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Taste Unique Foods at These 6 State Fairs

You’ll be talking about the uncommon cuisine long after your last ride

people walking down the midway of the illinois state fair
It’s state fair season. Visit the Illinois State Fair, above, and others for festive fare.
Todd Bannor / Alamy Stock Photo
By
Kimberly Ferrante
 
AARP
Published August 04, 2023

We are deep into the dog days of summer, which hearkens back to memories of swimming pools, catching fireflies and attending your state’s fair. The giant swings that hurled you through the air, the slide that you raced your brother or sister down while in an itchy potato sack and the funnel cakes coated in powdered sugar are all still there, as is the fluffy pink cotton candy and roasted corn on the cob slathered in butter and salt.

But these days, in the age of one-upmanship, some state fairs are leveling up their cotton candy and funnel cake fair fare. Here are some of the more unique foods available at state fairs across the USA.

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big tex looming over visitors at the texas state fair
The State Fair of Texas lasts 24 consecutive days from Sept. 29 to Oct. 22, 2023.
Kevin Brown/State Fair of Texas

State Fair of Texas, Dallas

At 24 consecutive days, the State Fair of Texas, running from Sept. 29 to Oct. 22 in Dallas, is the longest-running fair in the nation and one of the largest. The top awards for new foods are still in the judges’ hands, but there are plenty of winners in the 36 new savory and sweet categories.

The State Fair of Texas is known for frying anything that will sit still, from butter to beer. This year won’t be any different. One new treat is a Deep Fried Texas Oatmeal Pie. An oatmeal cream pie is submerged in Dr. Pepper-flavored pancake batter and fried, followed by a sprinkling of Big Red soda reduction and marshmallow sauce to top off the dessert. Save your calories for this one.

the grinder ball from the iowa state fair is a ball made of bacon and mozzerella cheese
The Grinder Ball is made of bacon and mozzarella cheese.
Iowa State Fair

Iowa State Fair, Des Moines

In the Midwest, you can join the single largest event in Iowa at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines from Aug. 10-20. You can enjoy the iconic Butter Cow, 16 new food booths, 63 food-on-a-stick options and nine new rides — but that order isn’t recommended. Some of the foods are sure to have you busting at the seams, including the new Grinder Ball by the Bacon Box. This ball of bacon is stuffed with mozzarella cheese, wrapped in bacon, smoked and dipped in marinara sauce. Just remember: Rides first, then Grinder Ball.

a blueberry and lemon alaskannoli
AlasKannoli puts a twist on the traditional treat. Here’s the lemon blueberry version. 
Alaskannoli

Alaska State Fair, Palmer

During the last days of summer, you will find everyone outdoors at the Alaska State Fair, Aug. 18 to Sept. 4. Just an hour’s scenic drive north of Anchorage in Palmer, Alaska, you will find amazing concerts, including Grammy Award–winning Blues Traveler; multiple exhibitions, including photography and woodworking; and, of course, the food booths. This is probably the only state fair where you can get fresh oysters straight from Prince William Sound, provided by Pristine Products. Then there is the AlasKannoli, a version of the classic Italian dessert in flavors such as strawberries and cream, lemon blueberry and caramel pecan. Mocktails made from Alaskan Fireweed Tea are the perfect accompaniment to an AlasKannoli.

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a hot beef sundae from the illinois state fair
This isn’t your typical sundae, but you may be inclined to try the Hot Beef Sundae at the Illinois State Fair.
Classic Kitchen

Illinois State Fair, Springfield

The Illinois State Fair, held in Springfield from Aug. 10-20, will have Classic Kitchen’s food truck on-site to bring Hot Beef Sundaes to the masses. Most would think ice cream with meat on top when they hear the name, but it is actually whole kernel corn under shredded roast beef and gravy (rather than hot fudge) served over a warm bed of mashed potatoes (standing in for ice cream), sprinkled with shredded cheddar cheese and topped with a cherry tomato. The folks at Classic Kitchen announced a new nonalcoholic slushy too, but their lips are sealed on the flavor.

ba sants are hybrid bagel croissants from the minnesota state fair
The Ba-sant is a hybrid bagel and croissant treat with savory and sweet flavors.
Minnesota State Fair

Minnesota State Fair, Falcon Heights

The Minnesota State Fair might literally take the cake for most food options. Held from Aug. 24 to Sept. 4 in Falcon Heights, midway between Minneapolis and St. Paul, the fair boasts an impressive roster of 31 new foods, three new drinks and seven new vendors, contributing to a total of 500 foods at almost 300 concession stands. That makes the nearly 2 million annual visitors very happy. And full. One of these new foods, the Ba-sants by French Meadow Bakery & Cafe, is what would happen if a bagel and a croissant got married and had two kids that tried to be different from each other. The hybrid treat comes in two flavors: Everything Cream Cheese is the first child, secure in its savory scallion cream cheese filling, then coated on the outside with poppy and sesame seeds, onion and garlic flakes and salt and pepper. Then there’s the second child, which is a little sweeter and wants to stand on its own, filled with fresh sweet corn custard and coated with crunchy caramel corn. Of course, you’ll love both your children, or Ba-sants, the same.

cream puffs from the eastern states exposition
The Big E Cream Puff dessert is a consistent presence at the Eastern States Exposition.
Eastern States Exposition

Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield, Massachusetts

The Eastern States Exposition, or the Big E, is a six-state fair celebration for all the New England states (Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont) from Sept. 15 to Oct. 1 in West Springfield, Massachusetts. They may not have competitions for the strangest and most outlandish fair foods, but they do have the consistent Big E Cream Puff signature dessert. You know it must be good because six states agreeing on something can’t be wrong. You also don’t want to miss out on the concert lineup featuring John Fogerty, Third Eye Blind and the I Love the 90’s Tour with none other than Vanilla Ice.

​Kimberly Ferrante is an award-winning journalist based in Plano, Texas. Her work has appeared in Road Trip, Island Soul, Explore the Northshore and The Lens.​

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