2 weeks out!

 We are officially 2 weeks out from the beginning of the state fair! Yes, for those of you who know me, I am a fair nut!  I enjoy walking through the buildings, picking up free stuff (I have quite a collection), enjoying fair food and seeing people. Every time the fair comes to town, I run into people I haven't seen in quite a long time. It's fun to stop and catch up with these friends. As far as fair food is concerned, I'll be limiting my intake to save money for my trip next July. There are a few "gotta have its" I'll be enjoying. First of all, there's the Pronto Pup, the famous "banquet on a stick." These are legendary corn dogs that are available at several yellow booths around the fairgrounds. Second on the list are a favorite that I discovered last year. The Korean Hot Dog. This is a corn dog as well, but very different from the Pronto Pup. It's cooked differently, with a different kind of batter. Very good! I'm going to try to limit myself to these 2 items, but if something new and exciting shows up, I might have to give it a go. 

When selecting a fried food item, I always try to get a look at the oil that they are using. Most of the vendors change the oil out on a regular basis, but some don't. If the oil is light tan to medium brown, I know that the oil has been changed out recently, and I'll select that item. However, if the oil is dark, I'll pass on that item. Dark oil will adversely affect the taste of the food. I have worked in foodservice establishments before and have used oil fryers. I know for a fact that oil that is changed consistently will produce a better product. Just a friendly tip from me. 

The fair can be costly! While there's nothing I can do to help that, here are a few money-saving tips concerning admission costs: A typical admission ticket is $10 for an adult, $6 for a child aged 6-12, $6 for seniors, and $4 for military personnel (with ID). You shave off a few bucks by buying advanced tickets at Dillons through Sept. 7. Seniors can get in for $2 on the first day (55 and older). On Tuesday and Thursday, the entrance fee is $4 after 4:00. Get in for $5 after 9:00pm every day. On Monday, admission is $1, or free with a Dillons card.  

If you're a fan of fair food, but are overwhelmed by the prices, there is a special on Tuesday. Participating vendors will offer $3 portions of their products. I might indulge a bit on that day, but with moderation. As far as prices for other things, and what businesses are going to be there at the fair this year, I don't know. I'll be making a few more trips out to the grounds in the next couple of weeks, and I'll see what's out there and keep you informed. 

You can pick up a state fair visitors guide, complete with a daily itinerary and other info, at the state fair office or at customer service at Dillons. I try to give you as much info in the blog, but I can't fit it all in. If you have questions, you can ask in the comments or via messenger. I'll answer as many questions as I have time and the info. 

It's time for me to close and and get some stuff done. I want to thank you for taking the time to read my post. Keep following my blog and Facebook posts for all things fair-related. God bless you!