For a ten day span in late September, area Walmarts in Oklahoma City experience a massive drop in sales. This yearly phenomenon can only be attributed to one thing – the Oklahoma State Fair!

During these ten days, the fairgrounds become the biggest congregation of mullets, torn-sleeve flannel tank tops, and fried food connoisseurs in the country. When the State Fair gates open, the Great Unwashed collectively turn off Man vs. Food reruns, put down the crack pipe, collect all fifteen kids together, grab a fresh can of Skoal, load up the pick-up truck, and leave the trailer park for some good old-fashioned family fun.

Of course there are rides at the fair, but the rides aren’t the main attraction, they’re merely a sideshow. The main attraction of this fair is definitely the food, which almost always seems to be deep fried then served on a stick.

There’s always gotta be one that breaks from the crowd. If you don’t like your food served on a stick, (and honestly, what self-respecting fair-goer doesn’t?) this vendor has you covered.

There’s no place in the world you could go and get food that is worse for you than the fair. I searched and searched for the ‘Best of the Worst Foods’ and finally came up with this amazing offering:

MMMmmm MMMmmmm Good!

Besides the food, there are fun Fair contests to participate in:

Winner of the State Fair Porcupine Look-alike Contest:

The strangest pairing of fair booths? The Anti-Abortion League set up shop right next to the Bake-A-Better Pie booth. The most obvious pairing that doesn’t yet exist but should? The American Heart Association next to the Fried Twinkie booth. Step Right Up! Free Defibrillation!

The fair is the perfect place to go if you are looking for something truly unique, like an aluminum sculpture for your yard that is a perfect way to remember Gramma and Grampa:

One of the hottest items at the fair, being hawked under the big top by every pretender to Billy May’s vacated As Seen On TV throne, was cookware that somehow, through the magic of science, allows you to cook… without water!

Why use water when you can cook with grease?

The fun never stops at the Fair, though my camera died before I got to the really good stuff, like the Elvis concert and the Lumberjack show. Too much grease in the air I suppose. I already bought my ticket for  next year to come back and cover the rest of the fun.