Deschutes Fair Food Vendors Always a Favorite

The Deschutes County Fair is known for its rides, games and prizes, but one of the most popular attractions — the food vendors — draw huge crowds of cotton candy lovers, elephant ear fans and burrito connoisseurs.

Michael Callahan has been running his burrito booth, “Beaver State Burritos,” at the Deschutes County Fair since 1984 — that’s 28 years.

He said Sunday he can remember when it started in the Fred Meyer parking lot in Redmond years ago, and there was no doubt he would keep it going once they moved to the new fairgrounds.

Callahan takes his burrito booth to several fairs all over the state, but told NewsChannel 21 if he ever gets down to just one fair, it will definitely be here in Deschutes County.

“One of the things I love most about coming to Redmond is I’ll get 25- to 30-year-olds that say, ‘My father or mother brought me here when I was 6 years old, and I’ve been eating these ever since.’ That is pretty special,” said Michael Callahan, owner of Beaver State Burritos. “It’s a beautiful place to come and spend a week, and yes I love this fair.”

Sunday was the fifth and final day of the Deschutes County Fair. Hundreds poured through the gates to grab their wristbands for only $5 and catch every ride they could

Organizers say it was a very successful year for the fair and rodeo — bigger and better than years past.