Wisconsin Fair To Install Metal Detectors

Wisconsin State Fair officials are installing metal detectors at West Allis fairground entrance gates for the first time in order to ensure the safety of summer fairgoers.

Officials who made the announcement Tuesday said that the metal detectors might slow things down a little bit for the thousands of people who will attend the State Fair from Aug. 4 to 14, but they noted that safety is their top priority. Organizers do not allow weapons of any kind on the fairgrounds.

Summerfest CEO Don Smiley said he decided to add metal detectors after coordinated terrorist attacks hit Paris in in November.

Additional cameras also will be added throughout the fairgrounds, allowing security to have more than 200 vantage points during the State Fair.