Ohio State Fair Food: What’s New This Year

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 new food arrivals you’ll find at the Ohio State Fair, which runs July 29 to Aug. 9. To learn more about the lineup of food vendors, visit the Ohio State Fair website. 

Deviled Eggs: Apple Pie, Birthday Cake, Brisket, Hot Dog, Mac and Cheese, and Ranch • Ohio Poultry Association
The Ohio Poultry Association unveils six new creations that prove just how far the humble egg can go. From sweet (birthday cake and apple pie) to savory (brisket and mac and cheese), these creations are pushing the boundaries of the summer-picnic favorite.

Left: Biscoff Cookie Butter Frozen Cheesecake  (photo by Luke Decker); Right: Marlow’s Cheesesteaks have a Caribbean Jerk Cheesesteak this year. (photo by Shanika Sheppard)

Biscoff Cookie Butter Frozen Cheesecake • Polar Bear Concessions
The much-loved caramelized Belgian biscuits that became a coffeehouse staple around the world are the star of this cool dessert. New York-style cheesecake on a stick is dunked in a cookie butter shell and topped with crushed Biscoff cookies for a satisfying crunch.

Blueberry Pie Bingsu • Backdraft Brews & Bites
Bingsu, a Korean shaved-ice dessert traditionally topped with fruit, condensed milk and red beans, gets an unmistakably American pie-shop makeover. Delicate shaved ice is layered with blueberry pie filling, graham cracker crumbs and sweet condensed coconut milk. It’s part fruit pie, part snow cone and entirely built for a hot summer fair day.

Catfish on a Stick • Daisy's Fish Shack
Forget the fork because this catfish dish is going mobile. Tender pieces of fish are skewered, fried until crisp and golden, and served with classic Southern sides. It’s a little like a fish fry you can take for a walk down the midway with you.

Caribbean Jerk Cheesesteak • Marlow's Cheesesteaks (pictured above) 
A Philadelphia culinary legend meets the Caribbean in this mashup. Chopped chicken seasoned and tossed in tangy jerk sauce is piled onto a fresh Amoroso roll with melted cheese, sauteed onions and hot peppers. It’s spicy, savory and saucy enough to make the classic cheesesteak wonder why it didn’t book a trip to the islands sooner.

Churro Korean Corn Dog • Miller & Co. Concessions
The Korean corndog has taken the food world by storm, so Miller & Co. Concessions offers this fairground version. Mozzarella cheese is wrapped in corn dog batter, fried until golden and then rolled in cinnamon sugar for a sweet-and-savory mix. Think stretchy, melty cheese meets the warm cinnamon-sugar crunch of a churro.

Cracker Jack Sundae • North American Food Service
Nothing says summer at the ballpark quite like Cracker Jack, and this sundae piles vanilla ice cream with caramel, peanuts, popcorn and M&M’s for a dessert that hits salty, sweet, creamy and crunchy all at once. It’s basically a seventh-inning stretch in sundae form.

Deep-Fried Birria Taco • Jim's Deep-Fried Tacos
Birria has gone from a regional specialty of Jalisco, Mexico, to a stateside sensation, and now it’s getting the deep-fried treatment. Shredded birria beef and cheese are tucked into a tortilla, dipped in beer batter and fried. The best part? A cup of rich consommé for dipping, because a birria taco without something to dunk it in is only half the experience.

Dill Pickle Pistachios from The Nut Shack (photo by Craig Ryan)

Dill Pickle Cashews and Dill Pickle Pistachios • The Nut Shack
Pickle people, rejoice. Freshly roasted cashews and pistachios are tossed in The Nut Shack’s secret dill-pickle seasoning for a snack that brings salty, tangy pickle flavor to every crunchy bite. Grab a bag for the walk around the fair and prepare to finish them fast.

Left: Dirty lemonade is among Prowant Specialty Co.’s new offerings. Right: Fluffer Nutter Funnel Cake (photos by Suzannah Cushman)

Dirty Lemonade •  Prowant Specialty Co.
Classic lemonade gets a creamy upgrade with a swirl of vanilla sweet cream. Choose from peach, strawberry or blue raspberry to give the drink an extra hit of fruity flavor. It’s cool, tart, sweet and elevated enough to give the classic lemonade a competitor.

Dirty Sodas and Dirty Alanis • The Thirsty Soda
“Dirty” soda means taking a familiar fizzy drink and customizing it with flavored syrups and a creamy topper. The Thirsty Soda takes that idea one step further with both soda and Alani Energy bases, giving fairgoers plenty of combinations to mix, match and make their own. Consider it the choose-your-own-adventure of fair-beverage lineup.

Dubai Chocolate-Covered Strawberries • Lordy's Elephant Ears
The viral Dubai chocolate craze has made its way to the fair. Inspired by the Middle Eastern-style chocolate bar popularized by its pistachio-and-kataifi filling, this version pairs fresh strawberries with pistachio cream, Belgian chocolate and roasted kadaifi (the delicate, shredded pastry that provides the signature crunch).

Fluffer Nutter Funnel Cake • Prowant Specialty Co. (pictured above) 
The classic New England peanut-butter-and-marshmallow sandwich gets a deep-fried fairground makeover. A warm funnel cake is piled high with gooey marshmallow topping and rich Reese’s peanut butter sauce, turning the nostalgic Fluffernutter into something that is nearly impossible to eat politely. Luckily, nobody is judging your etiquette.

Freedom Fries • Fork'et Me Not
In honor of America’s 250th birthday, these fries are going all in on the red-white-and-blue spirit (or at least the barbecue-ranch-and-cheese spirit). Crispy fries are loaded with house cheese sauce, your choice of fried chicken or shrimp, barbecue ranch, bacon and crispy fried onions. It’s big, messy and delicious looking.

Fresh Dipped Ice Cream Bar • Maggie's Concessions
Why settle for one ice cream topping when you can build the whole bar yourself? Start with a Velvet Ice Cream bar, choose your dip (options range from chocolate and peanut butter to cherry, caramel or white chocolate), and finish it with a favorite topping, such as crushed cookies or candy.

This new offering at the fair features fries covered with cheese and crushed Blue Heat Takis tortillas. (photo by Suzannah Cushman)

Hot Blue Takis Fries • Prowant Specialty Co. 
Blue Heat Takis are known for their spicy chili flavor, hint of lime and bright blue coloring (which, fair warning, can do a number on your fingertips and tongue). In this creation, fresh-cut fries are slathering in cheddar cheese sauce and dusted with a bold coating of crushed Blue Heat Takis chips.

The Cookie  Jar’s Inside-Out Buckeye (photo by Evan Colglazier)

Inside Out Buckeye • The Cookie Jar
Some may call it sacrilege to try to build a better buckeye, but this creation might change your mind. This snack wraps a chocolate cream Oreo cookie in peanut butter batter, deep fries it and dresses it up with chocolate icing, peanut butter frosting and crumbles.

Lemonade Floats • Rutana Concessions
The classic root beer float gets some competition in this new arrival to the fair that merges ice-cold lemonade a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a satisfying, sweet-and-sour mix. Stir, sip and repeat.

Mr. Pork Belly’s cone of pork belly (photo by Peter Regalado Matcha lemonade is among the upgrades to the classic (photo by Garrett McCormick)

Matcha Lemonade • GH Concessions
Yet another variation on lemonade, pairs the drink with matcha green tea and tops it with sweet cream for one of the most unusual lemonade mashups you’re likely to find at the fair in 2026.

Nitro Frozen Lemonade • Miller & Co. Concessions
So, we for sure spoke to soon. This nitrogen-infused drink delivers a smooth, creamy texture and has a naturally foamy head, like a draft beer. The nitrogen works to add a velvety feel while keeping the drink crispy, citrusy and cold.

Nutella Pocket • Lads Management
The sweet hazelnut-and-cocoa spread from the Italian confectionery Ferrero get the deep-fried dive this year, as a crustless pocket loaded with warm Nutella, peanut butter and chocolate sauce is fried to golden perfection.

Organic Maple Cotton Candy & Maple Popcorn • Finn’s Maple Stands
Ok, hear us out, this is as healthy as fair foods gets. These two offerings are gluten-free, nut-free, dairy-free, dye-free, egg-free, vegan and made using organic maple sugar.

Picke Me Hot Chicken Pizza (photo by Garrett McCormick)

Pickle Me Hot Chicken Pizza • GH Concessions
Pickle-topped pizza is having a moment, and these hand-tossed, freshly made pizzas are topped with mozzarella cheese, chicken, pickles and Sriracha. Once baked, the pie is finished off with a drizzle of honey to complete the sour-sweet combo.

Pork Belly in a Cone • Mr. Pork Belly (pictured above) 
Yes, just looking at this cone of pork-belly cubes, I can taste the salty goodness of it all. Dress up this pile of perfection with four bold sauces.

Root Beer Float Creampuff • Schmidt’s Sausage Haus
Each year at the Ohio State Fair, Columbus’ landmark Schmidt’s Sausage Haus unveils a fair-exclusive version of its famous creampuff. Drawing on its rich German heritage and root beer legacy, Schmidt’s is offering a Schmidt’s root beer float cream puff to fairgoers.

Spam Musubi • Kama’aina Grill
Enjoy a slab of grilled Spam (yes, the canned meat that is a favorite in Hawaii) served in a savory-sweet sauce, pressed onto a black of rice and served with a strip of nori.

Star-Berry Cobbler Funnel Cake (photo by Garrett McCormick)

Star-Berry Cobbler Funnel Cake • GH Concessions
This creation dresses up a made-from-scratch funnel cake with a heap of strawberries, blueberries, cream cheese icing and honey granola.

Tanghulu • Fresh Fruit Candy This traditional Chinese street snack skewers fruit on a stick and coats it in a thin layer of hardened sugar syrup. The result is a glassy, caramelized shell of sugar that shatters are you bite into it.

Tex-Mex Float – Ohio Dots
Dippin’ Dots are state fair favorites, but how about Dr. Pepper-flavored Dippin’ Dots mixed with creamy horchata for a creamy, Tex-Mex take on the classic float.

Star Spangled Swirl • Velvet Ice Cream’s Fair Exclusive Flavor
This throwback to the classic red, white and blue rocket pop popsicle delivers flavors of tart cherry zesty lime and blue raspberry. You can find it at the Dairy Building and the Taste of Ohio Café.

For more information about the Ohio State Fair, which runs July 29 through Aug. 9, go to ohiostatefair.com.

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