Rural Beaver Dam was once again home to the 2023 Dodge County Fair earlier this month. The small community with a population of just over 16,000 people drew remarkable crowds to the fairgrounds just outside of town. More than 58,000 visitors entered the gates of the five-day festival. The outstanding attendance of local and traveling attendees fell just short of its 2013 attendance record. This year’s festival was jam-packed with local youth exhibits and education and family-friendly entertainment from Wednesday through Sunday. But the free concerts from top-notch touring artists like: Chris Lane, Jameson Rodgers and Night Ranger really brought in the interactive crowds. The midway enticed attendees young and old in with the smell of delicious fair food and thrilling rides for all ages. There were even demolition derbies and a truck and tractor pull to round-out the weekend.

Sunday’s heat didn’t keep attendees from enjoying all of the fun offered during the last day of the fair. In fact, attendance was up over the season, from the previous, rainy fair season in 2022.

“This year it was very warm on Sunday and may have kept attendance down some, but was still a great day”, reflected Sharon Keil, Treasurer, Dodge County Fairgrounds Association.

Many attendees found an escape from the heat by enjoying cooler fair food treats like snow cones and ice cream. And many groups rested together under the donated shade trees and in the two new picnic shelters on the fairgrounds. Shade trees and picnic tables can be sponsored for future attendees to enjoy events like this. These are a wonderful way to celebrate or honor someone – making for a unique birthday, anniversary or retirement gift. They are an everlasting way to honor the loss of a loved one that you can come visit year-after-year at the fair. Picnic tables and trees may be sponsored for only $250. Long-lasting plastic and steel picnic tables also include two decals to include your personal message. Tax-deductible donations to the non-profit Dodge County Fair Association are also welcome online.

Attendees also enjoyed the convenience of online ticket sales this year. “For our first year, online tickets went better than expected. Very few issues and we welcome any feedback attendees have.”, reflected Dale Norenberg, Vice President of the Dodge County Fairgrounds Association. Feedback may be directed to the Dodge County Fairgrounds website, to make next year’s process even better when you enter the gate.

If you missed out this year – or want to return to Beaver Dam for more fun – you can already mark your calendar for August 14-18, 2024 for five more days of family-friendly fun and entertainment next season.

Article by Jamie Adcock author of runningdivamom.com
Photos by Larry Douma of Leader Photography