Hillsborough County Fair Our New Fall Fair Food Custom

Hillsborough County Fair | Dover

---

The Hillsborough County Fair is upon us which means fair season is here to herald in the fall. Now, if you are anything like us then we share a love for fair food. Consequently, the deep-fried, slow cooked, open grilled, sugar dipped vittles are our main attraction to any midway. Of course, if time and budgets allow, we might fit in a few rides and spectacles to round out the event.

We decided to take our inaugural trip to our new county’s fair on opening night, one of two nights this season when admission and rides are $1 each. The bargain was too good to pass up so we hopped in the sporty little runabout with our allowance of $25 each and minds swimming with visions of trailer-made treats.

---

Hillsborough County Fair

• • 215 Sydney Washer Road
    Dover, FL 33527
  • Fair Dates (2018):
    October 18-21 and 25-28
  • Fair Hours:
    Thursday 5:00 p.m.  – 10:00 p.m.
    Friday 5:00 p.m.  – 11:00 p.m.
    Saturday 10:00 a.m.  -11:00 p.m.
    Sunday 10:00 a.m.  – 8:00 p.m.
  • Parking: Free
  • General Admission Tickets:
    Adults – $7.00
    Students (K-12) – $5.00
    Seniors – $4.00
    4 & Younger – Free
    Arena Events –  $10.00 Plus Admission
  • Ride Specials:
    Thursday 10/18 and 10/25
  • Dollar Days – $1 admission and $1 rides
    Friday 10/19 and 10/26
    $20 Armband Specials
    Saturday 10/20 and 10/27
    $20 Armband Specials
    11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. $20
    5:00 p.m.  -11:00 p.m. $20
    Sunday 10/21 and 10/28
    $20 Armband Specials

http://hillsboroughcountyfair.com/

---

Step right up

While we waited in line, a staffer came along and informed us that ride tickets would be sold in blocks of ten for $10 and that each ride took one ticket. However, she went on to say that without the block of ten, each ride would cost the regular price.

We misunderstood her banter to mean that we could opt to pay full price if we wanted to only ride one ride. We’d discover our mistake later.

I snapped a pic of the map at the gate. It wasn’t really necessary as the grounds are pretty compact and the paths are simple. Still, it pays to be prepared.

The lay of the land

We were thrilled to see the $1.50 iced tea stand which we fell in love with at the State Fair. A 20-ounce cup of real brewed iced tea for that price is the best bargain in the fair and refills in any cup are a buck.

As we were among the first to enter, the rides were not yet manned. Operators were likely on the last break they’d have for several hours.  We took note of the rides and debated the dangers of adding stomachs full of fried sugary dough and fatty meats to Sizzlers, Tilt-A-Whirls, Tummy-Turners, and Bust-A-Noggins.

Okay, I made those last two rides up.

Fair Food – The reason for the season

Corn dogs

Suddenly a cool little camper caught my eye. It was so darned adorable that whatever they were selling, I was buying.

Nippy’s Orignal Hand Dipped Butter Milk Corn Dogs. With a name longer than their trailer, this literal mom and pop shop has been frying up the real thing for four decades. Mr. Nippy was mixing up a batch of batter as the Mrs. Nippy wrapped our hefty dogs in napkins in exchange for $4 each.

This was deal of the Hillsborough County Fair midway. Well, one of several deals.

As we nibbled on our dogs we ambled toward the livestock arena. On the way, we passed a stand with bags of sugar waffles in the window. I had been wanting to try these since learning about them at the Showmen’s Museum.

At $2.00 each (4 for $6) I had to try one. Doused in a snowdrift of powdered sugar I balanced the light as air confection in one hand as I worked the last of the corn dog off the stick held in the other.

That corn dog was perfection and pretty weighty. The light sweet batter had frizzled to a thick delicate cake with a crisp exterior and the hot dogs were quality franks with a meaty flavor and texture.

The last bit of the cake fell from the stick to the ground of the livestock arena. I snatched it up within seconds and ate it. I know what you’re suddenly thinking. The problem is I didn’t think. The flavor was so good my abdominal brain overruled the safety committee upstairs. It’s been days since and I feel fine.

Sugar Waffles

Sugar waffle was something singular. Thin as onion skin, crisp as a cracker, the flavor was delicate and distinctly deep fried. I gingerly snapped of portions afraid it would shatter like glass in a shower of flakes and a cloud of sugar onto the floor.

The sugar definitely made the delicate treat complete. And after the last bite, I still had a quarter cup left on the plate.

Hillsborough County Fair is an agricultural affair, after all

We watched a bit of amateur level sheep related FFA stuff while we finished our current edibles. The winners were awarded wood clothes hangers. I wonder why?

We then did a quick walk around the pens to see the sheep and pigs.

I have to say, it’s a bit unnerving walking through these pens of hundred-pound little sheep that suddenly make these guttural sounds like a dive bar mook belching at your knee level. Where’s the baaa?

The haggard hogs were laying low so we let them be and skedaddled.

Crafter’s Corner

Back outside we took a spur leading behind the Hillsborough County Fair arena, past the circus (that wouldn’t go on till 7:30, we weren’t staying that long) and the Crafters’ Corner where home-made wares were being peddled.

Hometown Hillsborough

The path led to what looked to be a modest model historic village complete with blacksmith and a shooting gallery.

The antique tool barn

Our stroll led us to a post and beam barn festooned with ancient hand tools.
Lured by the sight, I led Christa inside to the delight of the keepers who proffered a clipboard and pencil. If we could match the proper name to the tools listed and numbered on the wall, we’d win a token prize.

They didn’t have to press. I bit.

After half an hour of matching, puzzling, and bickering between us, we graded against the master list. We only got two wrong as we swapped one plane for another—I maintain the nomenclature was too vague but held my tongue.

We got to pick our prize of a fun-sized candy bar and we chatted a bit before moving on.

I then went to check on a lonely soul manning a shed with mannequins in historic military uniforms. This turned out to be the display for the East Hillsborough Historical Society. We chatted a bit over the exhibit and upcoming events before exiting the village into the midway.

I missed my piggies

After musing over whether a pony (or horse) was pinto (or palomino), I suddenly realized the pig race had started. We arrived as spectators were climbing down from the stands. I had missed Robinson’s Racing Pigs once more.

That second dollar night might come in handy.

Let’s eat, part two

Piggy Palace

We sought more fair food to ease my disappointment and approached the Piggy Palace adjacent to the pig race track. (Is this what becomes of the losers? ) After posing for pics in the piggy cutout, we went to consult the menu.

Christa had decided with certainty she was going to get their new item, the Piggy Poke – Pork belly burnt ends with caramelized BBQ sauce on a skewer.
That sounded okay, but for $10 I balked. I had to save funds for other treats.

I opted for the Piggy Pouch – pulled pork and coleslaw in a bag of Fritos.
The walking taco Carolina BBQ style, at $7, would leave bills for other snacks yet give me a taste of the Piggy Palace prowess.

Piggy Poke

Christa’s skewered swine appeared and it was heavenly to behold. Glistening chunks of fat-streaked char-grilled pork belly were stacked and shellacked in a mahogany sauce that shimmered over the crispy char-grilled edges.

She took a bite and smiled. I’m pretty sure her eyes widened under her tinted glasses.

I asked for a teensy bite and she actually hesitated. She tipped the tip at me and I delicately went for a corner, expecting to have to gnaw the piece free. I was so wrong.

The meat was so tender that the corner actually broke away effortlessly. The toughest part of that pork was the light glaze of caramelized sauce. Sweet and savory, It was a fantastic complement to the succulent belly bits.

Piggy Pouch

The Piggy Pouch—a BBQ walking taco—was a winner. The foil packet contained a decent sized portion of pulled pork over the corn chips with a hefty dollop of coleslaw on top.

The slaw was tasty with a great sweet to tangy ratio but not too wet—good assurance against soggy Fritos. The pork was very tender, had a nice subtle smoke, and fresh pork flavor.

I tasted a bit of the bbq sauce from the squeeze bottles and it seemed a bottled variety, but a little dose shouldn’t hurt the dish. I added about a teaspoon and gently mixed the pouch with the spork.

The flavors really went well together and I can’t believe I’ve never encountered this variation of the Frito pie before.

I look forward to seeing Piggy Palace at next year’s Hillsborough County Fair. They might become our traditional favorite.

Onward to the Indoor exhibits

The fire department (I think?) was putting on a show for the kiddies and I considered taking it in seeing as I missed the racing pigs.  Christa thought better and suggested we go into the Hillsborough County Fair building to see the Family Living Exhibits and competitions.

Angora spinning

The first booth featured a woman spinning yarn from angora rabbit fur.  And we got to pet the bunny.

We were told we could hold her, but I foresaw that poor rabbit getting plenty of manhandling in the days to come so I let it be. After a few gentle pettings of her soft as air fur, of course.

She had a nice selection of articles knitted from the soft stuff.

UF|IFAS Extension Hillsborough County

Around the corner was the UF|IFAs Extension booth where we were given ballots to vote on art sculptures made from recycled materials.  I picked my favorite and dropped the ballot.

The Extension office has often been helpful in identifying many of the local plants I’ve found during hikes.

Arts, crafts, and home products competitions

Next, we perused the fine arts entries. Local submissions of photography, painting, and drawing revealed a talented pool of amateurs in the county. Maybe I’ll compete next year.

At the quilt and sewing booth, we had a moment of homesickness for Lancaster.

The USDA

Around the corner of the jams and jellies, we encountered the USDA table. There we talked with the reps about the eradication of citrus canker, the current problem of citrus greening (we’ve met), how some farmers are independently experimenting with their own cures and how others are forgoing citrus for newer cash crops, like olives and hops.

Florida may one day lose its title as orange king to become olive queen or hop…duke.

After a discussion on the fruitfly sterilization program, I took some lit and we moved on. Our bellies were buzzing for more fair food.

More food ere the evening grows long

Elephant ears

Christa decided it was time for elephant ears and since the stand by the entrance said theirs wouldn’t be ready until 7 (must have been having fryer trouble) we opted for the stand where I got the sugar waffle.

After it’s swim in the fat the dough got a liberal swabbing of melted butter and a dusting of cinnamon sugar.

While that was happening I got a glimpse of another ear—a whole mess of them roasting over an open flame.

Maize ears

I got one dipped in a pot of melted butter. After a sprinkle of salt and low country seasoning, I met up with my gal and her elephant ear and we walked over to get some of that bargain iced tea.

That corn was tasty but my haste burned the roof of my mouth. I soothed it with the tasty tea and then finished my portion of the elephant ear.
It was good, but Christa thought it needed more butter brushed on.

An aside

My great grandmother used to make us an Italian version of the treat called pizza fritte.  She’d stretch freshly made dough round and thin just like a standard pizza then ease it into a big cast iron skillet of olive oil until golden and puffed. We would then drizzle it in honey and tear off pieces of hot fluffy bread with a fruity olive crust enhanced with the flowery honey.

It was heaven and I’ve never attempted to make it in the almost forty years since eating the last one by Grandmom Maria. Elephant ears are essentially the same thing minus the olive oil and the honey.

That’s a long story to say I appreciate them better with honey but stands don’t supply it. I have to remember to bring my own next fair.

Our ride ticket mistake

After nibbling our ears, we went to ride the Ferris wheel and it was here that we learned about our ticket mistake. Since it was dollar day, you could only buy the blocks of ten. Or so we were told by that particular booth attendant.  We only wanted to do the wheel, so we declined.

I shoulda slipped the ride operator a fin for a whirl but didn’t think about it until after we left.  Of course,  our budget aside, I could have bought a block, rid’ the ride and handed the rest to a kid, but didn’t think of that until just now.

Good job, brain.

Once more around the park

As the twilight cast over the Hillsborough County Fair, we tallied our allowance. I had a fading inkling to get a flame-grilled burger from the Brandon Shriners but changed my mind after actually looking at one.

Though the smell had been tickling my nose since we arrived, it was just a patty on a white bun with unmelted cheese on top. No comparison to the toasted cheeseburger at the Ephrata Fair. And not worth the $6 at the time.

Christa suggested adding her $4 to my $6 to get another piggy poke, but we both felt pretty full and decided not to make ourselves miserable. Besides, she said she could never again purchase pork skewers elsewhere because they would never taste as good as that one.

And the second of a great thing is never as good as the first. Best to hold fast to the memory.

No, I’m totally visiting their stand if I encounter it again.

Our work is done, here

We called it a night and headed to the sporty little runabout.

The Hillsborough County Fair experience was a success minus the Ferris wheel and having missed the racing pigs. Of course, we go mainly for the food, so it’s not a real loss, especially on $1 night.

Would it be as enjoyable and as valuable an experience at full price? Well, in that case, I would ride the wheel. And as long as I got to see the piggies race, probably. But I’d likely stay later to get in the circus to make it truly worth it.

Thoughts from the recliner

I’ve been to fairs of all sizes and the Hillsborough County Fair ranks in near the small end. But for what it has, there’s some great stuff. There’s little fluff; its just compact, efficient, and not as cheesy and commercial as some recent experiences we’ve had. (Strawberry Fest, I’m looking in your direction.)

And it wasn’t crowded at all, considering the deal. I highly recommend a visit on the next and final Dollar Night, October 25. But definitely figure in $10 for a block of tickets to ride 10 rides. A few zips around the Sizzler wouldn’t hurt either. If I wasn’t worried about seeing all that tasty food I ate passing before my eyes, we might have done so.

And in the end…

The Hillsborough County Fair—or your local fair—is an affordable annual must-see. Even at full ticket price, it’s cheap, there are great food options, and even some learning to be had if you’re into that sort of thing. A fair is a great tradition to usher in the fall and eat your fill of fried delights under spinning rides and flashing lights. 

Now, go get stuffed.

---

• What’s your favorite fair food?
• Is there a signature item that must be had at your local fair?
• What would you eat off a livestock arena floor?

Please comment with any questions, critiques, or greetings. I’d love to hear from you.

Thanks for Reading!