Pig Wing Eating Contest, New Vendors Expected at Lake County Fair

From corn dogs to corn on the cob, funnel cakes and elephant ears to turkey legs and pig wings, the Lake County Fair will be chalk-full of edible options.

The fair, scheduled for July 25-29 at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road in Grayslake, will feature more than 60 food vendors, including classic favorites like cotton candy and chocolate covered bananas and some new-to-the-fair treats such as pig wings. 

The delicacy comes from Porkie's based out of Woodstock. Visitors will be able to compete in a daily pig wing eating contest, leading up to a final chowdown on July 29 where the grand prize winner will receive a free pig roast for up to 100 people and $100 cash. Second prize will win a $50 gift certificate. Visitors can also enjoy Porkie's pulled pork sandwiches and baby back ribs from Brothers BBQ of Crystal Lake.

Another new food vendor to the fair is Up Top Tropics, from Pleasant Prairie, Wis., with 42 flavors of shaved Hawaiian ice.

Time-tested favorites return to the fair including veteran vendors Roger Westmoreland Concessions and Anderson’s Candy Shop. Westmoreland has made the nearly 900-mile trip from Hughes Springs, Texas, every July for more than 20 years to provide county fair standbys like corn dogs, funnel cakes, nachos, slushies and curly fries.

Nationally-recognized chocolate-covered candies will headline Anderson’s patriotic red-white-and-blue-colored stand, along with the vendor’s signature cinnamon-and-sugar mini doughnuts and eight flavors of ice cream.

Specialty vendors like Quality Concessions and Food Express will return offering breaded cheese nuggets, assorted cheeses, turkey legs, stuffed pretzels and lemon shake-ups.

Joe’s Crab Shack will supply spicy-boiled crawfish and blackened fish sliders. Three Amigas covers the Mexican menu with the basics from tacos to tostadas.

The Lake County Fair hours are:

• Wednesday, July 25 and Thursday, July 26 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• Friday, July 27 and Saturday, July 28 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

• Sunday, July 29 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

For information about reduced ticket prices, including for military and their families, as well as a schedule of events visit their website.

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