| Date | Time |
| Wednesday, September 2, 2026 | 10:00am |
The first-ever “Best of The Fair” awards for select vendor foods in categories such as Savory, Sweet, Fried, Mocktail or Non-alcoholic, and Alcoholic beverage. Fairgoers are invited to vote for the "People’s Choice" for best food and drinks at The Fair. Voting takes place Wednesday, August 26 to Sunday, September 6 in the Empire Room. In addition, a local panel of celebrity judges and one lucky fairgoer will taste-test entries and choose their top menu items for these inaugural awards. Stop by at 10 a.m., beginning Monday, August 31 through Friday, August 4, to get the judges’ reactions and watch the winning vendors claim all the glory on closing day of The Fair, September 7.