Wisconsin State Fair officially kicks off 2021 run

WEST ALLIS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Wisconsin State Fair is off and running for 2021!

The gates officially opened at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 5 for the first Wisconsin State Fair since 2019.

Already a lot of people here @wistatefairpic.twitter.com/Z4k0VplCyJ

— Amanda Becker (@AmandaBeckerTV) August 5, 2021

Thursday's festivities opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly renovated Central Mall.

Governor Evers and Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes were there to celebrate the cutting.  

"For 52 years, Kathy and I have not missed a [Wisconsin] State Fair," said Evers. "We’ve shared some of our favorite memories as a family and as a couple, except for last year of course."

The new Central Mall has seating, swings and lighting right in the middle of the fairgrounds. 

Also new to the fair in 2021 -- new operating hours and cashless areas.

CBS 58 also got a look at some of this year's official 'Fair Wear.'

"Tie dye is big. We have the tie-dye silly pints, tie-dye sweatshirts, tie dye T-shirts," said Dan Elias with The Specialized Marketing Group, Inc. 

The Cream Puff Pavilion was also ready and stocked with 200 cream puff team employees. 

“We’ll do anywhere from 350,000 to 400,000 cream puffs over the course of the next 11 days. We have over 200 employees on team cream puffs," said Tim Gills, co-director of the Original Cream Puffs.

The fair will be open from 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., with the final Sunday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Parking and admission will be cashless but cash will still be accepted throughout the grounds.

The Wisconsin State Fair runs through Aug. 15.