BY DAWN NOLAN
Hand-dipped corn dogs, enormous turkey legs, decadent deep-fried Oreos and sugary sweet cotton candy, these are a few favorite treats often associated with fair season. At The State Fair of West Virginia, held for 10 days every August in Lewisburg, it isn’t surprising to find long lines of hungry attendees waiting for their go-to orders at staples like Ben-Ellen Donuts, Son’s-Sational Cinnamon Rolls, the Greenbrier East High School FFA Ham Stand, Belt’s Pizza and Cattleman’s Steak Sandwich.
For those interested in trying something different, however, there’s the annual New Fair Food Contest, where concessionaires create and submit a special menu item for judging and public vote.
Last year, Fork’et Me Not’s Hurricane Fries won the Judge’s Choice, and Gillette’s Pizza and Lemonade’s Pickle Bacon Ranch Pizza was awarded People’s Choice, or Fan Fair Favorite. In 2023, Gillette’s Pizza and Lemonade’s Dill Pickle Calzone and Fork’et Me Not’s Burger Bomb took the titles.
On Monday, August 11, 2025, Miss West Virginia Association of Fairs and Festivals Queen Sophia Wigal was joined by representatives from The Social Bee Marketing Agency and Gillispie’s Flowers & Events to determine what would be deemed the Best New Fair Food.
This year’s entrants include:
- Blue Ribbon Kettle Corn – Strawberry & Cream Fresh Squeezed Lemonade
- Chambers Concessions – Samoa Funnel Cake
- G3 Concessions – Loaded Pickles
- GH Concessions – Dubai Chocolate Funnel Cake
- Gilette’s Pizza & Lemonade – Wild and Spicy West Virginia Pickle Pizza
- Gus Bus Burgers – The Repeat Offender
- Miller & Company – Buckeye Lemonade
- Trudy’s Dairy World – Cinnamon Roll Ice Cream
- The Twist – Pretzelroni Roll
- The WV Pickle Guy – Cotton Candy Pickles
Photo credit: The Social Bee
After tasting each of the submissions, Blue Ribbon Kettle Corn’s Strawberry & Cream Fresh Squeezed Lemonade received first place. Second place went to Trudy’s Dairy World for their Cinnamon Roll flavor, and The Twist placed third for their pretzel-pepperoni roll hybrid, the Pretzelroni Roll.
People’s Choice runs until Friday, August 15, at noon. Votes can be cast by liking your favorite dish’s photo on the State Fair of West Virginia Facebook page. The Twist’s Pretzelroni Roll is currently in the lead with over 700 likes/loves. Chambers Concession’s Samoa Funnel Cake is second with 500-plus.
Photo credit: The Social Bee
Photo credit: The Social Bee
For more information on the food options available at the State Fair of West Virginia, check out the 2025 Food Guide. The State Fair of West Virginia started on Thursday, August 7, and runs through Saturday, August 16.
