There are different types of festivals where people gather to celebrate one thing or the other. Irrespective of the type of festival, one thing is certain, people will always eat hence you will always find food stands at the venue of festivals.
If you are an entrepreneur who owns a food business and you are looking for ways to generate more income, one of the places you should consider is venues of festivals. Even if you are considering venturing into the food business, you may want to also consider starting out from a festival venue.
Any vendor can pay for a space at a festival venue, but before setting up any food-selling venture at festivals, make sure you check and comply with local health and safety regulations.
Of course, you cannot rule out the fact that there will be several food stands at festival venues, and one of the ways to stay competitive is to consider the festival’s theme, target audience, and overall atmosphere when deciding on your food offerings. But here are some of the best foods you should consider selling at a festival for profit.
Best Food to Sell at Festivals for Profit
-
Funnel Cakes
Although they are called funnel cakes, they taste more like doughnuts. The name “funnel cake” was derived from the method of squeezing batter through a funnel in a circular pattern into hot oil to achieve a dizzying pattern of crispy fried dough. Funnel cakes are typically topped with powdered sugar, chocolate sauce, or fruit.
-
Corn Dogs
A corn dog (corndog) is a sausage on a stick that has been coated in a thick layer of cornmeal batter and deep fried. They are fried to perfection with a crisp exterior and a soft cornbread inside that keeps the sausage juicy. It originated in the United States and is commonly found in American cuisine.
-
Gourmet Grilled Cheese
The grilled cheese (sometimes known as a toasted sandwich or cheese toastie) is a hot cheese sandwich typically prepared by heating slices of cheese between slices of bread with a cooking fat such as butter or mayonnaise on a frying pan, griddle, or sandwich toaster until the bread browns and the cheese melts.
Interestingly, you can upgrade the classic grilled cheese sandwich with gourmet ingredients like different cheeses, meats, and spreads to appeal to a broader range of customers.
-
Tacos
A taco is a traditional Mexican food consisting of a small hand-sized corn- or wheat-based tortilla topped with a filling. The tortilla is then folded around the filling and eaten by hand. Interestingly, you can be creative with how you prepare your tacos. But trust me, street tacos with various fillings such as carne asada, chicken, or vegetarian options are often a hit.
-
Pretzels
Pretzel basically is a type of biscuit with a very distinct appearance. It is shaped in the form of a loose knot and the top is shiny; from having been glazed.
As regards the original recipe used in making pretzels, the pretzel is basically a salty cracker. In other to make more sales, make sure you give your customers options. Soft pretzels with a variety of dips, such as cheese or mustard, are a popular and easy-to-handle festival snack.
-
Kebabs
A kebab is pieces of meat or vegetables grilled on a long thin stick or slices of grilled meat served in pitta bread. Trust me, you can’t get it wrong when it comes to selling kebabs at festival venues. One good thing about kebabs is that you can be creative in how you prepare your kebabs.
-
Ice Cream Cones
The fact that most festivals especially outdoor festivals are done during summer means that ice cream cones will sell pretty well. Trust me, classic ice cream cones or novelty ice cream treats are perfect for warm festival days.
-
Loaded Nachos
A classic nacho is a simple dish of tortilla chips covered in cheese and salsa. A loaded nacho, on the other hand, typically has toppings such as your choice of protein, refried beans, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and jalapeños.
Interestingly, there are a number of options when it comes to loaded nachos, but nachos topped with cheese, jalapeños, sour cream, guacamole, and other toppings are a satisfying and shareable option for festivals and related outdoor events.
-
Fresh Fruit Cups
All you need to do is to create small fruit cups with fresh and seasonal fruits. You may want to consider adding a sprinkle of cinnamon or a drizzle of honey. Just make sure your fruit cups contain healthy fruits, and your packaging is neat and appealing.
-
Doughnuts
Doughnuts are a kind of ring-shaped snack food popular in many countries, which are usually deep-fried from flour dough.
After being fried, doughnuts can be spread with chocolate or icing on top, covered with powdered sugar or fruit, or glazed with sugar icing.
There are several options when it comes to how you can prepare doughnuts. Whether traditional glazed or more elaborate flavors, doughnuts are a sweet and indulgent option.
-
Gyros
A gyro is a Greek dish that is typically served on a pita. Made with stacked meat that has been cooked on a vertical rotisserie, “gyro” means “round” in Greek.
In Greece, gyros are traditionally made with pork, but chicken is also common, and the slices of meat are stacked on a spit. Always gyros with seasoned meat, fresh veggies, and tzatziki sauce make for a flavorful and portable festival meal.
-
Sausages
Sausages can be made by grinding meat from beef, pork, poultry, or game meat, mixing with salt and other seasonings followed by stuffing into a container or a casing.
The word sausage is derived from the Latin word salsus, which means salted or preserved by salting. Grilled sausages with various toppings and condiments can be a hearty and satisfying choice for festival-goers.
-
Rice Krispies Treats
Rice Krispies treats have recently gained popularity on social media for their use as a pre-workout snack making them ideal for festivals and related events.
Rice Krispies treats primarily consist of simple carbs, they are a suitable choice for people performing moderate to high-intensity workouts.
Interestingly it is easy to make Rice Krispies Treats. To get started, gently and carefully stir the marshmallows and Rice Krispies together until smooth.
The marshmallows will eventually deflate, allowing you more room in the pan. If the mixture looks too white and marshmallowy, stir in another 2-3 cups of cereal.
-
Pizza Slices
Pizza by the slice is pizza sold in individual portions as a fast food by a restaurant or street vendor. Some restaurants and pizza stands only sell pizza by the slice, while others sell both slices and whole pizzas.
It might interest you to note that handheld pizza slices with different toppings cater to a broad audience and are easy to eat on the go.
-
Deep Fried Oreos
Oreo is a dessert or snack consisting of a chocolate sandwich cookie which is dipped in batter and deep fried. It may be served with different toppings, most commonly powdered sugar. Trust me, deep-fried Oreos coated in batter and dusted with powdered sugar are a popular sweet treat at festivals.