Small team this year for a smaller number of booths at Fall Festival. Still in weird times and a number of booths opted out of the festival this year which is understandable. Most booths rely on retired folks to volunteer to work the booths. However, as hard as it is to staff what’s essentially a tiny restaurant from 10a – 10p for 6 days in a normal year, the pandemic made it doubly difficult. However, MOST booths are there and offer the ooey gooey and deep fried treats we’ve all come to know and love! My team of Jill Trautvetter, life long West Sider and veteran WIKY Team member and Dr Kurt Tillman, major fan of Fall Festival and taster for over a decade joined me on Franklin. By the way, pic courtesy of Storm Avery, WIKY’s former Promotions Director. She and her husband Nielson traveled from their new home in Missouri just for a Pronto Pup!
Here’s what we found, please note that these are the booth numbers in order on Franklin. Missing numbers are missing booths this year.
Booth 106 – Cathedral Church.
Texas Tenderloin. Plenty of tenderloins at the festival of course, but Cathedral’s stands out. We were especially impressed with the way they dress their sandwich: a chopped lettuce, tomato, onion medley with pickles slices. Nice combo. If you like your sandwich plenty big but without a tenderloin the size of a wheel cover, this one’s for you.
Booth 108 It Takes a Village.
Boudin Balls. Boudin is a spicy Cajun sausage that absolutely delicious and then rolled, breaded and deep fried. Balls like these are common across the deep South and you may have sampled them in your travels. These are made from genuine boudin from the Pelican State, we’re assured.
109 St Peters UCC
Giant Texas Tenderloin. Emphasis on giant. There’s a reason there’s always a line at Booth 109. Yeah, they’re awesome.
Booth 111 Boy Scout Troop 350 sponsored by Bluegrass Church
This is the cotton candy booth, of course. But we sampled their Loaded BBQ Nachos. Local pulled pork and assembled by hand, these are mighty tasty.
Booth 112 Central Band Boosters
Home of the multi award winning Loaded Potato Soup, they have equally impressive cupcakes. Their Red Velvet Cupcake is another award winner for the Central Band Boosters, we tried the Pumpkin Cupcake and it was to die for.
Booth 114 Outboard Boating Club
Home of the Original Pork Parfait available in several varieties, count on a line for these but well worth the wait. We tried their Burnt Ends, a new item this year. Pork belly with spices and an excellent sauce. Perfect finger food for Franklin.
Booth 117 Faith Church
In the Annex portion of the festival, Faith Church is offering a new item this year – floats. All kinds of floats like traditional root beer but plenty of others including a Ski Float and Monster Energy Drink Floats. We tried their Apple Cider and Caramel Float and it’s wonderful.
Booth 119 Catalyst Church Food Pantry
Nice looking booth with a professional flair, we tried one of their desserts, a deep fried Raspberry Cheesecake Chimi. Hello? This was judge Jill’s Pick of the Day.
Booth 120 Reitz and Mater Dei Sports
Together? In the same booth? Well, sort of. They swap shifts. Offering the Westside Walkoff Nachos. Gripos included, naturally. Holy moly, these are excellent. Another judge favorite.
Booth 122 Reitz Men’s Club for Student Athletics
Rib Gumbo from the Nesbit Inn. Go. Have this gumbo. You’re welcome.
Booth 125 Optimists
Texas Tenderloin. The one people who jones tenderloins wait in line for year after year. The Optimist’s Giant Texas Tenderloins are a true Fall Festival can’t miss!
Booth 127 West Terrace Booster Club
Their Super Nachos are lovingly made with the same seasoned meat used in their excellent stroms. Superb.
Booth 129 Evansville Junior Football League
Fried catfish here and Hush Puppies to go with ’em. These though are Corn Fritter Hush Puppies with corn nibs inside. It’s a breakthrough in Fritter technology.
Booth 130 The River
Grilled Tenderloin. Yep, grilled, not fried. Flavorful sandwich on a fresh bun dressed the way you like it.
Booth 131 Hadi Shrine Arab Patrol
Ribeye Sandwich baby. And a good one. Try it with grilled sauerkraut. Trust us.
Booth 132 Germania Maennerchor
At this Fall Festival Hall of Fame booth, Germania has a ton of great food here just like their spectacular festival days on Fulton. But what’s the #1 food associated with Germania Maennerchor? Kraut Balls. They made 20,000 this year and they’ll be gone by Friday. Great batch this year, too.
Booth 134 Tekoppel Tigers
Tiger Pie. Shredded beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, cheese. Are you kidding? Walking meal. Great homemade flavor.
Booth 135 Youth First
Pretzel Bites. Hot, fresh bite sized pretzels brushed with your choice of toppings. Nice presentation, too.
But please don’t overlook Youth First’s signature dish, The Meatwad. Not only is it award winning good, you have to try it for the name alone.
Booth 136 Evansville Rescue Mission
West Side Sandwich. Lots of stuff on it including mac and cheese. And Gripos, natch. However, this turns out to be an excellent combo. Wonderful!
Booth 137 Hadi Shrine Oriental Band
Where the team started first day of Fall Festival and we started the way you’re supposed to start Fall Festival: Deep Fried Oreo. By the way, the Hadi Oriental Band is right next to one of the Nut Club’s Half Pot booths in front of the Gerst House. Waiting in line for your half pot tickets? May we suggest a Deep Fried Oreo? And good luck!
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