The Sporkies & Drinkies
The Sporkies and Drinkies have encouraged our State Fair vendors to create next-level foods and drinks worthy of mouth-watering Instagram pics with refreshing options for Fairgoers of all ages.
The Sporkies and Drinkies winners will be announced prior to opening day of the State Fair to give you even more time to prioritize how you’re going to try all 12 items!
Look for the giant 13 ft. Golden Sporks and Drinkies Statues outside of each finalist and winner locations during your visit.
Congratulations to the 2024 Sporkies & Drinkies Winners!
1st Sporkies Place:
Deep-Fried Lemonade Bites from Saz’s BBQ
2nd Sporkies Place:
Hot Ham & Glazers from Bud Pavilion
3rd Sporkies Place:
Rise & Swine from Camp Bar
1st Drinkies Place:
Fairway Fusion from Old Fashioned Sipper Club
2024 Sporkies Finalists
Cool Ranch Doritos Pickle
Bite into the Cool Ranch Doritos Pickle! This large dill pickle is spiral-cut on-a-stick, rolled into crushed up Cool Ranch Doritos, and you guessed it, deep-fried. Served up with ranch dressing for dipping and you’ll be set for a delicious day!
Deep-Fried Lemonade Bites
Nothing is better than a refreshing ice-cold lemonade break on a hot summer day. Take it up a Fair notch with a “sip” of these Deep-Fried Lemonade Bites. Made with Hawaiian sweet rolls dipped in a French toast batter, a homemade lemonade curd filling, deep-fried to golden perfection, and tossed in a lemon sugar with a drizzle of icing.
Dirty Chai Cinnamon Roll Lumpia
The Dirty Chai Cinnamon Roll Lumpia takes the best part of a cinnamon roll, the gooey center, adds a little spice, and rolls it up in a crispy lumpia wrapper. This unconventional dessert is made with fresh dough, chai-spiced brown sugar butter, and cream cheese espresso frosting.
Elote Corn Ribs
Take the Midwest staple of corn on the cob, but add a little spice! The Elote Corn Ribs are made from corn on the cob with the cob acting as the “bone” of the corn “rib,” tossed in hickory smoked batter, and deep-fried. Dusted with cotija cheese, these ribs will be served over a bed of crisp kettle chips with a side of homemade Elote dip with a lime wedge on the side.
Elvis Nachos
Bringing back a blast from the past in the form of this shareable sweet and salty boat full of love. The Elvis Nachos feature homemade peanut butter banana sauce over Slim’s famous deep-fried potato chips and topped with chopped peanuts, chopped banana chips, and crumbled bacon that you can’t help falling in love with.
Hot Ham & Glazers
Enjoy this take on the Wisconsin tradition of “Sunday Hot Ham and Rolls” but luckily, Hot Ham & Glazers is now served every day of the Wisconsin State Fair! Thinly sliced, savory, smoked hot ham covered with creamy, melted Swiss cheese, and drizzled with spicy and sweet raspberry jam stuffed between two iconic Kwik Trip™ Glazers donuts. Served warm, it’s a sweet and savory, melt-in-your-mouth experience!
Loaded Baked Potato Churro
Dig into all the goodness of a loaded baked potato with a crispy, deep-fried outside layer! The Loaded Baked Potato Churro is stuffed with the classic baked potato toppings like bacon, chives, and cheddar cheese with housemade sour cream and onion dipping sauce on the side.
Rise & Swine
Shatter the myth that you can’t have dessert for breakfast with the Rise & Swine! This warm brioche-based waffle has pearl sugar nestled into the dough, giving it just the right amount of sweet and caramelization. The waffle is then topped with Camp Bar’s Classic Vanilla Custard, a drizzle of Wisconsin maple syrup, gooey caramel sauce, toasted crunch bits, a dusting of powdered sugar, and for a savory twist, two made-to-order breakfast sausage links.
2024 Drinkies Finalists
Fairway Fusion
The Fairway Fusion takes a refreshing twist on a summer classic – the Arnold Palmer. This sipper is equal parts sweet tea and lemonade with a mix of pineapple and key lime juices, a splash of coconut syrup, and topped with fresh mint leaves and a lime wedge for garnish.
Glazed Donut Coffee Float
The Glazed Donut Coffee Float features rich glazed donut-infused iced coffee over creamy vanilla ice cream, topped with a golden glazed donut hole, and delicate glazed donut crumbles. Every sip is a journey into sweet, caffeinated paradise!
Purple Pickle Lemonade
Take a traditional Fair favorite, fresh squeezed lemonade and add a new Fair favorite, pickles! Sweet and tart, the Purple Pickle Lemonade mixes lemonade, pickle juice, and baby dill pickles together for a refreshing drink. Plus, adding Butterfly Pea Flower naturally makes the drink purple for extra Fair fun!
Tropical Sunset
The Tropical Sunset is a sparkly twist on a favorite refreshing drink! This drink consists of jasmine green tea infused with strawberry, mango, and pineapple juice with 100% edible, FDA approved glitter. Hold up your refreshing drink to the sun, give it a swirl, and watch the whole State Fair shimmer.
Meet our Judges!
The Sporkies & Drinkies Finals take place on Tuesday, July 30 where the following local celebrities will crown the winners.
Celebrity Judges:
- Shannon Goodman, Owner of Inmoxicated
- Frankie Jupiter, CBS 58 Morning Anchor
- DJ Shawna, Milwaukee’s Favorite DJ
- Adriana Mendez, TMJ4 News Multimedia Journalist
- Tyler Mader, Host of NBC’s Food & Travel TV Series, “The Mader Menu”
- Nicole Sedivy, Sports Host & Reporter
Emcee: Dario Melendez (WISN Sports Director and 2021 Sporkies judge)
Congratulations to Past Sporkies Winners!
2023:
- First Sporkies Place: Beer Cheese Wisconsin Lava Cake – WürstBar
- Second Sporkies Place: The Porkie – Camp Bar
- Third Sporkies Place: Deep-Fried Apple Pie – Saz’s BBQ
- First Drinkies Place: The Ferris Mule – Old Fashioned Sipper Club
- #FairgoersFave Winner:Deep-Fried Apple Pie – Saz’s BBQ
2022:
- First Place: Peño Pretzel Popper Brat- Gertrude’s Pretzels
- Second Place: The Sconnie Slugger – Miller Lite Sports Bar & Grill
- Third Place: Brandy Old Fashioned S’more On-a-Stick – Freese’s Candy Shoppe
- #FairgoersFave Winner: Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Chicken On-a-Stick – Bud Pavilion
2021:
- First Place: The Glazy Boy – Miller Lite Sports Bar & Grill
- Second Place: Deep-Fried Wisconsin Fish Fry – Water Street Brewery
- Third Place: Paradise Po’ Boy – Tropics
- #FairgoersFave Winner: Deep-Fried Wisconsin Fish Fry – Water Street Brewery
2020 Sporkies: Fairgoer Edition:
- First Place: Deep Fried Bloody Mary with Beer Ranch Chaser – Stena M.
- Second Place: Bratzarella Sticks – James S.
- Third Place: Wisconsin Hot Bacon Bourbon Pulled Pork Cornbread Twinkie – Eric S.
- #FairgoersFave Winner: Wisconsin Hot Bacon Bourbon Pulled Pork Cornbread Twinkie – Eric S.
2019:
- First Place: Buffalo Chicken Cheese Curd Tacos – Poncho Dog
- Second Place: Deep-Fried Italian Stallion – Water Street Brewery
- Third Place: Deep-Fried Milk with Cookie Dip – Slim’s Lakefront Brew Pub & Eatery
- #FairgoersFave Winner: Deep-Fried Italian Stallion – Water Street Brewery
2018:
- First Place: Deep-Fried Spinach Lasagna Bites – Albanese’s Roadhouse
- Second Place: French Onion Soup On-a-Stick – Slim’s PBR Park
- Third Place: The PORKstackular – Bud Pavilion
- #FairgoersFave Winner: Deep-Fried Spinach Lasagna Bites – Albanese’s Roadhouse
2017:
- First Place: Spaghetti and Meatballs Mozzarella Sticks – Albanese’s Roadhouse
- Second Place: Chocomela Nachos – La Coppa Artisan Gelato
- Third Place: Budweiser Pavilion Triple Threat – Bud Pavilion
- #FairgoersFave Winner: Monkey Business – Saz’s BBQ
2016:
- First Place: Root Beer Float Cake – Sprecher Landing & Sprecher Root Beer Everything
- Second Place: Klement’s Famous Racing Sausages Corn Dog – Saz’s Bavarian Haus
- Third Place: Deep Fried Ol’ Fashioned – Water Street Brewery
- #FairgoersFave Winner: Klement’s Famous Racing Sausages Corn Dog – Saz’s Bavarian Haus
2015:
- First Place: Wis-Cone-Sin – Water Street Brewery
- Second Place: Bacon Bottom Porker Pizza – Brew City
- Third Place: Cheesy Smoked Gouda Sidewinder Fries – Tropics at the Fair
- #FairgoersFave Winner: Deep Fried Pretzel Crusted Brownies On-a-Stick – Saz’s Ribs
2014:
- Best Tasting – Dolce Panino from La Coppa Gelato
- Most Creative – Dolca Panino from La Coppa Gelato
- Grand Champion – Dolce Panino from La Coppa Gelato
- #FairgoersFave Winner – Bacon Wrapped Cherrywood Smoked Pork Belly On-A-Stick – Saz’s Ribs
2013:
- Best Tasting – Island Slaw from Island Noodles
- Most Creative – Mela Fritta Gelato On-A-Stick from La Coppa Gelato
- Grand Champion – Mela Fritta Gelato On-A-Stick from La Coppa Gelato