IN 60 PHOTOS - Opening Day of the 2023 Walworth County Fair
The 174th annual Walworth County Fair kicked off its five-day Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2023 run on Wednesday, Aug. 30 at the Walworth County Fairgrounds in county seat Elkhorn. One of the oldest and largest country fairs in Wisconsin, the Walworth County Fair featured a wide variety of food, entertainment, agricultural exhibits and judged competitions on its nearly 100-acre fairgrounds campus. The 2023 fair theme was "There's No Place Like Home." Next year's Walworth County Fair, "Stars, Strips and Fair Delights," is slated for Aug. 28-Sept 2, 2024.
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Carol Steilein judges beer breads in the Aug. 30 open foods competition
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 beer breads at the Open Foods judging in the North Hall at the Walworth County Fairgrounds in Elkhorn. Entries in the beer bread baking competition were judged on a variety of factors including aroma, taste, texture and appearance.
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Early morning chores at the 2023 Walworth County Fair
Doing her early morning rise-and-shine chores at the Walworth County Fair on opening day, Aug. 30, eight-year-old Town of Linn resident Jenavieve Leonard washes her cross-bred steer "Bo" outside the fairgrounds cattle barns.
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Musician Frank Whiting
Williams Bay musician Frank Whiting was among the headlining Aug. 30 performers at Duesterbeck's Brew Haus Music Hall on opening day of the 2023 Walworth County Fair.
Walworth County Fair 2023 Dog Obedience and Showmanship judging
Lake Geneva resident Kenny Doane and his golden retriever "Jolt" participate in dog obedience and showmanship judging on Aug. 30 in the Activity Center at the 2023 Walworth County Fair in Elkhorn, where they won Grand Champion and Best in Show (Showmanship) ribbons.
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Walworth County Fairest of the Fair 2023 finals
Headlining activities on the Aug. 30 opening day of the 2023 Walworth County Fair included the 6 p.m. Fairest of the Fair finals and crowning ceremony at the Park Stage. Seen at left is reigning 2023 Walworth County Fair Fairest of the Fair Lillienne Cauffman. Top finalists in this year's Fairest of the Fair competition were 2024 Walworth County Fair Fairest of the Fair Josie Vance, (center) and 2024 Fair Royalty Leslie Reinke (right). Vance is currently serving as 2023 Walworth County Fairest of the Fair Royalty.
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Fair Ferris Wheel NIght View
The Walworth County Fair returns to Elkhorn this week.
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Auctioneer Gary Finley presides over the 2023 Fairest of the Fair pie action fundraiser
Auctioneer Gary Finley, of Walworth-based Gary Finley Auction Services, acknowleges a bid Aug. 30 as he presides over the 2023 Fairest of the Fair pie auction at the 174th Walworth County Fair in Elkhorn.Â
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Walworth County Fair 2023 Junior Swine Barrow Show
Walworth County Sheriff's Department Honor Guard at the 2023 Walworth County Fair opening ceremony
Walworth County Fair 2023 Honorary Marshals Chris Jones and Becky Merwin of the Town of Linn
During the Aug. 30 opening ceremonies kicking off the 174th annual Walworth County Fair, Town of Linn residents Chris Jones (left) and Becky Merwin (right) were named honorary 2023 fair marshals for their steadfast longtime support of and service to the Walworth County Fair and the Walworth County Agricultural Society.Â
Underground Sound Jazz Band
The Underground Sound Jazz Orchestra was among the featured Aug. 28 headliners at the Park Stage on the opening day of the 2023 Walworth County Fair in Elkhorn.
Playing in the corn crib
Two-year-old Kinsley Davis of Janesville plays with dried corn kernels in the corn crib play box in the experiential, educational youth Barnyard Adventure area at the Walworth County Fairgrounds in Elkhorn.
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Mega Drop ride on fhe Walworth County Fair carnival midway
Ava Sarnowski rides the merry-go-round at the 2023 Walworth County Fair
Old-fashioned fun awaited four-year-old Ava Sarnowski of Williams Bay at the 174th annual Walworth County Fair. Ava was all smiles on Aug. 30 as she rode North American Midway Entertainment's retro nostalgic merry-go-round on the carnival midway at the fairgrounds in ElkhornÂ
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Walworth County Fair midway sunset view
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Walworth County Fair night scene
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Gravity of Youth performs on the Park Stage at the 2023 Walworth County Fair
The Gravity of Youth were among the headlining Aug. 28 Park Stage entertainers at the Walworth County Fair in Elkhorn. The Lake Geneva-based percussive piano American rock band would return to the fairgrounds on Sept. 2 as the grandstang stage opening act for legacy rock band Styx.
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Fiddler Georgia Rae headlines at Duesterbeck Brew Haus Music Hall
Burlington fiddler Georgia Rae was among the Aug. 30 opening day entertainers to headline Duesterbeck Brew Haus Music Hall at the 2023 Walworth County Fair in Elkhorn.
Rice's Pro Rodeo headlines the grandstand on opening day of the Walworth County Fair
Medford-based Rice Bull Riding Co. brought a full-on bronc bustin' good time to the 174th Walworth County Fair as the headlining opening day act, with the pro rodeo drawing a full grandstand crowd at the Elkhorn fairgrounds.
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Classic farm tractors on display at the 2023 Walworth County Fair
Vintage farm tractors on display at the 2023 Walworth County Fair
Eric Johnson
Reporter
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ELKHORN — The Walworth County Fair isn’t just a slice of Americana. It isn’t even the whole dang pie. It’s the entire bakery.
