Articles

What Kind of Foods Sell Best at Fairs & Festivals

February 2019

Image Courtsey: Malidate Van at PexelsImage Courtsey: Malidate Van at Pexels

When people visit a fair or a festival, they tend to think of the same types of fair foods - corn dogs, cotton candy, funnel cakes, etc. While it is great and very profitable to sell these traditional fair food items, they don't exactly make you stand out from the crowd. It's always a great idea to go a little non-traditional and sell your own creations. That way you attract the "traditionalists" as well as the "adventurists."

The top fair foods are the traditional items you can never go wrong with.

- Caramel apples
- Corn dogs
- Cotton candy
- Funnel cake
- Fried cheese on a stick
- Fresh squeezed lemonade

These are some traditional items that will always sell, but with the big fairs like the Texas State Fair or the Minnesota State Fair encouraging vendors to think outside the box, a ton of new food ideas have come to light over the past few years. People expect to see something new and different in addition to the traditional items. A lot of these items are just twists on old favorites. For example, the Red Velvet Funnel Cake. It's a funnel cake but it tastes and looks like red velvet cake. Or a traditional funnel cake with lots of toppings, such as chocolate, whipped cream, strawberries, etc.

You can go a little wilder as well. Everyone expects something fried at the fair. Why not some of these fun creations?

- Deep-fried Oreo Cookies
- Deep-fried Brownies
- Deep-fried Twinkies
- Deep-fried Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches

You get the picture. Deep fry it and they will come! You can also put it on a stick! Eating items off a stick at the fair is a convenience issue more than anything, so items like:

- Belgian waffle on a stick
- Steak on a stick
- Cheese on a stick
- Donuts on a stick
- Shrimp on a stick
- Fried pineapple on a stick
- Cheesecake on a stick

Again, you get the picture. It's even better if it's deep fried and on a stick! Just because a lot of these items are classified as "junk food" doesn't mean you can't get creative with something a little healthier as well. Veggies on a stick for instance are great options as well. You just have to look at your audience at each event and then get creative with your ideas.

Comments

Hello y’all
Out of the food vending business now, retired, but…..try this!
Hollow out a big Vlasic Pickle all the way from end to end, stuff a hot dog with a wooden peg into it, batter like you would a corn dog and deep fry!
I called it “PICKLE DOG”, $ 5.00
Actually tastes real good!

By Heinz Schirmaier on March 20, 2019

P.S. forgot to tell you to pre-cook the Hot Dog unless your selling Hot Dogs in the first place, then they’re hot already.
Good luck!

By Heinz Schirmaier on March 20, 2019

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