Ohio State Fair Food: 8 Fun Finds

It’s Ohio State Fair season again, and along with lovable food oddities like the Butter Cow sculpture, our state’s annual celebration not only includes eats that reflect our rich agricultural heritage but also a large lineup of creatively decadent midway fare, ranging from a multitude of of food-on-a-stick options to plenty of deep-fried goodness. 

Here is a taste of the sort of food finds you’ll uncover at this year’s Ohio State Fair, which runs July 23 to Aug. 3. To learn more about the lineup of food vendors, visit the Ohio State Fair website. 

8 Ohio State Fair Food Finds We Want to Try

From bacon-wrapped, deep-fried Oreo cookies to deep-fried buckeye candies to enormous, deep-fried gummy bears, there are no shortage of past hits we hope to see again at this year’s fair, but there are also more than 30 new food options making their debut at the Ohio State Fair in 2025. Check out these eight unusual food creations that piqued our interest. Here’s to pigging out at our state’s annual celebration of agriculture. 

Poutine Tots: One of Canada’s most delicious culinary exports gets the Ohio State Fair treatment in 2025 by swapping the traditional fries for tots. Everything else about the traditional poutine presentation — topped with cheese curds and drenched in gravy — remains the same, but the tot twist makes this dish much easier for roving fairgoers to fork up. 

Thanksgiving Sundae (left): Thanksgiving is still four months away, but those looking to dig into some turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes in the holiday offseason can order this Thanksgiving Sundae, a new option for 2025. The comforting creation piles all of those late fall flavors into a sundae cup for those who just can’t wait for the leaves to turn.

Deep-Fried Taco (right): Tacos are undefeated in their traditional form, but bear with us for a moment: What if we took everything you loved about tacos and added a deep-fried crunch. Yeah, we thought so. These Deep-Fried Tacos are new to the fair in 2025, and we imagine they’ll be a hit with those looking for new ways to enjoy golden goodness.

Donut Cheeseburger: It’s a sticky situation for sure but nothing a few napkins and a little water can’t fix. For those who haven’t experienced eating a cheeseburger that uses a pair of pillowy glazed doughnut as its bun, you know that this shouldn’t-work-but-totally-does flavor combination is a winner. Sugar rush in... 3... 2... 1.

Deep-Fried, Bacon-Wrapped Oreos: Deep-fried Oreos have been a state fair favorite for a while now, but someone figured out a way to amp up the experience by first wrapping them in bacon before breading and dunking them in hot oil. The sweet-and-savory combo makes for a fun new way to crush the cookie you’ve loved since childhood. 

Jalapeño Popper Pizza: In 2024, a Pickle Pizza made its debut at the Ohio State Fair. The new pie on the block for 2025 is this Jalapeño Popper Pizza, which highlights the flavors of the hall-of-fame appetizer. It features a cream cheese base topped with cheese, bacon, sliced jalapeños and ranch.

Deep-Fried Giant Gummy Bear: This is the gummy bear creation you didn’t know you wanted to try. it features an oversize gummy bear that’s breaded, fried and topped with powdered sugar. It’s one of those things we’re not sure what to make of but feel like we must certainly give a shot. You know, for research purposes.

Deep-Fried Buckeyes: Yes, we know, to some out there, modifying the traditional buckeye candy is sacrilege. But for those who don’t mind trying a twist on our state’s legendary chocolate-and-peanut-butter creation, this deep fried version provides an alternative option that takes the iconic candy to a new level. 

Now that we’ve whet your appetite, download the Ohio State Fair app for Android or iPhone to plan your day and locate specific food stands, including favorite perennial offerings. For more information about the Ohio State Fair, which runs July 23 through Aug. 3, go to ohiostatefair.com.

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