Fair Food Frenzy starts in downtown Macon. Cotton candy martini, funnel cakes anyone?

It’s time for Fair Food Frenzy in downtown Macon with more than a dozen restaurants serving up fair-themed specials and drinks Friday through Sunday.

NewTown Macon hosted the first Fair Food Frenzy at the height of the pandemic in 2020 to support downtown restaurants and give people a taste of their favorite fair food at a time when many fairs, including the annual Georgia National Fair, were forced to cancel.

It was a hit and became an annual event.

“Fair Food Frenzy is a fun and creative way to boost sales at local restaurants and retailers during a traditionally slower time in downtown Macon,” Kaitlynn Kressin, owner of Just Tap’d, Ocmulgee Brewpub and Fall Line Brewing Co. said in a NewTown Macon news release. “We can’t wait to try all the amazing fair food at all of our favorite local places.”

Fair-themed food & cocktails

• Cotton Candy Fizz Cocktail at A Brooke Haven Lounge at 401 Cherry St.
• Loaded Funnel Cake Fries, PB&J Wings and an Apple Pie Shot at the Bearfoot Tavern at 468 Second St.
• Mexican Street Corn Dog at Cashman’s Pub at 370 Cherry St.
• Vietnamese Southern Chicken Sandwich, Fun House Punch and a Cotton Candy Martini at Dua Fishtank at 781 Spring St., Suite 105.

• Smoked Turkey Legs at Fall Line Brewing Co. at 567 Plum St.
• Footlong Corn Dogs at Just Tap’d at 488 First St.
• Thai Style Street Corn, Korean Fried Chicken on a Stick and Panko-Crusted Havarti Cheese Sticks at Kinjo Kitchen + Cocktails at 497 Second St., Suite A.
• Classic Italian Sausage and Pepper Hoagie at Macon Bagels at 470 Third St.
• Funnel Cake Fry Colada, Oreo Churro White Russian, Candy Cocktail Slushies, Fruity Pebble Funnel Cake, Smoked Wings, Second Street “Sweet” Burger, Krispy Kreme Hot Honey Chicken Sando, Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese Tacos, Funnel Cake Fries and Cotton Candy Cheesecake — all at Macon Beer Co. at 458 Second St.
• Funnel Cakes and Funnel of Love Burger at Ocmulgee Brewpub at 484 Second St.
• Double Animal Style Smash Burger only Friday at Piedmont Brewery & Kitchen at 450-B Third St.
• Brisket Chili Cheese Fries at Satterfield’s at 120 New St.
• Philly Cheese Steak Fries, Buffalo Chicken Fries and a Candy Apple Martini at The Brick at 1305 Hardeman Ave., No. 100.
• Felicia’s Cake Factory at 365 Third St. in downtown Macon also is expected to participate, according to the release.
  
  

Golden Tickets

Additionally, several downtown retailers are joining in the fun by offering a Golden Ticket for customers to find. Those who find the tickets will be entered into a drawing for the chance to win a $100 gift card to the downtown business of their choice.

Participating retailers include:

• 7th Street Salvage, 592 Second St.
• Ambitious Graphics, 371 Third St.
• Bike Tech Macon, 909 Second St.
• Comics Plus, 448 Second St.
• Dot’s Forget Me Knots, 623 Cherry St.
• Frankie’s Boutique, 552 Cherry St.
• New Hope Herbal, 352 Cotton Ave.
• The Bohemian Den, 502 Cherry St.
• Tubman Museum, 310 Cherry St.
• Wear, 464 First St.

“NewTown Macon strives to create a vibrant and authentic city experience unparalleled in the South,” Emily Hopkins, NewTown’s director of place and Main Street Macon manager, said in the release. “Signature events like Fair Food Frenzy highlight our unique local businesses in a way that is fun and inviting.”

This story was originally published October 14, 2022 at 5:00 AM.