10 Great State Fairs for Deep-Fried Fun

Puyallup Fair

The Western Washington Fair, known more commonly as the Puyallup Fair, proudly claims a spot as one of the 10 largest fairs in the world. And there's sure to be plenty of food for everyone: More than 50,000 pounds of trans-fat–free shortening will be used to fry up dozens of fair favorites.

Dates: September 7 through 23

Highlights: Tropical rainforest experience (complete with toucans, anacondas, and geckos); the Piglet Palace (a nursery for baby pigs); Western Rodeo Parade and Cattle Drive

Fried-Food Lowdown: Deep-fried peaches and cream; deep-fried pickles; deep-fried cookie dough

Minnesota State Fair

With nearly 2 million visitors to its state fair each year, it's clear that Minnesota really knows how to throw a party. The usual suspects on the fried-food front are joined by special guests, such as cranberry wontons, from some of the fair's 300 food booths.

Dates: August 23 through September 3

Highlights: Giant Sing Along; BMX and skateboarding lessons; Luminarium (an 11,000-square-foot inflatable sculpture with domes and tunnels full of light and color)

Fried-Food Lowdown: Cranberry wontons; eggplant fries; gluten-free risotto poppers; red velvet funnel cakes

Iowa State Fair

It may be one of the oldest and largest state fairs in the country, but Iowa keeps it fresh and quirky with funny contests and, of course, the annual butter cow. Fried offerings range from traditional to mind-bending. Fried butter, we're looking at you.

Dates: August 9 through 19

Highlights: Duck-, hog-, and husband-calling contests; life-sized cow sculpture made of butter (an Iowa State Fair tradition since 1911); outhouse races; grape stomping

Fried-Food Lowdown: Caribbean-style crab fritters; German chocolate funnel cakes; deep-fried pickle "dawgs"; fried butter; Unicorn Lollipops (which we're assuming are named based on shape and not ingredient)

State Fair of Texas

Like the stars at night, this state fair deep in the heart of Texas promises to be "big and bright." And with a reputation as the unofficial fried-food capital of Texas, get ready to sample some pretty unusual offerings.

Dates: September 28 through October 21

Highlights: Chinese lantern festival; auto show and test track; The Picasso of Pumpkin Carvers (some call him Farmer Mike); pig races; Peewee Stampede (a mock rodeo for kids, complete with stick horses and bulls)

Fried-Food Lowdown: Deep-fried biscuits and gravy; deep-fried Southern Hospitality (in this case, pork, collard greens, and cornbread); double-fried tacos; deep-fried brownies; fried Samoas (Girl Scout cookies)

Kentucky State Fair

With bluegrass roots and more than 100 years of tradition behind it, the Kentucky State Fair still manages to please both the young and old. After all, who can resist the one-two punch of miniature horses and funnel cakes?

Dates: August 16 through 26

Highlights: World's Championship Horse Show; miniature-horse show; ugly lamp contest; rooster-crowing contest; War of 1812 exhibition

Fried-Food Lowdown: Hush puppies; funnel cakes; elephant ears

Colorado State Fair

Happy 140th birthday, Colorado State Fair! With cage fighting and a demolition derby on the calendar this year, you're the orneriest supercentenarian we've ever seen.

Dates: August 24 through September 3

Highlights: Rodeo; Pet Rock Olympics; salsa cook-off; Foam Fest 2012 (annual beer festival)

Fried-Food Lowdown: Fried green tomatoes; deep-fried Oreos; Bloomin' Onions

Oklahoma State Fair

Oklahoma's state fair invites folks down for some homegrown fun this September. And food-on-a-stick connoisseurs can indulge in a corn-dog tasting with not one but three varieties to choose from.

Dates: September 13 through 23

Highlights: AGtropolis (a mock city with interactive exhibits and demonstrations); barnyard birthing center; bull-riding competitions; Disney on Ice

Fried-Food Lowdown: Deep-fried Creole sausages; deep-fried cheese; deep-fried manicotti; deep-fried mashed potatoes; three types of corn dogs: regular dogs, poncho dogs with sweeter batter, and waffle dogs with waffle batter

New Mexico State Fair

New Mexico's is a state fair with some Southwestern flair, a place where you'll find jalapeno cornbread cook-offs and squash-blossom necklace showdowns. And, of course, green chile corn dogs.

Dates: September 12 through 23

Highlights: Lego-building competition; antique car show; horse show; rodeo and rodeo concert series; small-scale working farm (where kids can get a taste of rural life)

Fried-Food Lowdown: Deep-fried Twinkies; deep-fried cheesecake; fried frog legs; deep-fried racks of ribs; donut burgers; regional specialties including green chile corn dogs and Navajo tacos (traditional fry bread with beans, meat, and green chiles)

Kansas State Fair

See pigs fly at the Kansas State Fair! Or at least fly down a racetrack at the daily pig races. Forget birthday cake; instead, celebrate the 100th official state fair this year with some fried Kool-Aid.

Dates: September 7 through 16

Highlights: Arm-wrestling championships; auctioneers' bid-calling competition; pig races; Horsepalooza

Fried-Food Lowdown: Fried pineapple; fried Kool-Aid; deep-fried Thin Mints; deep-fried turkey legs

Indiana State Fair

Indiana's is the country's sixth-oldest state fair, dating all the way back to 1852. That's way before deep-fried Snickers bars were invented.

Dates: August 3 through 19

Highlights: A pavilion packed with native Indiana foods; SuperDogs canine tricks show; an extreme trampoline performance; the chance to milk a cow; tractor pulls; IndyMile Motorcycle Race

Fried-Food Lowdown: Cheese Squared (breaded and fried cheese-wrapped cheese); deep-fried Snickers; the 2012 official signature food of the fair: spaghetti ice cream, consisting of spaghetti-shaped gelato, strawberry sauce, shaved white chocolate, and chocolate "meatballs"

What's your battered-and-fried state fair favorite?

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