🎉 Tournament of Chips Parade
📅 Date: Saturday, Labor Day Weekend
🕛 Time: 12:00 PM
📍 Location: Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin
The Tournament of Chips Parade is one of the most popular events at the Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw & Festival, featuring creative floats, community groups, and plenty of cow-themed fun.
👉 Arrive early to grab a great viewing spot along the parade route!
🎉 What to Expect at the Tournament of Chips Parade
The Tournament of Chips Parade is more than just a procession—it’s a celebration of community spirit, creativity, and the playful tradition that makes the Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw & Festival so memorable.
Visitors can expect a variety of floats, themed displays, local organizations, and entertaining performances that reflect Sauk Prairie’s personality. From humorous cow-themed creations to interactive parade units, each entry brings something unique to the experience.
🐄 A Parade Full of Cow-Themed Fun
One of the most iconic features of the parade is the legendary Trojan Cow, a towering 13-foot creation that has become a fan favorite over the years.
Alongside this crowd-pleaser, past parade highlights have included creative builds like the Cow Chip Factory and the Bovine in Motion drill team.
These imaginative displays help make the parade a standout attraction during the festival weekend.
📍 When and Where to Watch
The Tournament of Chips Parade takes place at 12:00 PM on Saturday during Labor Day weekend in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin.
Spectators are encouraged to arrive early to secure a great viewing spot along the parade route. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or continuing a long-standing tradition, the parade offers fun for all ages.
👨👩👧👦 A Must-See Festival Tradition
The parade is a central part of the festival experience, bringing together families, local businesses, and visitors in a shared celebration. It sets the tone for the rest of the day’s events, including the famous cow chip throwing competitions, live entertainment, and food vendors.
If you’re planning your visit, make the Tournament of Chips Parade a highlight of your festival weekend—it’s a one-of-a-kind experience you won’t want to miss.
Cowabunga – the Trojan Cow
One of the best ways to publicize the Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw has been the Parade. The first memorable Cow Chip unit was the papier-mache chip built on a three-wheeler.
Other units which have been created and used include the Cow Chip Factory, which sent chips out of a barn on a “conveyor”, and Cow Patty – a life-size cow who could really fling ’em.
In 1989, members of the Wiscowchip Committee built eight three-dimensional cows and a bull on wheels for a drill team called Bovine in Motion. These cows and bulls are still used on occasion.
In 1990, the biggest and best – a Trojan Cow – was constructed. Cowabunga is a 13’6″ tall cow which has a head that moves from side to side and, of course, lifts her tail for the now infamous “chip”.
In 1989, a high point for Bovine in Motion was accepting an invitation to perform at halftime of a University of Wisconsin Badger Football game with the UW Marching Band, and, on another occasion, with the UW Varsity Band in the Fieldhouse.
Parade starts at Noon on the Saturday of Labor Weekend.
If you are interested in joining our parade
(NOTE: Registration closed for 2026)
Parade Map
Schedule of Events | Cow Chip Throw | Entertainment | Food Court | Fine Art & Crafts Fair