Chow Wagon

I love the Chow Wagon! Fair food is some of my favorite food, so when the Chow Wagon sets up two weeks before Derby and starts slinging funnel cakes, grater taters, lemon shake-​ups, and everything fried, including Oreos, I’m down!
Of course, the Chow Wagon has a few drawbacks, and one of those is the prices. It’s expensive. Like, ridiculously expensive. But, as long as you go in armed with that information, you’ll be prepared to spend $ 12-​$ 14 on a grater tater and a lemon shake-​up. And trust me, spending the money once or twice around Derby season is definitely worth it!

The best thing I can say about the Chow Wagon is: I hated it. This is an endorsement because if you take the inverse of my autism and misanthropy you arrive at a good time for a normal human being.
I was able to donate blood to a research group, or I was chow wagon for some delightful vampires. Who knows?
The Chow Wagon was a well-​curated collection of things I detest and don’t care for: carnival food, people who can’t manage themselves in queues, noise, portable bathrooms, a cacophony of unidentifiable smells, rides of questionable safety, cover bands, and people shouting at you to buy stuff.
If you like carnival food, rides, and atmosphere then certainly this is for you. Everyone else there was neuro-​typical and having a great time. The fact that I wasn’t having fun is probably the best reason you should go.
PRO TIPS:
1. Get a Pegasus Pin at Kroger before going (or if you’re quick, I’m not using mine).
2. Do a fly-​by of the entire place first to see what they have before picking something
3. There are ticket booths all over the place, don’t bottle yourself up at the front
4. Give blood to the medical research people, the life you save could be someone you love

Even though I’ve lived in Louisville all my life, this year was my first for the chow wagon, and I’m so disappointed in myself. This will most definitely become a yearly derby ritual. Good music, good food and good times! They have all the great food you expect at the fair, Philly cheese steaks and gyros are the best! They had peanut butter cup funnel cakes, so unhealthy, but tasted so good I couldn’t resist trying!

I agree this is a staple of the Kentucky Derby Festival and is a must to go at least once a year. Remember back in the day when they used to have several chow wagons throughout the city going on consecutively? I know I do.
This is also the location of the Finish Line of the KDF Marathon which I have done the half marathon twice and also where you can come to the balloon glimmer. It’s a fun place to drink beer and watch people and eat fried food. You can also hear some great music while you’re there.

The chow wagon is a ritual for me every Derby season. There are rides for kids, live free concerts, and even helicopter rides for the brave. The cost to get in is a Derby pin. You can get them at any gas station, or you can get them at the entry of the chow wagon.
The food is essentially state fair food, but who doesn’t love the fair? Everything is probably unhealthy, but it’s only once a year right!!! You can find almost anything there like extra long corn dogs, bbq, pizza, ribbon cheese fries, turkey legs that look like they came from a baby dinosaur, lemon shake ups, ice cream Sundays, elephant ears, and funnel cake!!! Im sure there is a lot more too!

What can you say about the chow wagon?
It’s overpriced, greasy, and you get what you pay for (says my stomach post-​gyro after yesterday’s visit). However, it is a Derby Festival staple and definitely puts you in the mood for summer. Options abound from turkey legs to gyros, pizza and Italian sausage, funnel cakes, elephant ears, ice cream, oh my!
Don’t forget it costs you a Pegasus pin ($ 5 and they sell them at the gate) to get in. And bring cash. At least $ 15 per person for a meal.

For most Louisvillians, the Chow Wagon is the first chance of the year to indulge in all of those summertime, decadent, so-​bad-​for-​you-​yet-​so-​good treats.
I’m talking corndogs, funnel cakes, things served on sticks, things battered and deep fried.
And the Chow Wagon does not disappoint.
It takes the typical fair midway a step or two further with some prime treats that are not to be missed.
In particular, I’m a big fan of the blueberry pie topped with blueberry ice cream. It’s to your left after you walk in under the «Chow Wagon» sign. Save some tickets and be sure to hit this up.
The blooming onion is also delicious and worth the 5,000 calories or so, as was the pulled pork — I believe it was — sandwich and the strawberry shortcake.
Mind you, I did not eat all of this but rather nibbled from the plates of friends, which is really the best thing to do.
I also saw an «old fashion soda pop» booth that I’m going to try to stop at when I go next.
The Chow Wagon is a bit pricey, and you have to buy your food with tickets. $ 1 = one ticket. The whole going to a booth to get tickets is a bit of a pain, but hey, this is a once a year type of thing.
And you get to enjoy all of this glorious, belt-​busting goodness sitting at tables that either face Louisville’s glorious skyline or face the river and bridges. There are also some stages with regular live entertainment.
I mean, really, why wouldn’t you indulge at least once and come down and enjoy all that the Chow Wagon has to offer?