There aren't any animals to meet or amusement park rides, but for the chance to do something fun and out of the ordinary, my cooped up family was excited to check this out. Throw in the fact that the fair is free to enter (you just pay for the food you purchase) and it's located near one of our favorite playgrounds, the decision to go was a no-brainer. Tired of answering "what's for dinner," I packed everyone in the car on the very first night the Fair Foodie Fest opened. Pretty soon the kids were oohing and ahhing while they ate their churros and curly fries and the adults were pretty happy to finally get our smoked turkey leg fix.

It's kind of like a giant food truck fest that's really well organized, follows COVID-19 safety guidelines, and offers up your favorite deep fried delights.

The right lane is for ordering, the left lane is for passing (to drive to the next fabulous food offering...).

How a Drive-thru County Fair Food Fest Works

Entry is free but if you order a ticket online you get a free mini powdered-sugar funnel cake. (One per car.)

The venue is set up in Parking Lot K on the southwest side of the Rose Bowl Stadium. Technically the drive-thru line begins at the entrance to Parking Lot K, however the line of cars gets backed up onto Seco St. during peak hours. You’ll want to make sure to get in line going westbound on Seco Street because there is no left turn lane if you’re going eastbound.

Once we were in line, we felt like we were in very good hands. There was a clear path blocked off by barricades for cars to follow. When we went, there were two car cues to get into the “food ordering track.” Attendants (all wearing masks) in bright vests were there to hand out menus and answer questions. When we got to the front of the car queue, we showed the attendant our ticket and got a scrumptious mini powdered sugar funnel cake. That made us all temporarily revise our food wish lists because it was indeed delicious. But it was brilliant, because it took the edge off our hunger while we waited to order food.

Once you’re in the track, you make one pass through the loop of vendors stationed at various points on the track. Make sure you decide ahead of time what you want to order and which vendor you want to order from. You’ll use the right lane reserved for each vendor’s car line. Or, if you don’t want to order anything from that vendor, you’ll pass them by using the left lane to drive ahead to the next station. Stop and order from as many vendors as you like.

It was all very orderly. At each station, the vendors send out a waiter to take orders and use portable credit card machines for customers to pay. In most cases, there is zero contact between customer and waiter. The waiters also wear face masks and face guards, so we felt like the venue was observing some very strict safety practices.

After we ordered, food came within minutes. We completed our loop around the track very quickly and exited out back onto Seco Street to park in one of the many adjacent lots to eat. There are no outdoor seats at the Foodie Fest—guests park in a lot nearby to eat in the car, or bring your fair food to a picnic table at Brookside Park.

Ren Faire cancelled? No problem, because giant turkey legs are now at the Rose Bowl.

What Foods To Expect

All the foods you would typically see at a fair or carnival are being served up at the Fair Foodie Fest. Prices per serving range from $5 to $20. A sample of the vendors and offerings are below; I'm listing them in the order they appear in the drive-thru line, in case you want to start planning!

1. BBQ Ribs (BBQ Rib Dinner, BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich, Fresh Strawberry Lemonade)
2. Turkey Legs and Corn (Roasted Corn Esquite Style in a cup, Turkey Legs)
3. Corndogs and Curly Fries (Giant Corn Dog, Curly Fries—Plain or Cheesie Bacon)
4. Burgers and Dogs (Krispy Kreme Cheeseburger, Cheeseburger, Giant Sausage, Curly Fries)
5. Hawaiian Bowl and Fries (Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken Pineapple Bowl, Curly Fries Mexican or Chili Cheese, Giant Onion Rings, Turkey Leg Tacos)
6. Funnel Cakes (Funnel Cakes—plain, nutella, ice cream, or strawberry whipped cream)
7. Totally Deep Fried (Oreos, Cheese Cake, Snickers, Twinkies, Kool-Aide)
8. Kettle Corn and Lemonade (Fresh Squeezed Lemonade, Kettle Corn, Cheese on a Stick, Deep-fried Lemon Bites)
9. Sugar Bear Treats (Cotton Candy, Caramel Apple, Churros, Hot Chocolate)
10. Tacos (Street Tacos with rice, beans, and steak or chicken)
11. Slushee Stand (Themed Cups with Shushees, Pizza)
12. Papa's Wagon (Fries, Nachos, Chicken)

Check the Fair Foodie Fest website for a detailed map and menu.

One of our favorite playgrounds is Reese's Retreat at Brookside Park.

What Else Can You Do at the Rose Bowl?

Due to current gathering restrictions, there is no tailgating allowed at this time. But we didn’t let that stop us from having fun at the Rose Bowl! Taking advantage of all that the Rose Bowl Stadium area has to offer is the best way to enjoy the day if you’re planning to come out to the drive-thru for treats.

Consider packing up the bikes and scooters for an awesome ride around the Rose Bowl Loop. The paved trail is 3.1 miles and takes you on a scenic loop around Brookside Golf Course. Plenty of joggers and walkers use the loop and it’s a good way to work up an appetite for the Foodie Fest or walk off the calories afterwards! It's also a perfect stroller walk.

For those who want something more off the beaten path, the Arroyo Seco Trails offer an invigorating challenge for active families. The Lower and Central Arroyo Seco is nearby and easily accessible for a short hike.

Lastly, you cannot come to the Rose Bowl with kids and skip the playground at Brookside Park. Affectionately called “The Pirate Park,” this accessible playground (officially named Reese's Retreat) is a giant pirate’s ship where your kids will disappear into Never Never Land and never want to return home again. (This is one of the coolest playgrounds in town, and worth a drive just to play here.) The grounds near the park are great for picnicking with all the food you just picked up, and the paved road nearby is excellent for biking and scootering.

Know Before You Go

The drive-thru line from beginning to end was about forty minutes for us, but that was not during peak hours. Expect a longer wait if you’re getting in line for lunch or dinner. Public restrooms are open in Brookside Park, but as with all public restrooms these days, it's a great idea to bring along extra hand wipes and sanitizer, just in case.

Only credit cards are accepted by all vendors, and the Foodie Fair Fest asks that everyone wear a mask when ordering. Ample parking is available at the lot south of the Rose Bowl Stadium, which is also the parking lot for Brookside Park, for those who want to sit and eat or stay at the park and play.

Fair Foodie Fest will be at the Rose Bowl Friday-Sunday for all of February. Friday the hours are 5pm-10pm and Saturday & Sunday the hours are noon-10pm.

Photos by author