Monroe Cheese Days, how to describe it for someone who's never been? It's a festival celebrating…read moreMonroe's claim to fame: cheese. More specifically, locally made cheese and limburger cheese. Local beer is a big part of it too, but that's not the star of the show (and for good reason because Minhas brews are less than good). There's live music, most of which is fantastic (pro tip: check out the beer tent down by Minhas, that's where you'll find some great music, especially later in the afternoon and evening). There are some fun Swiss cultural experiences to be had from the stage on the South side of the Square thanks to the Alphorn players, yodelers, and accordion players. As for food, the cheese curds are stupid good. Yes the line is long, and yes you should do it anyway. I only wish they'd offer an additional ticket where you have the option to pay an extra $.50-$1 to pair funky cheese sauces and aioli dips with your curds. These curds certainly don't need sauces, but it'd add to the whole foodie experience. A few notes for first-timers: -Get the cheese curds. You can't possibly participate in a Cheese Days celebration without eating these cheese curds. I promise they're the best you've ever had. -There are two beer areas: one surrounding the square, a second at the beer tent. The beer used to be restricted to beer tents only, now you can wander each respective area. -Music at the Beer tent is a must. -The beer stand on the square offers different brews than that at the Beer Tent down by Minhas, so try something from both areas. Don't expect to love the Minhas beer though. -Check out the hospitality tent ahead of time for events you want to participate in. They're free. I recommend the cheese and beer pairing class. It's lead by a Master Cheesemaker.

Should be called Minhas and cheese days. I came up from Madison, the drive was pretty! The…read morefestival was large and hard to miss. It was much larger than expected. I walked in to grilled cheese, cheese curds, cream puffs, and beer. I heard the cheese puffs was where the party was at but I decided to go with the grilled cheese from one of the tents. It was way boring. For a cheese fest, I was expecting something that had a little bit of personality but it was just blah. The cheese tent was ok. You had to fight the crowd to get any cheese and yeah, there was a good variety but you can almost get the same variety from a good cheese shop, such as my fave, Ehlenbach's. You do not even have to fight crowds there. The one saving grace was Minhas and their bandstand. Their beer was cheaper, there was a big band playing that actually made me want to boogie and the people watching was prime. I think I would go again but I would have to for sure rethink the plan. I did at one point refer to this as the Disneyland of cheese, long lines for about 10 seconds of glory.

As an out-of-stater, we heard how great the sweet corn is and had to check it out ourselves. We had…read moredesignated Saturday night to the festival, after hearing they only serve the corn on Sat-Sun from 12-7 due to the lengthy steaming process. We found free parking, very close to the entrance. It's $1 per person to enter, 6 and under free. Strategically, the rides and games are the very first things you see. I am quite impressed with this area, because there's so many options. Tickets were $1/piece and most rides were 3 tickets. My kiddo absolutely loved it and we only spent $20. Expensive but fair considering we are at a festival. Now, I had nooooo idea what I was getting into with the sweet corn. First off, I've never heard of a tote of corn but the two lines stretched faaaaar to grab a tote. We skipped the tote line and grabbed two single ears from a much shorter line. $2/piece gave us some quality corn. They sent us behind to the buttering station and I was all, "WTF IS THIS?" It's literally several tables stacked together where you shuck your corn and roll it into a huge pan of butter. So unsanitary but when in Rome.... Next was the salt tree. Salt. Tree. Again, what sort of redneck device is a salt tree? Idk but it was a-maz-ing. Shakers on shakers on shakers of salt. I'm still laughing about this crazy corn experience. The corn was great, rides were fun for the kiddo. We were very impressed! The festival seems to be pretty commercialized with lots of business booths but that's to be expected. I'm not opposed to going back if we happen to be in town!

The Sun Prairie Sweet Corn Festival is an annual event held for a few days each August. I lived…read morein nearby Madison for 4 years, and that was how I discovered and attended the Corn Festival. There are many attractions: (1) First, there is the sweet corn, which is cooked with steam, and which can be purchased in a small open-air building. Near this building is a rotating clothes hanger, where strings are tied to various parts of the clothes hanger, and at the end of each string is a salt shaker. This salt shaker "tree" is a novelty that is interesting and a little bit funny, and pictures of it have been published in the Wisconsin State Journal. Of course, the sweet corn is delicious. (2) Another attraction is being in the middle of a friendly crowd. Did you ever notice that the bigger the crowd, the more people there are ?!?!? (3) Next to the fairground is a museum where you can find exhibits relating to midget race cars, where the exhibits include trophies and photos. Next to the museum are parked midget race cars, and children and other visitors can touch them and admire them. See, my attached photographs of these race cars and of the exhibits in the museum. At the Corn Festival, you can watch these midget race cars racing on an oval track starting at seven o'clock in the evening. (4) The Corn Festival includes a carnival. See, my attached photographs of a boy and a girl, each holding a huge wooden mallet over their heads, and swinging it at the lever of the "high striker" game. This mallet is sometimes called a "carnival mallet," and the name for this game, which results in a bell going "DING," is the "high striker game." GENETICALLY MODIFIED CORN. The website of the Sun Prairie chamber of commerce states that, the "corn is not genetically modified." But this is not correct. It is a proven fact that about 9,000 years ago, farmers in Mexico created corn (also known as, maize). Corn does not exist naturally. Corn was created by the genetic modification of teosinte. Teosinte was modified to alter four genes, where the result of this modification was conversion of teosinte (not edible) into the abundantly edible and yummy genetically modified plant that is known as corn and maize. This is all explained in a video called, POPPED SECRET: THE MYSTERIOUS ORIGIN OF CORN. The video is narrated by Neil Losin, and we learn that the scientists responsible for discovering that corn is genetically modified teosinte were: Nobel Prize winner George Beadle, John Doebley of University of Wisconsin, and Delores Piperno of Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Additional info is available from, e.g., Yang, Holland, Doebley (2019) Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. 116:5643-5652; Horowitz, Doebley (2004) Genetics. 166:1-10; Wang, Doebley (2015) Genetics. 200:965-974; Lukens, Doebley (2001) Mol. Biol. Evol. 18:627-638. CONCLUSION. And so, what I suggest while enjoying your day at the Sweet Corn Festival in Sun Prairie is spending a moment of silence to show respect for the farmers living 9,000 years ago in Mexico - - - they are the ones who created corn. Corn is the most famous and beloved of all of the genetically modified food crops.

This is a great event for families and youngsters. So many educational exhibits and crafts and…read moreprojects the kids in 4-H put together. The food choices were great with everything from burgers to pitas, Thai food and BBQ. Being our first county fair we were afraid of the animal smells etc but the facilities were kept clean and relatively lacking strong odors. They had nice entertainment options like the BMX Pros Trick Team and some acrobats. All in all good clean fun! We arrived before 3 pm and admission was only $3. Plan on it for next year!

This was the first fair I have ever been to (I still haven't been to any state fairs), and I really…read moreenjoyed my time here! There were TONS of food options and not everything was super unhealthy, either! I'll probably pass on the cream puff next time, though; that was a little too much for me! The prices were very decent, too. There were a bunch of bands performing; you can't go wrong with live music! There were also plenty of fun carnival games with huge stuffed animal prizes, just like Six Flags Great America. There were a bunch of different fun and FREE things to do, too (perfect for me because I keep a tight budget). For example, we got to go into this truck where we got a bunch of health tests run, including weight, BMI, cholesterol levels, etc. With all the fried, fatty, artery-clogging food at the fair, this was a nice way to balance it out a little. There was also an excellent, funny magician who wowed us with a bunch of tricks. Indoors, there was even more fun (and a refuge from the summer heat, too). I enjoyed looking at all of these different contests and ribbons for different types of foods, artwork, etc. We spent a long time looking at them. In another room, there were a ton of different booths set up to advertise all types of goods and services. There were freebies, so I was content. To top it off, there was even a little petting zoo with these adorable little ducklings that we took turns holding. After I've been to another fair or two for comparison, I may update my review for the additional star!

I hit up this fest because of fondue. Let's be honest here, I've never said no to fondue…read more In this case, the Moraine Park Technical College culinary arts program was serving up cheese fondue with fresh artisan bread and chocolate fondue with strawberries and chocolate chip cookies. For $3 per order, folks! The cheese fondue was reminiscent of a nice beer cheese soup to me, and the chocolate fondue was dark and decadent. The fest itself was MUCH larger than I had expected. Block after block of pop up booths filled with local restaurants, bars, pet goods, churches, produce, jams and baked goods, vendors like Wildtree and Tastefully Simple, antique shops, custom made clothing, jewelry and more. I also saw a booth selling domestic beer for $2.50! I have the feeling I could have easily made myself miserable with good food and drink for under $15. Entry to the festival and street parking was free, and there were live bands as well. I didn't notice any of the booths taking credit cards, but one of the vendors did mention that she thought you could buy tokens with credit cards at the fest, and the tokens were accepted by vendors.

Annual festival in Fond du Lac. Great beer, awesome food, and local Live music. A very good use…read moreof a Saturday. This is a very large festival that has good organization and is very fun. Family and pet friendly.

What an absolute blast. The local Lions Club event is excellent…read more There is something for everyone. A children's bounce house and large play area. There is also another play ground as well. There are bands playing and adult beverages - it is Wisconsin... The food is good and the prices are reasonable. It is for a good cause. Williams Bay is beautiful. Stay at the Chippewa and make it a weekend.

The Williams Bay Lions Club sponsors this annual event, which takes place over three days in…read moremid-August in Edgewater Park. If you want to eat a seemingly unlimited supply of corn on the cob and brats, you're in luck. You can also enjoy hot dogs and hamburgers, as well as a seemingly endless flow of Miller Lite. The corn and brats this year were very tasty. The corn got especially rave reviews from dozens of my extended family members. I think the real winner here is the bake sale, where homemade baked goods (brownies, cookies, pies, etc.) abound. Everyone can enjoy the live entertainment, and there is a playground and other activities for the kids.

Great strawberry picking & atmosphere. Delicious snacks and play area for kids. A great way to…read morespend a day!

Fantastic place! The staff is great and there's plenty of kiddo-type stuff to do…read more Expect to spend 1-2 hour in the corn maze, depending on your navigational skills and desire to walk briskly. ;) The concession stand is pretty good. The french fries are INCREDIBLE. Feel free to bring your own food too though - They're chill.

A great place to spend a fall day with the kids. There is so much to do here! Feed or pet goats,…read moredonkeys, kittens, rabbits, pigs, turkeys, chickens, peacocks, geese and more. A bag of feed is $2. Get active on the playground equipment or try and tackle the corn maze. (beware no clues inside!) Then you can take the wagon ride every 30 minutes out to the pumpkin patch and sunflower field. They have food and beverages including hot apple cider and delicious, warm, fresh donuts! Do note that the price of a pumpkin is not included with admission. They are priced separately based on size.

THEY'RE ALSO A WEDDING VENUE!…read more I would not recommend using! The venue itself is unique and definitely fun for people who love the farm and animals. I got married here in November of 2019. When I first went to see the place I loved it, the owner even seemed pretty down to earth and easy going she talked about all the success she's had with previous couples and how she really got to know them. Well, after I signed my contract and paid my deposit, it couldn't have been more different! I had to contact her multiple times to even get a response. Usually a text a few days after my initial call or text "hey did you get my message" I would contact her about once a month with questions or to pay her, so it's not like I was some sort of crazy picky bridezilla. During my engagement I was working full time another part time job and planning the wedding, the owner was of zero help. Until the week before the wedding then most of my questions were answered in a timely manner. READ THE CONTRACT! I ended up paying a little over $7,500 JUST FOR THE VENUE FOR THE DAY!!!! You will be nickled and dimed for everything EVEN FOOD TO FEED THE ANIMALS! The day before the wedding and the morning of the wedding the pipes in the bathroom were frozen. We planned to get ready in the provided barns which they put some space heaters in the one for the bride that barely kept it warm. The groomsmen waited until just shortly before the wedding to go in that provided barn since it was so cold. The bathroom is a trailer that was quite a distance from the barn where your reception is (or where you get married during inclement weather.) On our particular wedding the floors in the bathroom were not kept mopped so, I had multiple guests slip in the bathroom, one had actually mentioned it to the owner and she just said "okay" and then did nothing about it. The barn where the wedding and the reception were was not heated very well either so I had guests wearing coats the entire time and even leaving early because they were so cold. We were also charged a $200 fee taken out of our damage deposit for the heat, that really didn't seem to be working. The owner also stepped on the bottom of my dress as I was walking into the barn and left a muddy shoe print on the bottom of my dress right before I was to walk down the aisle. I will say at that point there would've been nothing we could do to clean it off since there is no running water in the barn, and it was ceremony time, but she could've at least aknowledged it later and compensated me somehow for it. I'm attaching a picture! I will say a positive was one of the employees Megan, she was so kind and helpful throughout the wedding, she offered to get me drinks and even helped with clean up. She was there till the end while THE OWNER WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND!!! I felt bad for her since many of the things had gone wrong were out of her control. IF I WAS REVIEWING JUST HER SHE WOULD GET 10 STARS! Since the wedding I have contacted the owner regarding these issues to try and get my money back for at least the heat that we were charged for that wasn't even working adequately. I work in the service industry and I understand we can't always please everyone, and things can go wrong, but It's necessary to aknowledge them and let the people you're serving know that and try to make them better somehow. I'm really an easy going person, and especially a bride. At the end of the day I got to marry the man of my dreams and the love of my life! so that aspect of the day went perfectly. I wish I knew a little more about the particular venue and other people's experiences before I booked it, so I do hope that this information helps a future bride.

So much fun, unforgettable memories with family, there is music and many food trunks.read more

The Lights Fest is an annual gathering where a bunch of people light up paper lanterns into the…read moresky. The Lights Fest Chicago is ironically located in Wisconsin, as you do need an open field to launch a bunch of lanterns safely; you can't just light em up in the city itself. But it's in Twin Lakes, which is only about an hour away. The place/venue may vary from year-to-year, so check http://www.thelightsfest.com for specifics. This review is specifically for the fest in 2018 at Twin Lakes. Parking starts at 3pm and closes around 6. When you arrive, staffers direct you on where to park in the grassy field. Poor grass, all trampled on. Once you are parked, please take note where you parked, as after the event, we've seen numerous people trying to set off their car alarms as a way of remembering where their car's at. Once parked, there's really only one direction to go. Go to one of the check-in booths and grab a lantern kit and marker. Check-in was easy-peasy. Then, find a spot and make yourself cozy. Definitely bring some foldable chairs, but if you forgot yours, the Lights Fest sells one of those inflatable couches, which aren't the most comfortable things, but is cozier than sitting on the grass. While waiting for sunset, to launch the lanterns, several bands take the stage playing some decent music. There's also several food trucks, including Mexican, bbq, pizza, and a dessert booth. After the bands play, they'll make an announcement that its about showtime. They do a demostration of how the lanterns work on stage. Even though on opposite ends of the stage there are projection screens, they did not display the demo on said screens. Instead, you can somewhat make out what they are saying and demonstrating. There are tiki torches lined up, I would estimate, every 30-feet or so. With this year's crowd, I would say there were plenty of torches for people. Maybe 3-4 people per torch, which isn't too bad. The thing is, lighting your lantern takes about 10-15seconds... not too long. But here's the thing; after an evening of waiting for this moment, 10-15seconds to light your lantern is a big deal. After an entire evening of the MC warning us to not light our lanterns yet, and that releasing the lanterns at the same time will be "worth the wait", it's pretty anti-climatic when the MC told us it was time to light the lanterns. And then in less than 20-seconds of announcing that, the MC says, "OK! Time to release your lantern in 5..4..3.." Umm, I still have 2 other people struggling/trying to light their lantern, in which lanterns are already releasing. Music is played in the background as the lanterns were released, which was pretty cool. Pro-tip: It's probably best to have someone hold the top of the lantern while you're trying to light the cardboard that is located at the bottom/base of it, as I tried to do it myself and I guess I didn't hold the lantern completely straight, and the flame burned a hole on the side of my lantern. Release... and plop. It floated less than 4 feet away from me. How sad. After that, a mad dash to the parking lot. With over 100 cars funneling through an exit that fits one car at a time, it took over 45-minutes for us to get out of the parking lot. Rows of cars lined-up and we just slowly killed the grassy field with our cars bellowing carbon monoxide. Left the event at 7:50PM, didn't get out of the parking lot until well past 8:30PM. Will I go again? Not sure. I think it would have been a lot more fun if you go with a large group of friends and know how the lanterns work. More than half the time I spent alone because either I was waiting for the bathroom or waiting 45-minutes on a slow moving food truck line. I just felt it was a lot of waiting, just for a 5-minute "climatic" event. It reminds me of puberty and high school XD I get waiting before is part of the fun, but waiting to get out of the parking lot was the killer of the event. Not sure really if there's much that can be done. I know this venue also hosts "Country Thunder" and other events... curious to know how they go. But that's not the scope of the review. BATHROOM REVIEW: Plenty of port-a-pottie are lined-up at the opposite end of the entrance/exit. There are several hand washing stations outside of the port-a-potties. Sit or squat? Dude, its a port-a-potty. Squat.