Let the delicious aroma of fair food entice you to the Dodge County Fairgrounds this weekend. And, you may just find that the variety of entertainment keeps you staying for hours. Grab the family or that special someone and head out to Beaver Dam this Saturday! The menu and agenda for the first Fair Food Festival of the year is packed full and includes something for everyone. Arrive early for lunch with the family or stay late for a unique date night. The Fair Food Festival is scheduled for much of the day on Saturday, April 23 from 11:00 am until 7:00 pm. The event will be held rain or shine. Parking and admission are free.

If you’ve always wanted to try the assortment of fair food at the Dodge County Fair, this will be a unique opportunity to test it all! The April 23 Fair Food Festival menu includes:

  • Ben’s Pretzels: take home pretzel kits, assortment of gourmet pretzels including: vanilla iced, mustard and cheddar cheese
  • CW Concessions: cheese curds, fried pickles, pizza puffs, pretzel bites, fresh-cut French fries, water, soda
  • Charlie’s: delicious pizza
  • Flip’s Mini Donuts: bags and boxes of mini donuts, dippers (vanilla, chocolate and strawberry)
  • Jakarta Cafe: pulled pork mac & cheese, tacos (pulled pork, chicken, veggie), veggie spring rolls, fruit smoothies
  • Just Cheddar: hand-battered, young Wisconsin cheese curds, water
  • Lizzie’s Lemonade: fresh lemonade
  • Mr. P’s Grilled Cheese: eight mouth-water flavors of grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato bisque soup, water
  • Midway Sweets: funnel cakes, elephant ears, deep-fried Oreos, Pepsi products, lemonade, water
  • Flaky Jo’s Homemade Pastries: scones, cookies, bars, sticky buns, pie fritters, quick breads, and muffins

Tire the little ones out in the afternoon at the bounce house (from Bovee’s Backyard Bouncers), explore the petting zoo (provided by Glacier Rock Farms), and enjoy whimsical face painting (with Life’s a Party Face Painting). Treat the kids to a funnel cake or delicious pizza after they’re done playing. Or take them home a pretzel kit from Ben’s Pretzels.

Enjoy food trucks and live music? Attend later in the day for date night or a much needed ladies night out. Share a variety of appetizers while singing and dancing along to some familiar hits. Or share a unique meal on your own picnic blanket.

Local live music will be featured throughout the day at the sprawling Dodge County Fairgrounds. Unique sounds will include local talent like 26z with an unplugged performance at 12:30 pm and 70s and 80s cover band, Blue Suede Cadillacs, featuring your favorite rock and country rock hits at 3:30 in the afternoon. Andrew David a solo acoustic performer is live from 2-3 PM.  See MotherBucket live on stage from 5-7 PM, a power trio from Madison draws from their pail of pop/rock tunes, with 60’s and 70’s Grooves, 90’s Jams and Hooks from the 2000’s!

Would you like to share your musical talent this Saturday or at any of the monthly Fair Food Festival events? The live music stage is coordinated by Mac Daddy Entertainment. Bands and artists may schedule their live performance by contacting [email protected]. Entertainers may also sell merchandise and their music on site.

Saturday’s festival is the first of six events scheduled throughout the year. Each offers a variety of entertainment and fair food options. Future dates include May 7, June 4, July 16, September 17 and October 1. Vendors interested in showcasing their fair food ($100) at any of the upcoming events may reserve their spot, by contacting Ms. Barb Mullin at [email protected] or 920-296-2209. Vendors will receive high voltage electricity, water access, restrooms and garbage receptacles.

And, don’t forget to mark your calendar for more fair food, live music and lots of family-friendly fun at the 2022 Dodge County Fair, scheduled for August 17-21.

Article by Jamie Adcock author of runningdivamom.com and sunprairiemom.com