You Won’t Believe What’s Being Fried at This Year’s State Fairs—See the Most Shocking Picks

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel personally attacked by the annual onslaught of state fair cuisine? Somewhere between the hypnotic glow of neon rides and the sticky echo of a midway, I find myself asking—how on earth did we, as a nation, collectively decide to deep-fry anything that looked vaguely edible (and a few things that definitely weren’t)? Staring at that glorious image of the fair’s culinary Frankenstein’s monsters—Smoked Carny Leg, Whole Branzino On A Stick, and yes, an egg roll stuffed with Tums—I’m equal parts horrified and enchanted . Maybe it’s nostalgia, maybe it’s latent indigestion from my last encounter with a tarred-and-feathered corn dog, but with each weird, whimsical bite, I’m reminded: state fairs are where ambition, cholesterol, and imagination hold hands and leap face-first into the fryer . Hungry for a tour of The Onion’s most delightfully questionable state fair foods? It’s a wild ride for your tastebuds…and your sense of self-preservation . LEARN MORE

As late summer gives way to early fall, many Americans will head to the fair and seek out their favorite regional delicacies. Here are The Onion’s top state fair foods. 

Smoked Carny Leg

Whole Branzino On A Stick

Big Ol’ Gulp From The Hose

Tums Egg Roll

Tarred-And-Feathered Corn Dog

Deep-Fried Items From The Lost And Found

Man Curds

Single 4,000-Calorie Peanut

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