YAKIMA, Wash. – The Central Washington State Fair (CWSF) is set to open its gates, promising a feast of unique food offerings alongside rides and entertainment. The fair, which first opened in 1892, has become a beloved tradition in the community. The fairgrounds invited the media to sample the big, bold, and “udderly delicious” food as part of the fair’s ‘Cow-a-Bunga’ theme.
Kathy Kramer, involved in organizing the fair’s food offerings, emphasized the creativity involved.
“We work with the food concessionaires to come up. I call it ‘wonky and zany and crazy food,’ taking their core product, and how do they make it different and a fun way to experience it,” said Kramer.
Scott Dennis, owner of Saltspring Concessions, will be serving Korean corn dogs for the first time at the fair in Yakima. He described the signature experience of these corn dogs.
“That’s kind of the signature of a Korean corndog. It’s usually the cheese to start. And that’s what everyone loves in the media: the social media cheese pull, you know, so then you get the juicy, all-beef wiener. So, it’s nice you get a mix of both and then the sweetness of the other stuff, which is good too,” said Dennis.
Dennis, who will be at the CWSF for the 8th time, is excited to bring this new offering to the fair.
“It’s the excitement this year of bringing this booth to the fair. It’s something new, the reception has been really good following. We’re excited to see how customers are going to react to this kind of food,” he said.
In addition to the Korean corn dogs, the fair will feature a variety of other food options, including chorizo, jalapeño poppers, pizza, and several dessert choices. Beyond the food, the fair aims to educate the public about the local community, aligning with the Cow-a-Bunga theme.
Kramer highlighted the importance of agriculture at the fair.
“Agriculture is the DNA of the fair. So, we are always very mindful of making sure that is showcased front and center. Our livestock barns, our 4H kids. All the youth that’s exhibiting from the grains to everything. It’s keeping that tradition alive and that education message and bringing it in a relevant way that means something today,” she said.
The fair will open on Friday at noon, offering free parking and admission tickets for $5. Visitors can look forward to trying the Korean corn dogs and exploring the various attractions.
