Founded in 1971 in Benton, PA, the Benton Cider Mill has been pressing apples into apple cider beverages at the Bloomsburg Fair for years. The sweet aroma of fresh apples is enough to cut through the fair’s haze of fried food. The apple cider here is made on site poured straight from the press into cups or spun into icy slushies. The cider is made on site and has no additives to make it a healthy option for fair-goers. But the sweetness of the cider doesn’t just come from the drink. For the family running the stand, fair week means getting to hangout with family and long-time friends while working together to serve the people.

Sandwiched between two slices of Italian bread, melted cheddar oozes between thin strips of savory beef to form Lora’s Grilled Beef ‘N’ Cheddar sandwich. Hailing from Freeland, PA, the stand has built a reputation on keeping things simple and having quality made to order food. Lora stated “My favorite memory of the fair is getting to serve people good quality sanwhiches.” Hot, cheesy and fresh off the grill- this is one of the must try sandwhiches at the fair.

For nearly four decades, Joe’s Donuts has been a fair tradition in Hazleton, PA and the Bloomsburg Fair. Joe himself has been working alongside his dad since the age of seven. What began as a pierogi booth eventually found its sweet spot in 2011 with the additon of warm cinnamon sugar donuts. Each donut is a bite-sized cloud, crispy on the edges, fluffy on the inside and rolled in cinnamon sugar. These days, the stand tempts fairgoers with a diverse line-up of donuts. Joe’s favorite memory is “getting to spend time with his dad and make his face known. These donuts are carrying a family legacy.”

The smell of caramel hits you before you even see The Apple Cart. Jan Harris and her daughter have been working the stand for twenty years and eventually bought it from the owner. Harris shared, “Our relatives worked for free and all the money was donated to a college fund for a single mom.” Today, the draw of The Apple Cart is simple, high quality, crisp apples dipped in thick, glossy caramel. But for Harris, the real reward comes from the people she works with and getting to be with her family.

All Photos by Gabby Drumheller.