Fair food worth the calories

While the 2026 Street Fair, Art on the Green and the Taste of Coeur d’Alene are in the rear-view mirror, nothing signals the home stretch of summer like the North Idaho State Fair and Gem State Stampede, which opens Aug. 21 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 30. This year’s theme is Fun is in the Mix. 

At nisfair.fun I perused the food vendors for this year and vow to find and experience sweet crunch tanghulu. Then there’s a variety of corn on the cob flavors … Hawaiian, southern roasted and my favorite, Mexican street corn. Since no fair experience is complete without an elephant ear, corn dog or cotton candy, I need to start now conserving calories and carbs in preparation. 

We’re fortunate to have so many who are dedicated to celebrating the farmers, ranchers, crafters, gardeners, bakers and artisans who are our neighbors. A special nod to all of the 4-H kids and their families who’ve worked so hard on their projects and who make such a commitment to participate.

Thanks to my pal Garrison Keillor of "Prairie Home Companion" fame, I learned a new word ... doxology, which is how he described the following ode to fairs.

O Lord protect this festival

The riders as they rise and fall.

The jams and pickles and the pies

Competing for the First Grand Prize.

...

O Lord we thank thee for this food,

When we are in a cheese curd mood.

For Pronto Pups and onion rings

Doughnuts and other deep fried things.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow

Praise him for fair and rodeo.

Praise him for sugar and for grease,

And may he grant our stomachs peace.

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One of the most beautiful pops of color can be seen at Michael D’s Eatery at the east end of Sherman, around the corner on Coeur d’Alene Lake Drive. Their summer hanging floral baskets are exceptional this year. The food’s pretty darn good, too.

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Happy Main Street birthdays today to Kristin Kilmer, Doris Weaver, Dave Holinka, Jonathan Thomas Burnett and Danna Ziegler. Tomorrow, Tracey Fouche, George Evjen, Brenda Knight, Rick Marshall, James Fulton, Shirleen Jacobs, Christine Maiani, Kelli Aiken and Tom Wood celebrate. On Friday, Bill Kinder, Cindi Wimmer, Greg Delavan, Bob Nonini, Billie Collins and Dan Dahl put on their party hats. 8/8 birthdays will be celebrated by Sara Meyer, Jodi Anderson, Eli Yates, Jeff Humphrey, Ken McMeans, Virginia Griggs, Jim Hollingsworth, Jennifer Bokma, Heidi Phillips-Allen and Patty Collins. On Sunday, Anne Anderson, Terry Morris, Jack Havens, Kyle Patterson and Christian Strailman blow out the candles. Jeff Grundon, Caryl Johnston, Sydney Sales, Jeremy Morris, Chelsea Cordova, Bonita Koontz, Tim Symons and John Hammon mark the anniversary of their birth Monday. Jennifer Jaeger-Darakjy, Ann Seddon, Phyllis Berry, Erin Valente, Lisa Bell and Edith Uhl pop the cork to celebrate on Aug. 11.

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Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and a former publisher/editor with the Hagadone Newspaper division. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press. Kerri can be reached on Facebook or via email at [email protected].