In terms of the long list of festivities at the Kentucky State Fair, Hardin County-based cattle farmer Ray Newton has a favorite. And he thinks plenty of fair-goers may agree.
“I think the eating,” Newton said. “I think the food is closer to the top than anything else that goes on at the fair.”
This will be his 14th year as a vendor at the fair, which kicks off Aug. 15, with the popular Newton’s Homemade Ice Cream stand. The set-up just outside Freedom Hall at the Kentucky Exposition Center, 937 Phillips Lane, stands out as Newton and his team make homemade ice cream using antique hit-and-miss John Deere engines.
The treats are made without artificial flavor and with real fruit, including strawberries and peaches. Plus, at least one new flavor is on the menu this year: Chocolate peppermint.
“We think ours is a step above,” he said. “Ours is made one small batch at a time and you can sit here and watch it being made on-site.”
That goes, too, for what’s served at Newton’s Farm-to-Table grill, where you’ll find roasted corn, ribeye sandwiches, four different hamburgers, and new items such as a prime rib sandwich.
“You can even get fried bologna at Newton’s,” he said. “We aim to accommodate your tastes.”
Newton’s is a member of Kentucky Proud, one of many vendors championing Kentucky-grown products you’ll find at the fair.
“We’re big believers of agriculture and letting people know where their food comes from,” Newton said. “We want to educate people during the short time we have with them.”
As the fair approaches, Newton said he may add some other new items over the event’s 11 days.
“We try to change things around a little bit, but we’ll have our staples,” he said. “The old saying is, if it ain’t broke, you don’t want to fix it. But you never know what surprise you’re going to get here at Newton’s.”Joining longtime vendors at the fair are newcomers such as Deez Butts BBQ, based in Elizabethtown, Dewster’s Homemade Ice Cream & Baker, also from Elizabethtown, and The Pink Cow, which will serve milkshakes, cookies, ice cream, root beer floats, and soda floats.
The 2024 Kentucky State Fair will be held Aug. 15-25 at the Kentucky Exposition Center, 937 Phillips Lane, in Louisville. Hours and special discounts or promotion days can be found on its website. Tickets purchased during the State Fair are $10 for admission and $10 for parking. Visit kystatefair.org/tickets for details.
More:Smoked meatloaf and deep-fried marshmallows: 4 must-try new foods at the Kentucky State Fair
Here’s a look at what the Kentucky State Fair food vendors will be serving this year and where they are located at the Kentucky Exposition Center:
Note: this list may be updated.
South Wing B and C food vendors at the Kentucky State Fair
- International Catering: New this year: Smoke Show (smoked meatloaf, pepper jack cheese, mayo, sweet and spicy fried pickles, and a brioche bun), and Deep-fried marshmallows, made with chocolate sauce and powdered sugar. Also, Lobster rolls
- HK Concessions: Sausage corndogs, chicken tenders, Greek food, tater tots and biscuits
- Gustavo’s Mexican Restaurant: Mexican food and margaritas
- Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association: Kentucky Proud burgers, fries and ribeye sandwiches
- Kentucky Pork Producers: Pork chop sandwich, pork burger and fries
- Kentucky Aquaculture Association: Fried fish and chicken tenders
Outdoor food vendors at the Kentucky State Fair
- Cheezy Does It: Fried macaroni and cheese balls, bacon Mac and cheeseburger, mag and cheese bowls, chicken tenders with cheesy fries basket, cajun loaded fry basket, a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich with fry baskets, and lemonade and strawberry lemonade slushies, loaded breakfast basket
- Churros 2 Go: Churros cinnamon and sugar, churros with fillings (guava, caramel, chocolate, cream cheese, and strawberry), churros mixed with ice cream and churros filled with ice cream, and Apreas (sweet corn sandwich)
- Coco Bongos: Frozen drinks alcohol and non-alcoholic
- Creamy Rich: Italian sausage, Polish sausage, Philly Cheesesteak, pizza, Cubans, Reubens, turkey sandwich, coffee, and smoothies
- Dairy Delight Ryan’s Concessions: Ice cream
- Deez Butts BBQ: Smoked meats, smoked nuts
- Dewster’s Homemade Ice Cream & Bakery: Ice cream, brownies and skillet cookies. Gluten-free and dairy-free options
- Home Run Burger: A variety of burgers
- Kelly’s Concession: Baklava, gyros (lamb, chicken, and veggie)
- Kona Ice E-Town: 10 different flavors of shaved ice in a cup, including sugar-free flavors
- Kentucky Pork Producers: Pork chop sandwich, pork burger and fries
- Kentucky Aquaculture Association: Fried fish and chicken tenders
- Kentucky Corn Growers Association: Roasted sweet corn
- Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association: Kentucky Proud Burgers, fries and ribeye sandwiches
- L’Concessions: Southern soul food
- Libbertt’s Concessions Inc.: Pineapple whip, ice cream cones, shakes, floats, and ice cream cups
- Murphy’s Breakfast: Breakfast items including gravy and biscuits egg sandwiches
- Newton’s Farm-to-Table Grille: Farm-fresh food, burgers and roasted corn
- Newton’s Homemade Ice Cream LLC: Homemade ice cream in multiple flavors
- Pat’s Footlongs: Footlong hot dogs
- Paulette’s Food Service: Funnel cakes, ice cream and candy apples
- The Pink Cow: Milkshakes, cookies, ice cream, root beer floats, and red cream soda floats
- Sherry’s Concessions: Funnel cakes, deep-fried Oreos, Bloomin’ taters, Bloomin’ onions, and cotton candy
- Silly Sam’s Food Concessions: King’s Taters “Gater Taters” add cheese, ranch, or bacon. Chicken strips, fresh-cut fries, soda, and iced tea, corndog, lemonade, fried green tomatoes, fried pickles, ribeye sandwich, chicken breast sandwich, corndog, and sweet corn on the cob
- Sivori Catering, Inc.: New items this year include a chili cheese corndog, made with a hand-dipped and fried corn dog, covered with chili and cheese, and a BBQ Pork Pizza with pickles and red onion. Other things on the menu include shake-ups, cheese fries, French fries, soft drinks, and bottled water. Pulled pork macaroni and cheese, beef brisket macaroni and cheese, pork butt on a stick, smoked turkey legs, smoked pork chops, pulled pork with slaw, pulled chicken with slaw, sliced beef brisket, smoked wings, rib tips, baked potato bar, butt fires, french fries and cheese fries, baked beans, corn dogs and chicken tenders, baskets, and lemonade
- Sivori Funnel Cakes: Funnel cakes, deep-fried derby pie, Deep fried Oreos
- The Slushie Lab: Slushies
- Tillys: Elephant ears, red velvet funnel cakes, soda, and bottled water
- ToyDog & Co.: Chocolate fudge puppy dog, or fudge on a freshly dipped dog sprinkled with bacon or sprinkles and drizzled with white chocolate, and Maple Bacon Corn Dog drizzled and sprinkled with bacon
- Tracys Concessions: Fries with toppings including mac and cheese fries
Reach food and dining reporter Amanda Hancock at [email protected].