WEST ALLIS, Wis. — The Wisconsin State Fair will bring back its Senior Day promotion this summer, offering discounted admission and encouraging older adults to share stories about their experiences at the fair as the event marks a milestone anniversary.
Organizers announced that Senior Day, presented by Capri Communities, will be held Monday, Aug. 10, during the 2026 Wisconsin State Fair. On that day, guests ages 60 and older can purchase a $7 admission ticket at the fair’s entrances, according to the announcement.
The Wisconsin State Fair runs Aug. 6–16 at Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis and is presented by T-Mobile.
Alongside the ticket discount, the fair is launching what it calls a statewide “Golden Memories” contest designed to collect senior stories and celebrate 175 years of fair traditions. The Wisconsin State Fair Park Foundation is partnering with Capri Communities on the campaign, organizers said.
“Senior Day is a meaningful way to honor the generations who have made the Fair what it is today,” Anna Zeck, executive director of the Wisconsin State Fair Park Foundation, said in a prepared statement. Zeck said organizers want to elevate the voices of seniors and highlight stories that have helped shape the fair over time.
The story-search effort is scheduled to kick off with an agriculture-themed event at the Gables of Germantown, N109W17075 Ava Circle, where Wisconsin State Fair staff will host activities for senior residents and invite them to share fair memories. The announcement says activities will start at 10:30 a.m. and include fair-themed options such as churning butter and interacting with small animals.
For the Golden Memories contest, seniors are invited to submit either a short video or a written story describing personal connections to the fair — from childhood visits to traditions passed along through families. Submissions can be uploaded at goldenmemorieswi.com by Wednesday, June 10, according to the announcement.
Stories can also be recorded in person at Capri Communities’ Enjoy Life Active Aging Symposium, a free event for older adults ages 55 and older. The symposium is scheduled for June 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Elmbrook Church in Brookfield. More information about the symposium is available at enjoylifesymposium.com, organizers said.
Five submissions will be selected and professionally recorded, then shared publicly for community voting online. The story selected as the winner will earn the featured storyteller a personalized picnic table in Central Park at the fairgrounds, organizers said, along with a VIP Wisconsin State Fair experience for the winner and their family.
“The Golden Memories contest is a perfect way to pay tribute to the Wisconsin State Fair’s 175 years of history,” Kim Irwin, vice president of marketing for Capri Communities, said in a prepared statement. Irwin said the contest is intended to highlight seniors’ stories as part of the state’s heritage and preserve those memories for future generations.
On Senior Day itself, Capri Communities plans activities in the Central Park area of the fairgrounds, including musical performances, interactive activities, raffles, prizes and games. Organizers encouraged fairgoers to visit Central Park between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. for Senior Day programming.
“As we celebrate the Fair’s 175th anniversary, this special day will be a meaningful time for seniors to gather with family and friends, reflect on cherished memories, and create new ones together,” Shari Black, Wisconsin State Fair Park CEO, said in a prepared statement. Black also thanked Capri Communities for sponsoring the program.
Organizers noted Senior Day tickets will be sold only at the gates and do not require advance purchase. A valid ID may be required to verify age eligibility.
