Arizona State Fair Considers Drive-Thru Food Event
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The Arizona State Fair announced its cancellation on Aug. 20 for the first year since 1945.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, state fairs across the country have to adapt to these new circumstances. Many canceled events altogether, but some found an answer through food.
When the Arizona State Fair announced that it is canceled, many of its social media followers suggested a drive-thru food fair. Fairs of all sizes throughout the U.S. already accomplished or are planning drive-thru food related events.
The Minnesota State Fair, the biggest state fair in the country, is currently operating its drive-thru food parade.
Its usual 300-plus food vendors was narrowed down to sixteen. The event's 19,000 tickets sold out in two and a half hours, according to spokesperson Danielle Dullinger.
“When we did cancel, we did get quite a bit of feedback of how can we have at least some part of the fair this year?" said Dullinger. "Can we have a taste of the fair in some way? And a big part of that was food.”
The Minnesota State Fair saw over 2 million guests in 2019.
Even smaller fairs, like the Sonoma County fair in California, found that food was the best route to please both the public and the relationship with vendors.
The Sononma County Fair focused on traditional fair food. Kaitlyn Findley-Thorn, chief operating officer of the fair, said the vendors were simply excited for a sense of normalcy.
“They were very happy, I mean it definitely exceeded their initial expectations," said Findley-Thorn. "They were excited for the business ... their normal fair circuit has been very much dried up."
The Arizona State Fair saw 1.2 million attendees the previous year and usually has over 100 food vendors. A spokesperson for the fair said a drive-thru food event has been on the radar for a few months. That decision will have to wait until the weather cools off, so that people can still enjoy their fried food on a stick.
