406 Families' Favorite Fair Foods
The Western Montana Fair is back, Wednesday, Aug. 11- Sunday, Aug. 15.
Entry to the fair is free, thanks to the generosity of sponsors. It will feature all the same fun you remember from the rides to the rodeo. But it isn’t the same fairgrounds. Between 2019 and 2020, the fairgrounds, located at 1101 South Ave., got a facelift, boasting a contrasty black and white exterior and sleek interior. Now it’s an even more comfortable and attractive place to host the fair! There’s a barn dance in the commercial building every night Wednesday through Saturday at 9 p.m., carnival rides, FFA and FHA animals, exhibits, a petting zoo, and more.
But undoubtedly the main event for some fairgoers is the food.
According to the Food Network, Montana’s most popular fair food is, The Viking. Haven’t had a Viking? They’re described this way: “This meatball on a stick draws the crowds to the Sons of Norway booth, which packs Nordic-inspired flavors into the deep-fried snack. It starts with a ball of ground beef that’s bound with egg and oatmeal, seasoned with onions and a signature Scandinavian spice blend, then dipped in batter and deep-fried. This portable snack has proven to be so popular that some fairgoers order the Viking by the dozen to take home.”
Fun fact, Charity has a Viking recipe that she alllllmost published here, but she decided to protect the ancient secret instead. Truth be told, the Sons of Norway keep their secret Viking recipe locked away and only a handful of people that belong to the Lodge are allowed to know it for their annual Viking making day. Each year the Sons of Norway members and family come together in the spring to make a boat load (pun intended!) of Vikings for events throughout the year. Want to learn more, visit the local Sons of Norway website.
Vikings are fantastic, but 406 Families co-founders Laci, Charity, and Tiffany have some other favorites to share.
Tiffany’s favorite fair food is Lemondairy, a creamy mix of lemonade and ice cream. Lemondairy’s range between $5 and $10. Look for the Huckleberry Jamboree truck.
Maybe it’s because Laci is pregnant, but she can’t choose just one. She cannot wait to get the famous cheese curds from the “Friends of the Historical Museum” booth and an ear of corn from the “Rainbow Girls” booth.
Charity’s favorite food, besides the Vikings of course, are the Indian Tacos from All Nations Health Center. There’s nothing quite like fry bread loaded with taco meat and toppings. Charity’s husband really enjoys the burritos from the Missoula FFA stand.
Check out the fair website for more information and a schedule of events and activities.