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The aroma of sizzling meats, fried dough and sweet treats filled Syracuse’s Exposition Center this past weekend. Flashing lights danced on every surface, smiles spread from person to person, prizes were won and taste buds awakened.

“It’s just like being at the fair again, you have the rides, you have the food, you have the hospitality,” Bob Cosselmon, owner of Kiki’s Authentic Greek Food, said. “You don’t even realize it’s winter when you’re in here.”

The Syracuse Winter Fair has been held at the New York State Fairgrounds since 2019. Rows of food vendors lined the left side of the Exposition Center, dishing out treats like saltwater taffy from Smackers Snacks or Jawns Over exotic candies. Whether you crave authentic Korean food or classic fried dough, the Winter Fair offered a diverse range of flavors in Syracuse.

Some food vendors operated from traditional trucks, while others served customers from more eccentric stands, including one shaped like an ice cream cone. Thousands of attendees explored the stands, and each vendor offered a twist on familiar favorites.

Solange Jain | Photo Editor

Vendors working the Syracuse Winter Fair prepare food to serve to customers. Many stands use fresh ingredients and hand make the food.

Along with the food, a multitude of attractions were spaced throughout the facility. Kids tested their luck at different carnival games and earned prizes. At the front of the venue, entertainers took the stage with live music, dance performances and magic shows.
Cosselmon has been a food vendor at the Winter Fair since its inception. His store serves a variety of Greek dishes, like salads and gyros. He uses fresh ingredients, including homemade tzatziki sauce.

Cosselmon appreciates the indoor setting, where he doesn’t have to worry about Syracuse’s frigid temperatures.

A few booths over from Kiki’s was Villa Pizze Fritte, a staple of the fair. Shayla Sanson, the vendor, described the stand as “iconic.” The stand epitomizes classic fair food serving fried dough and other dessert options. It’s operated out of its triangle-shaped storefront since 1966 and started participating in the fair in 2019.

For Sanson, Villa Pizze Fritte represents a sense of exclusivity.

“You can only get it at the fair,” Sanson said. “I think people are excited about that, and we can definitely feel the energy from everyone here.”

Moose Joose Slush’s interactive experience distinguished it from other vendors. The stand offers a rainbow of flavors with each color representing its own taste. The stand is entirely self-serve and customers created their own custom slushy combinations.

Solange Jain | Photo Editor

Two vendors at the Syracuse Winter Fair serve fried foods to customers. Stands at the Winter Fair offer a diverse array of options.

Cory Cannon, the vendor at Moose Joose Slush, said the company started nearly 15 years ago and has enjoyed attending the fair ever since its inception. The company started in Moreville, North Carolina, and travels up and down the East Coast.

Another untraditional storefront was The Mad Pickle Company. An assortment of different condiment spreads, from tomato garlic to sweet mild, and spicy dill green beans showcased the stand’s flavor.

While the fair is a hub for local vendors, it also hosts budding business owners. Ji-Woo’s Korean Seoul Food brought authentic Korean meals to the fair for the first time this year. Lisa Roberts, owner of the storefront, said she wanted to share her favorite Korean dishes with attendees. Her stand was filled with rice and chicken bowls of sweet or spicy combinations.

Frank Grosso, owner of Syracuse brand Frank’s Beef Jerky, traveled from Florida to attend his second Winter Fair. He said the indoor atmosphere at Winter Fair prevents his equipment from being thrown around by the wind. The beef jerky includes typical flavors like teriyaki and barbecue but also has more unusual flavors like craft beer.

Winter Fair is defined by distinctiveness; performers like the Adanfo African Ensemble take center stage. Plus, the food at Winter Fair is something you likely can’t find anywhere else, Grasso said.

“Your cheese-filled pepperoni, the freeze-dried candies, the music, I think it’s an all-around great event,” Grosso said.

Published on February 5, 2025 at 12:26 am