State Fair starts Thursday! Am I the only one ...

If I get delayed in Indy, I may go to the Indy State Fair, to contrast the KY State Fair, which I know well.

You can get by with not paying to park at an adjacent lot, and there's a mall parking lot that has a free shuttle to the fair. The Clarksville Wal-Mart is still offering discount tickets to it.

After attending the California State Fair - what a sorry excuse for a fair that is! - and several other states' annual fairs, I've found KY's to be far and away the best. Even now it retains the feeling of a real state fair rather than some gritty expose' of the underbelly of society. The food is great and the crowds are friendly.
It's not summer without seeing Freddy Farm Bureau, the honey display, a bunch of quilts, some newborn calfs and of course the lights of the midway at night. I hope everyone has as great of a time there as I know I will.

I have an entry in the Evan Williams Bourbon contest as well! It's my very first cooking contest (gulp!) I don't expect to win, but I think it will be fun, and they seem to want to create a festive atmosphere in general. Best of luck, Carolyne!! It would be fun to meet if you're interested, just pm me.

Kim: Sent you a message! Also, are there any other forumites that have entered??? You have to be a non professional for most contests, but it really is a lot of fun! Some of you professional types would be great additions to the judging staff - just let the fair people know! One of the new culinary honchos is Steven Lee formerly of Cookbook Cottage (which I miss terribly). Could be fun!!!!

My kids have been several times to the Wisconsin state fair, and they think it is better than Kentucky's. They kept telling me about these "buckets" of cheese fries that they would get, and the best apple pie with cheddar!!!!

Has anyone else ever been to that fair.

I went to the World's fair in NY..... I was in a stroller! LOL

Used to go to the Danbury fair in Connecticut too.

I think I want the roasted corn with a side of pork-butt-on-a-stick. Where are they? My son NEEDS to know: are there fried twinkies and candy bars?

Aww, I was out of town last week so I didn't see this thread when it was first posted. I love the fair! My photo is me munching some roasted corn at the fair a couple years ago. I like looking at the art and animals and booths, and riding a few of the rides, but the food is really what it's all about. Corn, fudge, ice cream, BBQ, catfish nuggets, corndogs... we're going Saturday and I can't wait!

My wife and I went to the fair this past Sunday with eating on our minds..
I fasted a full day before, knowing well what was in store for us. We started with a corn dog, not any corn dog but a freshly dipped and fried right in the trailer corn dog($3.00 the Sivori booth on the right side of Freedom Hall). Probably the best out there.


Next we made our way over to the KY Producers tent, next to Broadbent Arena. With too many options available, I tried something new from the KY Cattle Producers called a "Hot Beef Sundae"
It was a base of Mashed Potatoes, with Beef Tips? or Pot Roast? with A little cheese and a Cherry Tomato on top...Just the thing you want on a balmy August afternoon... But it was very good for $6.00(Everything good seemed to cost this much).

Colleen had a Pork Chop Sandwich from the KY Pork Producers and it lived up to what is argueably (In my mind) the best eat value the fair has to offer.

We waddled over to the Ky Proud Tent(at the entrance of the midway) where I had to get a Fresh Peach Slush($3.00) And discovered that they had a Fried Apple Basket with a Carmel Dipping thing in the middle($6.00)

Colleen had to have her Pineapple Whip, her favorite thing at the fair,($4.00?) at the stand next door.

We wondered around for awhile to let every thing settle but then I decided I had to have a Italian Sausage with the works($6.00)

Right down the way we split a Pork Butt on a Stick($8.00)
And then walked almost back to where we started(in front of Freedom Hall) and split a Gyro($6.00)

BBBUUURRRPPP!!!!I would hate to see what my caloric intake was for the day but you only go once a year!!!!

And I guess you technically spread those calories out over two days with the fasting the day before . . .

Day-um, you're a trooper!

I went and it was great as usual. I was short on time, so I was only able to scarf down my usual jalapeno corn dog. Yum. I did visit all of the exhibits of food, wine, beer, and produce. I love that stuff. I then went anc checked out the cattle, goats, chickens, and rabbits. It's such a breath of fresh air to see people who truly live off the land.

I bought some tulip poplar honey and real cane sorghum to take home.

Wow, Dan, you 2 really do it RIGHT!!! I can never make up my mind, but I should do what you do and just have everything! Seriously, I so loved this report, especially with the pics, because it really does help decide what you want to eat at the fair. Awesome, thanks for taking the time to do this! (how was the gyros, btw?)

Here is the perfect use for the Tulip Poplar Honey, Ron. Bake a loaf of good crusty bread, slice it thick and put butter, honey and sambal oelek on it. Man, I've been living on that combination for about a week!

Wow, Dan, you 2 really do it RIGHT!!! I can never make up my mind, but I should do what you do and just have everything! Seriously, I so loved this report, especially with the pics, because it really does help decide what you want to eat at the fair. Awesome, thanks for taking the time to do this! (how was the gyros, btw?)

Thanks for your kind words. The gyro was damn tasty, and they weren't bashful with the tzatziki sauce either.

Here is the perfect use for the Tulip Poplar Honey, Ron. Bake a loaf of good crusty bread, slice it thick and put butter, honey and sambal oelek on it. Man, I've been living on that combination for about a week!

brilliant!!

Its good to know that there is not an "upcharge" for Tzatziki sauce like in some establishments !

Yeah, I like a lot of it!