Fair Food Fest Found To Be Fabulous

The triumph of creativity over Covid nets Yakima's State Fair Park a first place award. In other words, when the Coronavirus hands you lemons instead of a 10 day fair run, make lemonade and sell it and a bunch of other fair food favorites at a unique drive thru event at the fairgrounds!

Congratulations to all the clever people who turned a State Fair disaster into a Fair Food success.  The International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) organization took note of Yakima's Fair Food Fest drive-thru event held in September of 2020 awarding the park the First Place Award of Excellence in the Non-Fair Facility Usage.

With the help of Yakima Federal Savings and Loan the park put together an experience. where thousands of fair food fans in vans (and other vehicles too) stopped and shopped at vendors and then grabbed the goodies to go.

A news release from the Fair Food Fest organizers says, "Being recognized as a contest winner is an accomplishment many fairs strive to achieve. With the unusual year came many challenges to our industry, but the contest program was still able to showcase the best programs across the world."

Kathy Kramer, CEO & President, Central Washington Fair Association says, “The feedback from both the community and our vendors was positive...we are planning on bringing this event back in mid or late May of this year."

.The 2021 Central Washington State Fair is scheduled for September 24 –October 3rd.