Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw and Festival

View on map
UniquePrairie du Sac
DatesDates TBA · Usually AugustCheck locally before booking
DurationSummerEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forUnusual spectacle, playful rulesFew American festivals build an entire
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryUniqueFestival type
The story

Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw and Festival in Prairie du Sac

The Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw and Festival is a Labor Day weekend event in Marion Park, Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, established in 1975. Best known for its cow chip tossing competition, in which dried cow manure discs are hurled for distance, the festival also features the Tournament of Chips parade, live music, a fine arts and crafts fair, a run/walk, and family activities.

The Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw and Festival began in 1975 in Prairie du Sac, a small Wisconsin River town paired closely with neighboring Sauk City, as a self-aware piece of small-town humor: if the region's identity was built on dairy and beef farming, why not build a festival around the most overlooked byproduct of that identity?
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Few American festivals build an entire identity around a single, deliberately absurd sport the way the Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw does, turning dried cow manure into a competitive throwing implement judged purely on distance, with the current record standing at 248 feet

02

The mystery stays covered

Founded in 1975, the event has kept the joke sustainable for half a century by pairing it with a genuinely full small-town festival, live bands, a juried arts and crafts fair, a Saturday morning parade branded the Tournament of Chips, and a run/walk, so visitors who skip the throwing competition still get a complete Labor Day weekend

03

The city starts moving

Its setting in twin river towns Prairie du Sac and Sauk City ties the festival to a rural, agricultural identity that the cow chip throw humorously exaggerates rather than invents

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The cow chip throwing competition itself

Water and renewal

Living ritual

with categories for different age groups and a long-standing distance record near 250 feet

The sacred route

Living ritual

remains the festival's founding tradition and its main draw since 1975

The local code

Living ritual

The Saturday morning Tournament of Chips parade has become an equally fixed ritual

Tradition 5

Living ritual

kicking off the weekend before the throwing competition takes center stage

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually August

Getting around

Use the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.

What to wear

Casual, washable outdoor clothing suited to a park setting where thrown cow chips occasionally scatter; closed-toe shoes are practical. Early September weather in Wisconsin is typically...

Safety

Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.

Where to stay

Stay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map43.29 N, 89.72 WOpen in Google Maps

Prairie du Sac, WI

Nearest airportMSN — Dane County Regional Truax Field
TransportUse the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.
Stay areaStay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Prairie du Sac via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Prairie du Sac, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for August.Compare faresFestival gearCasual, washable outdoor clothing suited to a park setting where thrown cow chips occasionally scatter; closed-toe shoes are practical. Early September weather in Wisconsin is typically mild, so light layers work for both daytime sun and cooler evenings.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw and Festival?

Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw and Festival is listed for August · Summer. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw and Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Prairie du Sac, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Summer is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Prairie du Sac, WI

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLwiscowchip.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually August
Source statusOfficial source linked
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