Funnel Cake, Fried Chicken, and Pickles at the State Fair

The carnival rides twirl and flash, the music from the games rings through the air, and the cable car passes overhead. When my buddy invited me to go to the Washington State Fair, I couldn't turn him down. Riding the wooden rollercoaster and laughing at the squirming piglets in the barn always brings nostalgic memories of childhood and fills me with a quiet joy. Every time we go to the fair, we make new special memories to return to each time we defy gravity on the centrifugal starship ride.

Time warps in funhouse mirrors and we lose ourselves in a dart-popped balloon. When the track free falls or we turn upside down it's okay to lose ourselves for a moment before returning back to reality. Remember being young? It's funny, laugh. We're safe together.

Of course, the scent of deep-fried Oreos and Twinkies fill the air at the fairgrounds and food is essential to the seasonal event. While my buddy opted for a pastrami sandwich and fries, I wanted to treat myself to some other delicious foods. Here are my favorite snacks from the state fair this year.

Classic and Strawberry Funnel Cakes

It wouldn't be a trip to the State Fair without funnel cake. Since it's all in good fun, you could even start your meal with dessert! We grabbed two funnel cakes on the outskirts of Sillyville because we didn't realize just how big they would be. I definitely recommend sharing a funnel cake -- they were very filling.

I enjoyed a classic with only powdered sugar, but my buddy savored one with strawberries and whipped cream on top. Biting into the fried dough and reaching the soft cake inside immediately brought me back to memories I made as a kid going to amusement parks with my summer camp. It's always been my favorite treat when waiting in line for an adrenaline-inducing ride. The strawberry syrup was the perfect amount of sweetness. We gave these funnel cakes a blue ribbon rating.

Nashville Hot Waffle Chicken Sandwich with Pickle Lemonade

After our first couple of rides, we realized our stomachs were starting to growl again. When we made it to the food hall, we were excited by all the options we had. A fried chicken joint with Betty Boop branding. A classic deli serving up sandwiches and garlic fries. A hamburger stand with specialty corndogs and a bakery specializing in scones. It was almost difficult for me to decide, but once I saw the Nashville Hot Waffle Chicken Sandwich I knew what to do.

The waffle was fluffy and the chicken wasn't too spicy. The meat tasted like a patty and there was little bit of coleslaw on it. It was so good I ate it up in about two minutes. I needed to get the Bigfoot souvenir cup, so I tried the pickle lemonade -- such a surprisingly refreshing beverage that quenched my thirst and filled me with energy. After finishing our lunch, we were ready to go meet some pals over by the swings.

SuckerPunch Pickle Snack Packs

I knew I was going to need a pick me up as the sunset neared, so I brought some fair-themed snacks from home. SuckerPunch Pickle Snack packs were perfect -- convenient, yummy, and just the right amount of food for me to snack on. I brought the Snappy Sweet Bread & Butter and Red Chile Spicy Dill flavors. With slightly different tastes but the same classic crunch, the pickles put me in the mood to play a pig racing game.

My buddy and I sat down to compete, but I was determined. I looked at the holes we needed to roll the ball in to move the pigs up the racetrack. A friend who couldn't make it that day had jokingly asked me to bring him back a piglet. The man running the game announced my pig's arrival on the finish line. I won a pig plush toy for my friend! Sometimes the best part of the fair is bringing something home to share with the people we care about.

I had a really great time at the fair and enjoyed eating these snacks. Waiting in line for the bumper cars after it got dark, I was thankful for the friends I got to spend time with, the people I went with in years past, and everyone I might go with in the future. What are some of your favorite memories and what food would you get?

The lights and sounds electrified the night as we headed towards the exit a bit before closing to beat the rush. After a great day at the state fair with lots of yummy food, we we were ready to head back home.

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