Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter.

The 173rd annual Walworth County Fair kicked off at the fairgrounds in county seat Elkhorn on Thursday, Sept. 1. The fair, the largest in Wisconsin with some 138,000 attendees annually, runs through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5, with a variety of food, entertainment. music, animals, exhibits, contests, auctions and carnival games, rides and amusements, among other attractions. For more information on events and activities, including grandstand headliners, visit walworthcountyfair.com.

North American Midway Entertainment’s colorful “Century Wheel” dominates the skyline of the Walworth County Fair carnival midway and lights up the night sky at the Elkhorn fairgrounds on opening day, Aug. 31. For more photos see pages A5 and A6.

Jessica Markham reigns as the 2022 Walworth County Fairest of the Fair.

Frieda and Dennis Evangelista of Long Grove, Ill. dance to the music at the Walworth County Fair’s Park Stage on opening day, Aug. 31.

Supporting youth agriculture education is among the main missions of the Elkhorn-based Walworth County Fair. Here, Allen Davenport of Sharon clips his Holstein heifer for show in one of the fairgrounds cattle barns on opening day of the 2022 fair on Aug. 31.

It's service with a smile on the Aug. 31 opening day of the 173rd annual Walworth County Fair in county seat Elkhorn, as Ron Baughman of St. Patrick's Knights of Columbus Council 3464 serves up one of the 14,000 homemade cream puffs sold at the 2022 fair. The Knights' fundraising cream puff and eclair stand has been a popular fairgrounds mainstay for the past 46 years. Said Baughman, a six-year volunteer, of working the cream puff stand, "It's a fun food, so its fun doing."

The Walworth County Fair hosts a wide variety of judged competitions over the course of it's 6-day annual run. Here, Carol Steilein of Union Grove in Racine County judges dips Aug. 31 at the Open Foods judging in the North Hall at the Walworth County Fairgrounds in Elkhorn.

The 173rd annual Walworth County Fair in Elkhorn hosted a wide variety of vendors for fairgoers to browse and shop. Among those exhibiting at the Aug. 31-Sept. 5 fair in the Commercial Exhibits Barn was Racine-resident Jon Sherwood, co-owner of Sherwood's Fabulous Fudge with his wife, Hollyanne. Selling exclusively at fairs, festivals and other events for the past 30 years, Sherwood's offered 75 varieties of homemade fudge at the Walworth County Fair. Said Sherwood of selling at the Walworth County Fair, "I enjoy the people. It's a great time. It's the funnest job you could have. I really enjoy talking to the people, getting out and seeing the folks."

Youth agricultural education is among the primary missions of the Walworth County Fair. Here, six-year-old Rosie Hammerstad of Elkhorn shows off her cross-bred ewe at the fair.

Seven-year-old Penelope Stallings of Elkhorn is off to the Kiddieland stick horse races Aug. 31 on the opening day of the 173rd annual Walworth County Fair in Elkhorn.

Badger High School FFA volunteer Kylie Kundert of Lake Geneva readies cow hats in the Discovery Barn at the Walworth County Fair.

Vivian Patterson and mom Betsey Patterson of Elkhorn enjoy a ride on the midway merry-go-round.

Agricultural judging has long been a mainstay in the rich history of the American county fair. Here, Ruth Knetzger of Hubertus and Paul Melius of Jackson judge mixed grass hay on the Aug. 31 opening day of the Walworth County Fair at the fairgrounds in Elkhorn.

Among the new attractions at the 2022 was the Aug. 31 opening day Plein Air at the Fair contest, which drew more than 20 participants, including plein air artist Brad Geers of Milwaukee, shown here creating an acrylic painting of the Ashard's Cotton Candy & Caramel Corn truck on the Walworth County Fairgrounds.

Plein air artist Hector Acuna, of Cedarburg, was one of 18 plein air artists from across southeast Wisconsin participating in the Walworth County Fair’s inaugural judged Plein Air at the Fair outdoor paint-out competition at the Elkhorn fairgrounds. Plein Air at the Fair was an opportunity for artists to create artwork inspired by, and created solely at, the Walworth County Fair, with all created artwork required to embody the Plein Air spirit by capturing the light, mood and atmosphere of the moment.

Pumpkins were on display in North Hall, waiting to be judged at the Walworth County Fair. 

Dad Jamie Opper and daughter Ella, of Elkhorn, shear their crossbreed sheep for show at the Walworth County Fair.

Whitewater siblings Rosie and Bentley Hammerstad pose for a photo with their cross-bred ewes.

The carnival midway provides a festive, colorful contrast as the sun sets over the fairgrounds.

The colorful midway is aglow as the sun sets over the fairgrounds.

The noon antique and stock tractor pulls drew a large opening day crowd to the grandstand.

Commercial vendor Stuart Mayo gives a cookware demonstration in North Hall. 

Wild West Sodas vendor Terry Vearrier of Odessa, Texas made his 17th journey to the Walworth County Fair for the 2022 fair. 

A goat settles down in the hay for a rest during the Walworth County Fair. 

Among the Aug. 31 opening day highlights of the 173rd annual Walworth County Fair in Elkhorn was the 6 p.m. final competition judging and crowning of next year’s 2023 Fairest of the Fair by 2022 Fairest of the Fair Jessica Markham, right, of Elkhorn. Standing with Markham, from left, are Leslie Reinke, of Elkhorn; Evelyn Harkness, of Burlington, incoming 2023 Fairest of the Fair Lillienne Cauffman, of Elkhorn; and runner-up fair royalty Josie Vance, of Elkhorn.

Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.

“The fair is that historic piece of Americana that still brings families together for fun”—Robert Smith

“...45 dollar 50 now 50 dollar 50 dollar 50 dollar 50 dollar give me a hollar 50 dollar. Who will bid it at a 50 dollar bill? 50 dollar 55 55 …