Foodie Fun at the Fair – Preparing to Eat Your Weight in FOAS (Food on a Stick)

If you’re just planning on eating your favorite 5-7 items and maybe a few of the new foods this post isn’t for you – but enjoy all the delicious eats the Fair has to offer! Here I will share some thoughts around planning and maximizing your Fair eating experience. Because if you want to take down more than 30 foods, you need to be strategic with both your wallet and your stomach space.

Planning:

• Plan to go with at least one partner in crime, I think 4 is the best number of people, 6 is also doable, beyond that it’s unwieldy. Too many conflicting desires, stops, bathroom breaks, etc. 4-6 people can split a range of foods to try the most amount of items while also splitting the cost.

• Map out where all your desired foods are before you get to the Fair and understand your entry/exit strategy.  Doing your own version of the traveling salesman exercise to optimize your route makes for a more enjoyable day so you’re not zig zagging and backtracking around all day.

• If you have breakfast items on your list plan your arrival time so you can hit them before they stop serving them (some are all day, some are not).

• If you have items from the Midtown Global Market, realize they rotate vendors, one or two each week. So, if you want to try specific items make sure you’re attending on days that those vendors are there, otherwise you’re SOL.

• Always have some cash, but most places do cards these days – up to you for your preference.

At the Fair:

• Prioritize eating the foods you are really looking forward to first for maximum enjoyment and experience – as your stomach fills up, your enjoyment dials down.

• If you’re into Sweet Martha’s Cookies with an accompanying glass of milk here’s your cheat code: Go to the All You Can Drink Milk Stand, wait for someone to walk up with a fresh bucket or cone of cookies and offer them $2 or $3 bucks for 5 cookies (or however many you want). The cost/cookie ratio is up to you, but this gives you the chance to enjoy fresh cookies without waiting in the Sweet Martha’s line, and you’re right there to get your ice-cold glass of milk. If you’re into bringing home a bucket this tip is not for you.

• The Dairy Building is a great respite from the heat, has a lot of interesting food vendors, is the home of the best milk shake around, AND gives you a chance to peruse the Princess Kay of the Milky Way Butter Sculptures – a cliché must see.

• The Agriculture building is a similar destination with multiple benefits – lots of fun exhibitions and ag innovation, the seed art is a must visit spot!  Before you get in line grab an apple cider freezie pop from the apple section – it’s refreshing, one of the healthier options, and is fairly cheap at a couple bucks compared to most fair food items.

• The best classic cheese curds are Mouth Trap Cheese curds in the food building.

• Fresh Corn from the Corn Roast stand is a must-have staple AND you can feel good about recycling that corn cob.

• Lemonades and various frozen treats (Icees, Hawaiian Shave Ice, etc.) make for delicious items and double as hydration vehicles. Don’t ever skimp on the lemonades!

• If you’re going to do the giant slide or any of the rides, pick your timing wisely, and maybe go first…

• The SkyRide or SkyGlider are great options to both traverse the fair to save those feet AND give your stomach a much-needed digestion break, use them as needed.

• There are additional food vendors and products being sold at booths and buildings across the fair – don’t just walk by them – go in and explore the offerings and support a local maker!