The Great New York State Fair, scheduled from August 20 to September 1, will feature a wide array of food offerings for visitors. The event, which has long been a highlight of the state’s summer calendar, showcases both traditional favorites and new culinary creations.
Among the returning vendors is Peachey’s Baking Company, known for its fried donuts glazed and topped with various ingredients. This year, the company will offer a specialty donut featuring coconut vanilla pudding, whipped cream, and coconut flakes at its new location on Tonawanda Street. Soft pretzels are also available.
Visitors can explore Indigenous culture at the Indian Village while dining at the Soup House. The menu includes Haudenosaunee staples such as corn soup and fry bread, alongside more familiar fair foods like hamburgers and hot dogs.
Chocolate Taps in The Eatery offers cups layered with whipped cream, strawberries, and Belgian chocolate. Specialty options include combinations with red velvet cake or brownies.
Fried Specialties continues its tradition of deep-fried foods with items like the Harvester (a Thanksgiving-inspired dish), Sudden Death (burgers stuffed with macaroni and cheese, pork belly, cheddar cheese wrapped in bacon), and classic fried treats such as Oreos and pickles.
Wild Bill Curly Fries presents French fries with toppings ranging from Jamaican jerk sauce to cheese with bacon or chili.
Dairy is celebrated throughout the fair. For 25 cents, attendees can purchase chocolate or regular milk in the dairy building—strawberry milk is offered during the last weekend. Tokens can be purchased outside for convenience. The Bake Lab sells buckets containing four dozen fresh-baked cookies as well as edible cookie dough sundaes with multiple topping choices.
New this year is the rebranded Milky Bun stand offering large cream puffs filled with whipped cream and dusted with powdered sugar.
While not for eating, the butter sculpture in the dairy building remains a popular attraction each year, depicting themes ranging from sports to nursery rhymes.
The Taste NY Marketplace provides products from hundreds of local businesses including wineries, breweries, distilleries, and artisanal brands across New York State. Shoppers can find homemade cheeses and gluten-free truffles in addition to sampling other regional specialties at this venue located in the Expo Center alongside an interactive I LOVE NY Experience. This marketplace supports local producers by giving them exposure to thousands of fairgoers each season: https://taste.ny.gov/
Hammi’s BBQ returns near the Midway with its Bacon Bomb sandwich—bacon, sausage, barbecue sauce and cheddar cheese smoked together—as well as pulled pork nachos and Mexican street corn.
Finger Lakes wineries serve wine slushies made from blended wines mixed with lemon-lime soda; other specialty drinks include cocktails from breweries and cideries. One featured drink this year is The Berry-Go-Round by 1911 Established—a frozen cocktail topped with various sweets.
For adventurous eaters, Stix and Things offers Deep-Fried Alligator on a stick along with Kangaroo or Shark options. Chester’s Gators and Taters serves Gator Mac N’ Cheese.
Toss N Fire food truck provides pizza options near Chevy Court concerts including exclusive pies like Bit of a Pickle Pizza or SummerCuse Pizza made with smashed salt potatoes.
Maple products are highlighted at the New York Pure Maple Booth where visitors can try popcorns, nuts, marshmallows as well as maple-flavored cotton candy and ice cream—all sourced from New York’s official state tree: https://www.iloveny.com/things-to-do/taste-ny/
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