Summer is here in Maine and the weather is lovely, which means it’s the perfect time to get outside and enjoy all this great state has to offer.
It’s also the time of year when fairs and festivals take center stage: these events bring Mainers and visitors together to enjoy the state’s great agriculture, local artisans, exciting games, and more.
The food is probably the most popular thing about the fair. Who doesn’t love stuffing themselves with breaded, deep-fried, sauced and skewered food? Diet takes a back seat during fair season; it’s all about taking in as many calories as possible.
With fair food season in full swing, I thought it’d be fun to find out what the most popular fair foods are in Maine, and maybe find out what some “outsiders” have to say about some of Maine’s specialty dishes. That’s where delish.com comes in.
Popular cooking sites ran articles about the food at the fair earlier this year, and in fact, delish.com even compiled a list of the best foods from each state, including Maine.
The site’s selection of Maine cuisine is solid, but is it impartial? Absolutely not, but I can understand why an outsider might think so.
So what is this wonder food? It’s the world famous snapper hot dog.
Found at state fairs, this authentic Maine sausage is simply the best: the perfect combination of well-seasoned meat, delicious gravy, and a crust that only an angel could invent. Nothing beats the “crack” sound you hear when you bite into it.
Oh, I love the Red Snapper. The Red Snapper eclipses all other competitors. Fenway Frank? Nathan’s? Hebrew National? None of these should be in the same hemisphere as the Red Snapper.
But is it a fair food? You could probably find it at any Maine fair. But Mainers don’t associate this delicacy with fairs. Red snapper is a staple fish that’s eaten all year round. It’s great for BBQs, birthdays, baseball games, funerals, graduations, weddings, work parties, breakfast, lunch, dinner… I think you get the point.
I can understand why outsiders would suggest it’s fair food — red snapper is a regional delicacy; most people would be fascinated the first time they see it — but to us Mainers, red snapper is as common as cartons of milk, bread, and butter.
Hurrah for the great red snapper. It’s great that it’s been named best food at the Maine State Fair, but it might just be the best food in Maine.
I’m getting hungry.
2024 Maine Agricultural Fair & Festival Dates
Here are the upcoming dates for Maine’s biggest fairs and festivals, according to the Maine Fair website. If we’ve missed an event that should be on the list or we’ve gotten something wrong, please let us know by emailing Cooper.Fox@townsquaremedia.com.
15 Beautiful Photos of the World’s Ugliest Dogs
Every year at the Marin-Sonoma County Fair in Petaluma, California, the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest is held, where owners show off their unique looking dogs. The dog that is voted the ugliest will win a cash prize. Here are the 2024 competitors.
Gallery credit: Rob Carroll
