You are going to want to save room for delicious, fair food favorites this weekend — the Fair Food Festival returns May 8th with an expanding menu. The Dodge County Fairgrounds will be hosting the event this Saturday from 11:00 am until 8:00 pm, the second of a half dozen events scheduled throughout the year.

In April, the fairgrounds welcomed crowds approaching 3,000 attendees to this much-anticipated outdoor, social event. Attendees enjoyed fried treats from local food carts and vendors, offering a variety of items like street corn, oversized corn dogs, melting cheese sandwiches, loaded French fries and picture-perfect tacos.

Approximately a dozen vendors are expected to provide even more variety to your meals this Saturday. In addition to last month’s menu options, new vendors will offer additions: pulled pork sandwiches, Indonesian food (vegan and gluten-free options) and gyros. Grab the napkins and your appetite for some ooey-gooey desserts: original treats like deep-fried Oreos, chocolate-covered cheesecake on a stick and an ice cream roll station. Other popular, fair treats like funnel cakes, caramel apples, cotton candy, and shaved ice will also be available.

New vendors will include a variety of new meal and snack options:

Jakarta Café: variety Indonesian foods, including: veggie spring rolls, veggie curry (vegan & gluten free), pork dumplings, chicken curry and rice

American Barbeque food cart: pulled pork honey sandwiches, pulled pork mac & cheese, pulled pork nachos, Bulgogi pork belly

G&G Concessions: Greek gyros, chicken pitas

Deep Fried Cheese Curd Wagon: mouth-watering fried cheese

Kenzie’s Midway Foods: fair favorites, including: caramel apples with toppings, walking tacos, chocolate-covered cheesecake on a stick, caramel corn, cotton candy, caramel apple chips

Ice cream rolling station: featuring the popular Oreo dessert

Returning vendors and food carts include:

Charlie’s Concessions: fresh cut fries, ribbon fries, corndogs, chicken strips, lemonade, variety of beverages

Midway Sweets: funnel cakes, elephant ears, deep-fried Oreos, lemonade, bottled water and Pepsi products

Panchos Tacos: gorditas, tamales, nacho fries, burritos, tacos and other favorites; Mexican Coke

Patriot Popcorn: select gourmet popcorns (maple bacon pecan, Blend 1776, cheddar, caramel, parmesan and garlic, jalapeno cheddar), vintage sodas, root beers and sweet teas

Sweet Memories Sales: hand-dipped Sassy Cow ice cream cones and other sweet treats

Ben’s Pretzels: jumbo soft pretzels (original, garlic, parmesan and cinnamon sugar); dipping sauces available

Mr. P’s Grilled Cheese: mouth-watering grilled cheese sandwiches

Other offerings: delicious cream puffs

Lizzie’s Lemonade and CW Concessions will also be offering a variety of concessions and beverages to complement the menu listed.

Families won’t only be enjoying a variety of food options. Children will stay entertained after they eat with a variety of family-friendly outdoor activities this month, including: ladder climb, speed ball and a cork gun trailer.

Admission and parking are free. Food purchases will help support the vendors from surrounding communities as well as the non-profit Dodge County Fair Association. Menu options will vary from month-to-month, so be sure to mark your calendar each month. Remaining Fair Food Festival dates include June 5, July 17, September 4 and October 2. The 2021 Dodge County Fair will also offer feature a variety of these popular fried foods, midway rides, and the return of live music and family-friendly entertainment on August 18-22.

Fair Food Festival organizers are still welcoming a variety of vendors for the remaining events in 2021. Local vendors and food trucks should contact Barb Mullin [email protected] or 920-296-2209 to inquire about space for one of the upcoming events. Space reservations are $75 per event.

Article by Jamie Adcock author of runningdivamom.com and sunprairiemom.com
Photos by Larry Douma of Leader Photography