Sep 1, 2022 - News
6 treats to try (or run far away from) at the Colorado State Fair
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.

Sinful snacks at the state fair. Photos: Alayna Alvarez/Axios
I'm feeling very full.
What happened: I went to my first Colorado State Fair in Pueblo and attempted to nosh on as much gluttonously greasy and downright delicious food as I could find.
- Oof.
To make sure my stomachache doesn't go in vain, I'm sharing six snacks I snapped up, spanning the good, the bad and the ugly.
💯 Instant classic: 1/2 Passkey special ($5.50)

- This Italian ground sausage sandwich from Passkey On The Go, a family-owned food truck and state fair institution for 25 years, offers a nice kick and comes on a freshly baked mini loaf with tangy mustard and crisp lettuce.
- Yes, but: The sando's a little dry without cheese — so spend that extra buck for a slice.
🔥 Biggest surprise: Elote with Flamin' Hot Cheetos dust ($8)

- I doubted this Mexican street corn from Backyard BBQ would be worth the mega mess I knew it'd make, especially since I was wearing a white shirt (rookie mistake).
- I was wrong. Every bite bursted with spicy, cheesy, limey flavor — and I would absolutely eat another, even if I'm left looking like this by the end: 👹
😵 Sweet, but deadly: Chocolate-dipped cheesecake ($7)

- This cold and creamy treat from Wagner's Carnival comes coated in a crunchy chocolate shell and is so sweet even the sugar fanatics will want to split it.
- The bottom line: Not terrible, but I'll stick to funnel cake when it comes to desserts.
😋 Most refreshing: Cucumber-basil agua fresca ($8)

- If you need a cool respite from heavy fair food, Backyard BBQ's ice-cold cucumber agua fresca with fresh basil is just what you want — especially on a hot summer day.
- Pro tip: For extra flavor, order your drink rimmed with chamoy and Tajín for $1 more.
🏆 Best overall: Indian fry bread taco with pork green chile ($16)

- Sugars Concessions serves up traditional taco fixings — like lettuce, beans, cheese, salsa and sour cream — on crispy, fried flatbread, adding a twist to a Mexican classic.
- Solid flavor and mix of textures — I'd order this even outside the fair.
⚰️ What did me in: A deep-fried Pueblo chile ($4)

- Pueblo's very own Giodone's Italian Bar & Grill nearly sent me to my grave with just one mega-battered and ultra-fried Pueblo green chile.
- If you don't mind an inch of breading and two tablespoons of oil oozing from your first bite, go ahead and order a basket of five fried bad boys for only $12.
