Masks present, uncommon at Wisconsin State Fair

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Betsy Reynolds would not let COVID-19 stop her from traveling to the Wisconsin State Fair from Massachusetts.

"This is something that my sister loved to do," Reynolds said. "She unfortunately passed away last year, so we decided that we would come back to the fair in her honor. And our whole family is getting together. We flew out from Boston."

Reynolds brought a mask to feel more safe, something a few other fair-goers have done as well.

"I just want to be safe," Rikos Kasim said. "I'm going to be safe, and it's convenient."

"We have a 10-year-old and a 6-year-old, so that's one of the other reasons, is they're not vaccinated," Joe Jozwowski said. "There isn't a vaccine out for them yet, so we want to make sure that they're protected as well."

But most saw no need for a mask and enjoyed the fair worry-free.

"We've been to a lot of events in different states where there's thousands of people, and we've come out just fine," Amanda Rudoll said.

Masks are encouraged indoors but not mandated anywhere at the fair.

They have made some COVID changes, such as going cashless to enter and opening the gates at 11 a.m. instead of 8 a.m.

"This adds some time for sanitization and also helps us with the labor," Wisconsin State Fair Public Relations Manager Tess Kerksen said.