The Oregon State Fair is canceled. But you can still get corn dogs and funnel cakes
A vehicle drives up to pick up an order at the ‘Taste of a Fair’ event at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on Friday, July 10. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Like almost all summer outdoor events, the Oregon State Fair is canceled due to the Covid pandemic. But those missing elephant ears, turkey legs and other grease or sugar-laden staples sold at the annual event are in luck.
A fair vendor has opened a drive-thru at the fairgrounds offering corndogs, elephant ears, lemonade and other classics throughout the summer.
Brian Bradbury, the operations manager at Pacific Rim Food and Beverage, said that this year was supposed to be the first year his company operated the food booths scattered throughout the fairgrounds.
But in May, Bradbury got word that the fair had been canceled due to the pandemic.
“It was just unbelievable,” said Bradbury, who can’t remember the Oregon State Fair ever being canceled while growing up in Salem.
While the fairgrounds were temporarily converted into a hospital, he recalled talking with co-workers and coming up with the idea for a drive-thru selling fried Twinkies, mounds of curly fries and other fare.
So the Taste of a Fair drive-thru was launched three weeks ago with plans for it to remain open through Labor Day when the Oregon State Fair would normally end. The drive-thru is open on Fridays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on weekends from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Bradbury said that his company will come up with a new specialty each week. Gyros will be offered this week and there are plans to serve turkey legs and “donut dogs,” hotdogs encased in maple bars. He also said that there have been weekly variations on curly fries that have included garlic and pulled pork.
Bradbury said that orders are completed with social distancing measures in place and customers don’t get out their cars to receive their baskets of food. He said that some hungry customers will often park in the parking lot in front of the fairgrounds and eat right there.
“People are absolutely thrilled by it,” he said. “It’s been awesome to see.”
He said one challenge has been finding ways to package three-pound orders or curly fries and other jumbo-sized food not intended to be a to-go item.
“It’s big and it’s bulky,” he said. “It’s not like wrapping up a little hamburger and french fries.”
Kim Grewe-Powell, the fair’s interim CEO, said in an email that it’s been exciting to see the Taste of a Fair help fill the void after the fair was canceled. She said that the Oregon State Fair is getting ready for next year and is preparing to showcase 2021’s entertainment and line-up.
Bradbury said it’s hard to tell if the drive-thru will be the first of future changes to the fair’s foodservice.
“We just have to wait and see,” he said.
Emily Bradbury presses a lemon for fresh lemonade at the ‘Taste of a Fair’ event at at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on Friday, July 10. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Jojo Rodriguez bags an elephant ear at the ‘Taste of a Fair’ event at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on Friday, July 10. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Caramel apples at the ‘Taste of a Fair’ event at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on Friday, July 10. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
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Contact reporter Jake Thomas at 503-575-1251 or [email protected] or @jakethomas2009.
