State fair opens; weird deep-fried foods top menu

Leave your diet in the parking lot, the Arizona State Fair is back in town.

The fair is really about the food, said Kristi Walsh with the fair.

"Lots of corn dogs, lots of various sausage products, roasted corn... We have everything from egg roll on a stick to deep-fried calamari. Deep-fried Twinkies, of course. We do have some new food products this year -- deep-fried moon pies, we've also got alligator tails which are deep-fried and on a stick."

The biggest thing this year "is going to be deep-fried M&M's on a stick," said Kristi Walsh with the fair.

"It's funny because almost anything deep-fried and on a stick, it all looks the same. So you kind of aren't sure what you're getting into unless you know what you've just ordered."

She said there are more than 100 food stands serving pasta and arm-sized turkey legs, but the biggest hit is the traditional fry-bread.

"Everyone who comes back for fry bread, they have different stands that they prefer," said Walsh. "Some people want this stand or that stand."

Whatever you eat -- if you stuff yourself -- stay off the midway rides for a while, advises Walsh.

"Otherwise, you may be in for a fun surprise on the ride."

Besides all the food, games and midway rides, there are a number of concerts. Among the performers: the Goo Goo Dolls, Blake Shelton, Weezer, Sheryl Crow, Mary J. Blige, Naughty by Nature, Tone Loc and Meat Loaf.

Some fair attractions include the Banana Derby -- in which monkey jockeys ride dogs, Welde's Big Bear Show and Uncle Kunkle's Farm, where children can experience a day in the life of a farmer.

The fair is open Oct. 10 through Nov. 2. It's closed on Mondays.

• www.azstatefair.com