A vegetarian's guide to food offerings at the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo
State fairs are known for meat, from the livestock shown by young ranchers to the turkey legs right on the bone.
The Colorado State Fair is no exception. While the Chieftain was unable to verify if any pork-free green chile is served at the fairgrounds, there are some options for vegetarian attendees.
In addition to some of the fried snacks — think French fries and funnel cakes — you can find throughout the fairgrounds, here are some businesses that offer more substantial meals without meat.
More on the fair: Here's your guide to the 2023 Colorado State Fair in Pueblo
Indian tacos can be made vegan
Attendees craving some fried food can find a substantial meal at the Indian frybread stand near the Agricultural Pavilion.
An Indian taco is typically made with a piece of fried bread and topped with beans, meat and other toppings such as cheese and lettuce.
The fry bread stand at the state fair can make this meal vegan or vegetarian — according to an employee, the beans are vegan. They also serve curly fries and fried pickles.
Affordable options at a volunteer-run stand
The Vineland Methodist food booth, also located near the Agricultural Pavilion, offers some of the most affordable options for carnivores and vegetarians at the fair.
A grilled cheese sandwich costs only $3.50 and a serving of nachos is $6. There’s plenty of options for meat eaters as well, such as sloppers, hamburgers, hot dogs and a BBQ pork sandwich.
A vegan option for food-on-a-stick
Food on a stick is iconic at state fairs. Look no further than Santa Lucia’s Greek food near the state fair plaza for a vegan option featuring pieces of stacked falafel.
The stand also offers a falafel sandwich on pita, loaded with veggies and lettuce, and a Greek salad. Fries are naturally meat-free and the honey-laden baklava dessert is vegetarian. Meat eaters can also enjoy gyro sandwiches and platters, as well as a footlong corn dog.
Deep-fried Pueblo chiles coming in hot
A local business offers a unique option unlikely to be found at any other state fair, and it happens to be vegetarian.
At Giodone’s, deep-fried Pueblo chiles are available for purchase, with a side of ranch or cheese sauce.
More: Colorado State Fair seeks to improve visitor experience with latest renovation project
A coffee stand that doesn’t charge for alternative milks
Mane Brew is a local business with a coffee shop in Blende. They’re offering energizing drinks and snacks at a stand near the Prairie Avenue entrance.
This coffee shop has a variety of café beverages on the menu — and does not charge extra for alternative milks: they have oat, almond and coconut milks available.
Rachel Rogers co-owns the business with her husband, Joshua. She said she is lactose intolerant and that’s why she doesn’t charge extra for the dairy-free milks.
Ice pop stand offers many dairy-free options
If the idea of a deep-fried candy bar is too heavy after eating a bunch of other food cooked in oil, look no further than the ice pops sold by The Hyppo.
The Florida-based business is offering a variety of handcrafted ice pops near the Colorado Lottery building. Some of the flavors don’t contain dairy, including mango mojito, strawberry lemonade and blackberry limeade.
Anna Lynn Winfrey is a reporter at the Pueblo Chieftain. She can be reached at awinfrey@gannett.com or on Twitter, @annalynnfrey. Please support local news at subscribe.chieftain.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Vegetarian and vegan food options at the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo
