It’s time to go to the North Carolina State Fair. Many families look forward each fall to visiting the fairgrounds in Raleigh and returning home with unbelievable tales about what they ate.
The fair, which runs from Oct. 15-25 this year, promises to set attendance records, particularly on Senior Citizen Day, which is Oct. 20.
The biggest entertainment is walking down the midway and seeing what kinds of food are being sold. Rather than riding a roller coaster, some fairgoers get their thrills by sending their stomachs on diabolical journeys.
Although you can bring food and drink with you (in small bags, as advised by fair officials), who wants to take anything when you can enjoy everything? State fairs are known for pushing the “food envelope” and tempt visitors with new and unusual concoctions each year.
The N.C. State Fair doesn’t take a back seat to anyone for challenging the adventurous eaters. Remember when our fair was once known more for offering candy apples, corn dogs, and funnel cakes than it is today for new deep-fried foods?
Last year the “Twinx”—a Twinkie stuffed with a Twix, wrapped in bacon, dipped in batter and deep-fried—was a new item. The state government even has a “deep-fried blog” about the “tastiest” food at the fair.
A perennial favorite has been the Krispy Kreme Bacon Cheeseburger, which is a hamburger patty, topped with cheese and bacon, and sandwiched between two doughnuts. Depending on the vendor, you might also be able to add a fried egg. Although this state is the birthplace of Krispy Kreme, is this “sandwich” something you would order?
Across the country, state fairs are no longer content with serving fried alligator and roasted pigtails. New foods and drinks this year include smoky bacon margarita at the Texas fair, hot beef sundae in Iowa, and deep-fried Twinkies in California. Even those temptations may seem pale compared to the ultimate bacon brisket bomb, which won the new fair food contest in Iowa.
The 11-day Iowa State Fair also has 75 foods on a stick. The 18 presidential candidates who visited know that Iowa is as famous as North Carolina for its pork, and most wisely chose a pork chop on a stick.
Minnesota may have the newest fair foods this year, with 50. Some names even seem interesting, such as mac and cheese cupcake, deep-fried baby back ribs, pickles-and-barbecue sauce ice cream, and egg-topped kimchi-curry poutine.
If you want something unusual, find it this year at the N.C. State Fair. You’ll be amazed.