Tasha Does Tulsa.

Jennifer Bengel of The Errant Cook regales us today with a report on some of the rides and food she tried at Tulsa State Fair this week. Take it away, Jennifer!

My husband, our almost-4-year-old daughter and I went to this year’s Tulsa State Fair on a mission.

Well, more precisely, I had a mission: to ride until I (nearly) puked.

As a lifelong Tulsan, I’ve had my share of trips to the fair, as well as to the old Bell’s Amusement Park. I’m a huge fan of gut-wrenching, upside-down-y, spin-y rides.

It’s been a few years since I’ve set foot inside a metal cage with the intention of being tossed about under the dubious supervision of a scowling, chain-smoking carnie. I guess I got nostalgic, because when I heard that there was a ride bracelet day on Monday the 4th for $25 with a coupon from Mazzio’s, I was on board.

My little one and I both enjoyed our ride-riding with gusto. She liked the ferris wheel and the Sky Ride. My favorite ride was the Kamikaze, and I was gleefully close to being terrified. I found that the more adventurous the ride, the shorter the line to get on, which was just fine by me.

The wide variety of food is always a reason to visit the fair, and this year was no exception. While we steadfastly avoided the much-publicized fried butter and most of the other batter-fried goodies, we managed to down more than our fair share of artery clogging deliciousness. My husband is still talking about a sublime ear of roasted corn he got from a shack on the east end of the midway. My daughter and I scarfed down corndogs with plenty of mustard, and she chugged her weight in lemonade.

We also took advantage of one of our favorite fair food stops, the Oklahoma Pork Council’s booth in the Exchange Center, for simple and tasty pork burgers with Head Country barbecue sauce. I eyeballed some gorgeous caramel apples inside the QT Center but didn’t manage to grab one before we left. I normally have my yearly funnel cake at the fair, but my enjoyment of numerous stomach-churning rides left me less than enthusiastic about eating anything else remotely greasy.

True to form, the fair’s most appealing aspect for a cynic like me is people-watching. I could’ve spent all week just ogling strangers. They never fail to amuse me. I was witness to some of the best of the worst, like People of Wal-Mart in glorious 3D. My favorite was the girl with the orange pancake makeup, back-combed Jersey Shore pouf, gold-trim sneakers, and muffin top. So awesome.

If you’re in the mood for some good old-fashioned family fun, you can’t go wrong with the Tulsa State Fair. And if you’re just a big old meanie who loves greasy food, questionably safe carnival rides, and laughing at the misguided fashion choices of strangers, you still can’t go wrong with the Tulsa State Fair.

Tasha’s note: This the last weekend of the 2010 Tulsa State Fair, y’all. Be sure to tune in tomorrow morning to my segment on the KRMG Morning News with Joe Kelley (on the :10s and :40s) to get a list of what not to miss during these final days of this annual mega-event.

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