Looking at the Munchie Map every year is intimidating, and wandering around the Fall Festival until you find something good to eat isn’t always the best strategy. That said, here are some of the foods we tried at Fall Fest and whether you should get them or stay far away. 

Fried Pickles, Delta Zeta No. 70

A classic you can never go wrong with. I love pickles, especially if they’re fried, and Delta Zeta is always my go-to pick for this savory treat. This year, the batter and the pickle tasted like they were separate rather than one flavorful combination and not as crispy as I would’ve liked. However, that didn’t stop my enjoyment. Dip them in some ranch, and you’re good to go. 7.5/10. 

• Tegan Ruhl

Elote, USI Art Club No. 38

I love Mexican Street Corn, and I’m so happy the USI Art Club sells it at Fall Fest. I easily went back for this several times last year. With different toppings to choose from, such as sour cream, jalapenos, parmesan cheese and cilantro, you can customize your bowl to your liking at no extra charge. 

At $5 a bowl, Elote is a delicious and inexpensive option at Fall Fest. 9/10. 

• Tegan Ruhl

This year was my first year visiting the West Side Nut Club Fall Festival, and I can say it did not disappoint. Corn is something I run to when it comes to different festivals. Before Fall Fest, I had never had street corn before, so it was something I was very excited to try, and the Art Club has set a standard for me. With the sour cream and jalapenos added for toppings, I can honestly say it’s some of the best fair food I’ve ever had. 10/10.

• Katie Hurst

Boba Tea, Mater Dei Band Boosters No. 91

When thinking of drinks to get at Fall Fest, most are just looking for soda or water, maybe even Lemon Shake-ups or apple cider. 

The Mater Dei Band Boosters surprised me with Boba Tea. I went for a strawberry tea with strawberry bubbles to keep it simple. It had a nice fruity taste, which helped balance out all the salter or fried food I had already. 8/10.

• Katie Hurst

White Chicken Chilli, Young Life No. 77

Since my freshman year, I have always returned to booth 77 for that delicious chicken chili. Every year, I mix up the toppings I put in. This year, it was jalapenos. Last year, it was jalapenos, sour cream and tortilla crisps. No matter how I make it, white chicken chili is my comfort meal at Fall Fest. It reminds me of home. 10/10.

• Tegan Ruhl

Donut Bank Donut Burger, Grace & Peace Lutheran Church No. 41

One of my main goals at Fall Fest this year was to get a donut burger, no matter the length of the line. The line was fairly long, but the wait was worth it. The donut burger is like a plain cheeseburger, but the buns are replaced with Donut Bank donuts. The first time I tried a donut burger, I didn’t think I would like the sweet and savory flavors together, but I actually found the flavors to be complementary. I took off a point and a half from a 10/10 rating because I didn’t think the donuts were large enough to cover the full burger, and I could tell it had been prepared a while ago. Overall, it was fairly warm and delicious. 8.5/10.

• Abigail Durham

Pickle Popsicle, Special Olympics No. 81

I’m a big fan of pickles, so when I saw booth 81 had not only pickle popsicles but a pickle on a stick and a pickle slushie, I knew I had to stop by. Last year, I saw the pickle slushie on the Munchie Map but was unable to get one. This year, I was determined to try something uniquely pickle. The pickle popsicle appeared to be pickle juice frozen into popsicle shape. It was sour, as expected, and very frozen. If you don’t love pickles, I would stay away from this popsicle and booth 81 in general because you can smell the pickle aroma many feet away from it. However, if you love pickles like me, I highly recommend this popsicle. I removed one point from a 10/10 rating because the popsicle was very frozen, so it was kind of difficult to eat, especially because you’re usually walking through Fall Fest as you’re eating and trying to eat quickly so you can try another food. 9/10.

• Abigail Durham

Crab Rangoon Dip, Y&E Inc. No. 122

Crab rangoon dip is basically a deconstructed crab rangoon. The dip is the creamy filling of a crab rangoon, which you dip with its crispy outer wonton wrapper. It had the same goodness as a regular crab rangoon; you’re just eating it differently. The dip was the perfect amount of sweetness, and the chips weren’t so crispy that you could break your tooth on them. A great appetizer to start the evening. 8/10.

• Tegan Ruhl

Deep Fried Oreos, World of His Grace No. 101

Fried Oreos are my favorite part of Fall Fest. They’re what I look forward to every year and at other food festival events, usually in the summer. I’m a big fan of Oreos, and usually, anything deep-fried with powdered sugar on it makes it that much tastier. I was able to get fresh fried Oreos from booth 101, which added more joy to the experience. 9.5/10.

• Abigail Durham

Apple Cider, UE SAE x ChemoBuddies No. 69

At any fall-themed event with apple cider for sale, I usually purchase it. Every fall, I look forward to having apple cider that I know is good and trying new brands or flavors. Last year at Fall Fest, my friend and I discovered that we think booth No. 69 has the best apple cider. We made sure to stop by the booth. 10/10.

• Abigail Durham

Aloha Balls, Evansville Young Life No. 77

For my second and last trip to Fall Fest this year, I wanted to try at least a few things I have never tried before. One of these foods that interested me was Aloha Balls. This snack was meatballs in barbecue sauce topped with cheese, brown sugar and pineapple. Like the donut burger, I wasn’t sure if I would like the combination of savory and sweet flavors. However, I think the pineapple paired well with the meatballs and barbecue sauce, making this snack one of my favorite Fall Fest foods. 9/10.

• Abigail Durham

Deep Fried Doritos, Harwood Booster Club No. 99

Another Fall Fest food I had never tried before was deep-fried Doritos. Since I had never had or seen this snack before, I was expecting individually fried Doritos, maybe with some cheese on the inside. This unique Fall Fest food turned out to be a cheese-filled breadstick covered in fried Doritos. Although a unique snack, I think the frying of the Doritos took away from the potential flavor. 6/10.

• Abigail Durham

Pork Chop Sandwich, USI Varsity Club No. 107

Booth 107 only serves two things: steak and pork chop sandwiches. Last year, I got a steak sandwich. It was delicious. This year, I got the pork chop sandwich with pickles and onions — the cheaper option of the two. While it was good, it was tough to bite into at some points, and the onions were very messy. I’ll stick to the steak sandwich next year. 7/10.

• Tegan Ruhl

Frozen Banana Dipped in Chocolate, Old North United Methodist Church No. 102

Every year I visit Fall Fest, I make sure to get a frozen banana dipped in chocolate. One reason I love this treat is because I prefer cold bananas over room-temperature ones, so to me, frozen is the best way a banana can be eaten. Also, as a kid, I loved getting these chocolate banana treats, so eating them now gives me a nostalgic feeling. I removed three points from a 10/10 rating for this treat because the banana didn’t taste as good as I’ve had in the past. 7/10.

• Abigail Durham