

Saz's BBQ

  • 1 p.m. – Hopelessly Devoted: A Tribute to Olivia Newton John
  • 4 p.m. – Bad Boy

Saz's Miller High Life Pavilion

  • 11 a.m. – The Gabriel Sanchez Trio
  • 4 p.m. – BootJack Road

Slim McGinn's Irish Pub

  • 4 p.m. – Trivia with America's Pub Quiz
  • 5:30 p.m. – Trivia with America's Pub Quiz

Tropics

  • Noon – Bobby Way
  • 4 p.m. – Indika Reggae Band

WurstBar

  • 1 p.m. – The Trophy Husbands

Agriculture judging and events

The Coliseum

  • 9 a.m. – Open Dairy Cattle Breed Show
  • 3 p.m. – Champions Challenge - Gymkhana

Cattle Barns

Featuring Beef & Dairy Cattle

  • 3 p.m. – CLOSED

Livestock Horse Barn

Featuring Saddle Horses

  • 4 p.m. – CLOSED

Poultry & Rabbit Palace

Featuring poultry

  • 9 a.m. – Open Pigeon Show
  • 3 p.m. – Open Poultry Award Recognition 
  • 4 p.m. – CLOSED 

Sheep & Goat Barn

Featuring sheep

  • 9 a.m. – Open Sheep Meat Breed Show
  • 3 p.m. – CLOSED

Swine & Goat Barn

Featuring dairy goats

  • 8 a.m. – Open Dairy Goat Show - Milkers
  • 4 p.m. – CLOSED

Animal attractions

K-9 Sports Arena

  • 10:30 a.m. – Dock Diving Demonstration
  • 11 a.m. – Nosework Demonstration
  • 11:30 a.m. – Stunt Dogs Demonstration
  • Noon – Group of the Day Demonstration
  • 12:30 p.m. – Dock Diving Demonstration
  • 1:30 p.m. – Group of the Day Demonstration
  • 2:30 p.m. – Dock Diving Competitions 
  • 3:30 p.m. – K-9 Police Demonstration
  • 4:30 p.m. – Dock Diving Competitions
  • 5:30 p.m. – Dog Agility Demonstration
  • 6:30 p.m. – Dock Diving Competitions
  • 7:30 p.m. – Dock Diving Finals
  • 8:30 p.m. – Stunt Dogs Demonstration

Milking Parlor

  • 11 a.m. – Cow Milking Demonstration
  • Noon – Goat Milking Demonstration
  • 1 p.m. – Cow Milking Demonstration
  • 2 p.m. – Goat Milking Demonstration
  • 3 p.m. – Cow Milking Demonstration
  • 4 p.m. – Goat Milking Demonstration
  • 5 p.m. – Cow Milking Demonstration

Racing Pigs Arena

  • 11 a.m. – Saz's Famous Racing Pigs, presented by the Milwaukee Admirals
  • 12:30 p.m. – Saz's Famous Racing Pigs, presented by the Milwaukee Admirals
  • 1:30 p.m. – Saz's Famous Racing Pigs, presented by the Milwaukee Admirals
  • 3:30 p.m. – Saz's Famous Racing Pigs, presented by the Milwaukee Admirals
  • 4:30 p.m. – Saz's Famous Racing Pigs, presented by the Milwaukee Admirals
  • 5:30 p.m. – Saz's Famous Racing Pigs, presented by the Milwaukee Admirals
  • 7:30 p.m. – Saz's Famous Racing Pigs, presented by the Milwaukee Admirals

Free fun stages

Grand Champion Hall & Stage

  • 11 a.m. – Natural Dye Fiber Fashion
  • Noon – Natural Dye Fiber Fashion
  • 1 p.m. – Smocking/Sewing Fashion Show
  • 2 p.m. – Smocking/Sewing Fashion Show
  • 3 p.m. – Bonsai Demonstration
  • 4 p.m. – "Cream of the Crop" Coloring Contest
  • 5 p.m. – Orchid Demonstration

We Energies Energy Park

  • 10:15 a.m. – Raptor Meet & Greet
  • 10:45 a.m. – Melinda Myers, Horticulture Expert
  • 10:45 a.m. – Can You Dig It?
  • 11:30 a.m. – Schlitz Audubon Raptor Program & Flight Demonstration
  • 1:15 p.m. – Wildlife of Wisconsin
  • 1:30 p.m. – Melinda Myers, Horticulture Expert
  • 2:30 p.m. – Schlitz Audubon Raptor Program & Flight Demonstration
  • 4 p.m. – Melinda Myers, Horticulture Expert

Family Variety Stage

  • 11:30 a.m. – Bex in Motion: Hula Hoop Show
  • 12:30 p.m. – Mark Hayward: Yo-Yo Tricks & Juggling 
  • 1:30 p.m. – Kenny Ahern: Physical Comic
  • 2:30 p.m. – Bex in Motion: Hula Hoop Show
  • 3:30 p.m. – Mark Hayward: Yo-Yo Tricks & Juggling 
  • 4:30 p.m. – Kenny Ahern: Physical Comic
  • 5:30 p.m. – Bex in Motion: Hula Hoop Show
  • 6:30 p.m. – Mark Hayward: Yo-Yo Tricks & Juggling 
  • 7:30 p.m. – Kenny Ahern: Physical Comic

Wisconsin Products Pavilion

  • 11 a.m. – WI Maple Syrup Producers
  • 11:30 a.m. – Urbal Tea
  • Noon – Cedar Crest Ice Cream
  • 1 p.m. – Alice in Dairyland
  • 2 p.m. – WI Cherry Association
  • 3 p.m. – WI Honey Producers
  • 4 p.m. – Ketchup Please
  • 5 p.m. – WI Department of Tourism
  • 6 p.m. – Olympia Granola
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.