Food and retail options abound at State Fair of Virginia
(DOSWELL, Sept. 23, 2024)—Whether you’re hunting for a handmade gift or desiring a deep-fried delight, the State Fair of Virginia has plenty of options.
During this year’s State Fair of Virginia, Sept. 27 through Oct. 6, you will find some of the state’s most talented artisans selling their wares the first and last weekends of the fair.
The State Fair is collaborating with the Heart of Virginia Artisans to showcase unique, high-quality handmade wares that reflect the state’s creative crafters. Handmade wares will include pottery, jewelry, stained glass, wood carvings and more. The market will be held across from the historic Meadow Hall each Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
“The Heart of Virginia Artisans exemplify our fair theme of ‘Where Home Grown Happens,’” noted Marlene Jolliffe, the fair’s executive director. “The collaboration among local artisans and crafters showcases the rich tapestry of talent that is alive and well across the state. Fairgoers will be able to appreciate the beauty and diversity of handmade goods—and just in time for holiday shopping!”
If handcrafts aren’t your thing, there are many other retail opportunities throughout the fair. Inside the Farm Bureau Center fairgoers will find myriad vendors selling the popular “penny” candy, T-shirts, jewelry, candles, nuts, garden decor and more. The Farm Bureau Center is open daily throughout the fair from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m.
While wandering The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County, check out Lakeview Western Boots, and get yourself some new cowboy boots. Lakeview, located in nearby Hanover County, has been a longtime vendor at the fair. Other longtime outdoor vendors include a caricature artist, East Coast Buildings Amish sheds, and James River Equipment.
If shopping is making you hungry, dining options abound. There are an abundance of traditional fair foods available like funnel cakes, corn dogs, turkey legs and elephant ears. This year you also will find some alternative options. A new spot called Fork’et Me Not will serve gluten-free and vegan options, with tasty dishes like chickpea tacos and jalapeno, bacon-wrapped mozzarella kabobs.
Fork’et Me Not also will enter its Hurricane Fries into the annual “Flavor of the Fair” contest. The fries are topped with mac and cheese, fried chicken and a special sauce. Other food vendors vying for a “Flavor of the Fair” award include Polar Bear’s Somemore Magic Ice Cream Sandwich—ice cream sandwiched in graham cracker and chocolate wafers, then dipped in dark chocolate and rolled in crushed graham crackers and topped with marshmallows, chocolate pieces and a marshmallow drizzle; and Fun Time Foods’ Pickle Lemonade, which is classic lemonade infused with a splash of pickle juice.
Other delicious foods vying for the honor include Wensil’s Funnel Cakes’ Space Cake, a classic funnel cake topped with cherry and cotton candy pop rocks; Cinnsane Cinnamon Rolls’ Big Fatty w/ Bacon, a giant cinnamon roll topped with savory bacon; Phat Boyz Catering’s Phat Dog, a jumbo hot dog topped with mac and cheese and pulled pork; Ruby’s Chicken Coop Buffalo Mozzarella Sticks, which are tossed in buffalo sauce; and Triple T’s curly fries topped with a spicy-sweet Jamaican jerk sauce.
For a little taste of classic fair food, try Pelican Joe’s miniature donuts—cooked hot and fresh to order. Pelican Joe’s can be found in the Meadow Pavilion, where you also will find a variety of honey from around the state and Virginia’s Finest branded products.
Find a full list of vendors and their offerings at StateFairVa.org.
The 2024 State Fair of Virginia will run from Sept. 27 through Oct. 6. Information is available at StateFairVa.org.
The State Fair of Virginia is held each fall at its permanent home at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County. The event celebrates the best of Virginia’s past, present and future through scholarship initiatives, creative programming and a focus on the commonwealth’s agriculture and natural resources industries. Virginia Farm Bureau Holding Corp. operates the fair and is a subsidiary of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.
Reporters and Editors: You’ll find a photo library on our website for easy access to images to accompany your fair coverage. Visit StateFairVa.org/p/about/media.
Media: Contact Jolliffe at 804-994-2802 or Pam Wiley, vice president of communications, at 804-291-6315.