Midway Menu

11/16/2025

Prayers for Gail.
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Prayers for Gail Simons as she is entering the final stages of a wonderful life. Gail, alongside her husband Grant have been serving up Richardson Root Beer for over six decades. In 1950 Gail’s father bought a root beer truck and the family worked together selling root beer throughout their hometown of Bath, N.Y. In 1956, Gail’s parents opened a permanent drive-up location to sell their root beer, which is exactly where Gail and Grant met. Once married, the pair took over the family business, and in 1984, they added ice cream to the root beer and started touring county & state fairs. The couple’s route usually begins in July with stops at fairs in New York State. Then they slowly work their way down through Maryland and North Carolina before ending in Florida around Thanksgiving. Serving up root beer for six decades is not their only milestone… they have been married for over 65 years!

11/11/2025

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11/08/2025

A traditional Chinese street snack has made its way to the Strates Shows Midway. Originating from China, Tanghulu features fresh fruit—often strawberries, grapes, kiwis, or mandarin oranges—skewered on long bamboo sticks and coated in a clear, glassy sugar shell. The fruit is dipped in hot syrup, which instantly hardens to create a beautiful, crunchy glaze that crackles with each bite while sealing in the fruit’s natural sweetness.

Bringing this authentic taste of Asia to American fairgrounds is concessionaire Benny Xie, a second-generation street vendor whose family perfected the art of Tanghulu in China. Four years ago, Benny brought his family’s craft to the carnival midway, where the combination of vibrant colors, unique texture, and theatrical preparation quickly became a crowd favorite.

Each Tanghulu skewer is not only a treat for the taste buds but also a feast for the eyes—often sparkling in the sunlight like candy jewels. Today, thanks to Benny and his family’s dedication, this centuries-old tradition is being enjoyed by thousands of fairgoers across the Eastern Seaboard, turning a humble street snack into one of the most photogenic—and talked about—desserts on the midway.

Experience Tanghulu, by Benny Xie's Fresh Fruit Candy, during the 2025 North Florida Fair.

08/12/2025

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08/11/2025

Erie County Fair New Food Showdown Winner! https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1LKLEShs1A/

Big cheers to Strates Shows concessionaires Stevie & Gina Ianni! Their Ice Cream Shoppe just scooped up Best New Beverage at this year’s Erie County Fair New Food Showdown! 🏆 Their winning creation? The colorful, crave-worthy Fruity Pebbles Shake — a sweet, crunchy, creamy masterpiece that stole the show! 🍓🥛✨

08/07/2025

Hold onto your taste buds, Fair Food Lovers—there’s a new carb queen at the Fair. Making its delicious debut at the 2025 Erie County Fair is The Gnocchi Co., serving up handmade potato gnocchi that’s got everyone talking (and drooling). We’re talking five rich, ridiculous sauces: pistachio pesto, gorgonzola cream, a la vodka, classic Sunday red, and a hearty Bolognese. Oh—and because regular gnocchi wasn’t indulgent enough, they’ve gone rogue with a dessert version: fried gnocchi dusted in cinnamon sugar. Yes. Please.

Behind the scenes is Alan Gnoinski—a local wealth manager by day, pasta boss by night—who took his passion for Italian cooking and rolled it right into a food trailer.

Not sure which sauce to commit to? No worries. Order a flight of three (because decisions are hard), or go for the “Italian Flag” combo—pistachio pesto, gorgonzola cream, and Sunday red. It’s bold. It’s beautiful. It’s already a fan favorite.

07/29/2025

07/21/2025

Congratulations to Stevie & Gina Ianni on the debut of their new concession! Taqueria Ilegal now appearing on Strates Shows at the York State Fair.

07/21/2025

We love when new people get into the carnival concession business! Check Out Lindsey's Lemonade now on Strates Shows at the York State Fair!

07/14/2025

Making its debut in 2025! Stevie & Gina Ianni’s Red Carpet Amusements is rolling out a new location at the York State Fair — Taqueria Ilegal!

One of its star attractions on the menu is the Papa Loca! This over-the-top baked potato is loaded with your choice of carne asada (grilled steak), al pastor (shepherd-style pork), or pollo asado (grilled chicken). It’s topped with butter, onions, nacho cheese, fresh cilantro, and a dollop of sour cream. Don’t miss it on the Strates Shows Midway this summer! ¡Buen provecho!

02/21/2025

Get ready to go bananas over the latest sweet sensations from Stevie & Gina Ianni's Red Carpet Amusements! New for the 2025 season, five gourmet frozen banana flavors are making their debut at The Ice Cream Shoppe. Indulge in:

🍌 PB&J – Dipped in rich chocolate, rolled in peanuts, and drizzled with peanut butter & jelly.
🔥 S’mores – Coated in chocolate, covered in marshmallows & graham crackers, and finished with a marshmallow glaze.
🍪 Cookies ‘n Crème – Chocolate-dipped, rolled in Oreos, and drizzled with a marshmallow glaze.
🎉 Fruity Pebbles – Chocolate-covered, sprinkled with Fruity Pebbles cereal, and topped with strawberry & marshmallow glaze.
🍯 Cookie Butter – Dipped in chocolate, rolled in Biscoff cookies, and drizzled with creamy cookie butter.

Don’t miss out on these must-try treats, available exclusively this spring at The Ice Cream Shoppe!

02/21/2025

Introducing three NEW indulgent, over-the-top milkshakes now available on the Strates Shows Midway! Stevie & Gina Ianni's Red Carpet Amusements has unveiled these gourmet creations, each packed with flavor and flair. The "Peanut Butter & Jelly" shake is topped with a mini PB&J sandwich for the ultimate nostalgic treat. The "Cookie Butter" shake blends rich Biscoff cookies, drizzled with Biscoff Cookie Butter and chocolate syrup. And for a colorful twist, the "Fruity Pebble" shake is coated in crunchy cereal and cherry syrup, crowned with two chocolate-covered strawberries. Don’t miss these must-try treats sold exclusively at “The Ice Cream Shoppe” this Spring!