Got Fair Food?

HUGHESVILLE-Amusement rides, livestock judging and hand-made displays, grandstand shows, free entertainment and games of chance will have to take a back seat during the next 10 days at the Lycoming Fair. It’s really all about the food, isn’t it?
“We wanted to introduce some new foods this year, and step away from the usual food that’s found at fairs,” said Dale Levan, concessions agent for the Lycoming County Fair Association.

Levan, who has been part of the association for the last 20 years, said a number of new food vendors who will be cooking Polish-American items, Mongolian Barbecue, Kutztown Beverages, and Mexican fare.
Ken’s Polish-American Grill will offer kielbasa in several forms including sandwiches, ka-bobs and wraps; halushkie; mini potato cakes; cabbage rolls; and homemade Polish pickles on a stick, he said.

Mongolian Barbecue provides savory dishes cooked with a giant wok on site, while Kutztown Beverages offers a variety of birch beers by the bottle or by the cup to choose from.
“They also have a deal that if you keep the bottle, you can get a refill for half price,” he said.

Other concessions include The Whole Enchilada, featuring Mexican-food; fried fruit pies `a la mode; and “s’creamers,” a hybrid between a Slushie and ice cream, Levan said.
Traditional fair food items, such as hot sausage sandwiches (which is your favorite—Gunzey’s or Hewlett’s?), pizza, gyros, burgers and French fries will remain available for purchase, he said.

With all the variety of foods to choose from, hungry fair patrons can burn off the calories they eat by walking the half-mile distance around the fairgrounds—about six times, Levan said with a laugh.
The Lycoming County Fair—and its food—opens Thursday, July 15 through Saturday, July 24.