La Crosse Interstate Fair opens Wed. for 128th year

County fairs in America have maintain traditions which go back decades.

The La Crosse Interstate Fair, beginning a five-day run Wednesday, is in its 128th year.

The fair has been held in West Salem, next to the speedway, since the late 1950s. Before that, it was put on for many years on what is now the east end of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse campus, in and around Memorial Field.

The fair will of course have food and carnival rides and farm exhibits, but, county ag. agent Kaitlyn Lance says there’s also room for activities you might not associate with the fair.

“We even have stuff like dog agility,” she said. “So if students have dogs, they can go and show off their abilities to go through these obstacle courses.”

Entertainment at the Interstate Fair includes magic, ventriloquism, concerts and racing at the Fairgrounds Speedway. There are also arts and crafts and a clothing-design competition.

Admission and parking are free.