New events at Waupaca County Fair
New manager focuses on communication
By Robert Cloud
The Waupaca County Fair has a new manager who is bringing fresh ideas to an annual event that dates back to 1873.
Jeremy Schroeder is replacing Kay Hillskotter as the fair’s manager.
“Our website is one of the biggest changes we’ve made,” Schroeder said. “What’s really neat about it is that it’s more interactive.”
In addition to reading more about the fair, visitors to the new website at www.waupacacountyfair.org can purchase tickets, register as vendors, apply to be the Fairest of the Fair.
The website has a schedule of events, an online copy of the fair book, information for exhibitors, maps, even coloring pages for children.
“It offers an opportunity for anybody to interact with us,” Schroeder said. “They can contact me via email and I can get back to anybody who has questions.”
The fair also has a new phone number, 715-281-3822, and a new email address, [email protected], that go directly to the manager.
“No matter where I am, if I’m able to answer a call, I will,” Schroeder said.
Keith Burns and Heidi Newfield, members of the country band Trick Pony, will perform Thursday, Aug. 25, at the Waupaca County Fair. Michael Gomez Photo
Entertainment
Slated to run from Wednesday through Sunday, Aug. 24-28, the Waupaca County Fair is held on the fairgrounds in Weyauwega.
Schroeder, who was manager of the Outagamie County Fair for two years, joined the Waupaca County Fair board last year.
“We continue to listen to fairgoers and we’re working hard to modernize the fair and bring in more people,” Schroeder said. “This year, we have added another night of music and we went back to big name entertainment.”
At 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, the country music band Trick Pony will perform in the Grandstand. Tickets are $10 in advance or $13 the day of the show.
The Mantz Brothers will open for Trick Pony, then perform again in the Grandstand Pavillion after the concert.
At 8 p.m. Friday, the ‘80s rock band Cherry Pie will perform a free concert in the Grandstand.
Saturday’s Grandstand events will feature the South Central Tractor Pullers and the Badger Truck Pullers at 11 a.m. and the Wisconsin Tractor Pullers Show featuring NTPA mini rods at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets to the morning pulls are $12 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-11. Tickets to the evening pulls are $18 for adults and $5 for children 6-11.
“For a real deal, an adult can buy a combo pass for $25 for both shows,” Schroder said.
A local truck and tractor pull with free admission will be held Wednesday night in the Grandstand.
New midway rides
Among the changes Schroeder initiated at the 2015 Waupaca County Fair was to upgrade the carnival area with Mr. Ed’s Magical Midway.
Standing at approximately 80 feet, the Air Maxx will spin its passengers and soar them to incredible heights above the midway at the Waupaca County Fair. Mr. Eds Magical Midways will introduce this new ride at this years fair in Weyauwega. Submitted Photo
“They’re bringing in a very large, brand new ride,” Schroeder said. “They’re setting up the ride and testing it this week.”
Called Air Maxx, the new ride is 80 feet tall. The loading platform floor, that passengers use to seat themselves in, retracts from underneath them, and the pendulum in which the seats are suspended, starts to gently swing back and forth between its supporting towers.
In tandem, the seats begin to rotate as the ride reaches greater heights with every swing back and forth until it finally reaches its highest peak and makes a full 360 degrees completely over the top. The swinging action continues until finally the seats begin doing their own flipping towards the end of the ride generating more screams.
There is also a new ride for small children called Frog Hopper, which takes it passengers nearly 20 feet in the air and features a series of drops.
“As the new manager, I’m going to work very hard to modernize the fair, strengthen communication and continue growing the Waupaca County Fair for years to come,” Schroeder said.
