Fairs Across the Country Are Opening Drive-thrus for To-go Funnel Cakes, Corn Dogs, and More (Video)

With summertime fairs canceled across the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, fair food vendors and state fairs have created the next best thing: fair food drive-thrus. In cities around the U.S., you can now get your favorite fair snacks — from funnel cakes to corn dogs — in a socially distant way and without the crowds.

Typically, state fairs are held throughout the U.S. every summer and fall, with dates usually spanning from July to October. So, while it may be a little early in the year for some parts of the country, these drive-thrus have been a welcome relief, for both the vendors who rely on festivals for income and for people looking for an excuse to get out of the house.

From Raleigh, North Carolina, to Syracuse, New York, fairgrounds across the country began offering these drive-thrus from popular vendors last month, and the trend is continuing, with existing locations expanding their dates and more popping up in other cities. Be sure to check with your local state fair organization to see if they are holding a fair food event this summer.

You'll find different foods on the menu, depending on where you live. At the North Carolina State Fair’s food events, guests could purchase funnel cake, deep-fried Oreos, deep-fried Snickers, fresh-squeezed lemonade, roasted corn, deep-fried pickles, deep-fried cheesecake, and more, according to WRAL.com, a local Raleigh news site. At the State Fair Food Fest in Syracuse, visitors picked from sausage sandwiches, fried dough, wine slushies, and more. Drive-in fair food events will continue in locations across the U.S. this weekend in Alabama, New York, and Ohio, just to name a few.