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Cotton candy, corn dogs and candy apples once ruled the midway at the local fair, not any more, now it needs to be on a stick, deep fried or creepy crawly.

North Carolina: Kool-Aid Pickles

Also known as Koolickles, pickles soaked in the sugary kids’ beverage are a Southern tradition—and a sweet-and-sour snack at North Carolina’s annual state fair.

Texas: Fried Beer

Even alcohol can be fried when it’s pocketed in pretzel dough. The food innovation won the 2010 Big Tex Choice Awards at the Texas State Fair.

Illinois: Alligator on a Stick

After enjoying some gator antics at the State Fair’s Swampmaster Alligator Show, visitors can pretend they’re eating the entertainment, deep-fried, on a stick.

Alabama: Krispy Kreme Hamburgers

The doughnut burger at the Alabama State Fair features a quarter-pound hamburger, bacon, cheese and two glazed Krispy Kreme doughnuts in place of a single bun. The monstrosity contains nearly 1,100 calories and 67 grams of fat.

South Carolina: Fried Pepsi

Pepsi was created in North Carolina, but it’s hardly recognizable in South Carolina, where state fair vendors inject fried dough with Pepsi syrup and top the result with powdered sugar and more syrup.

California: Python Kebabs

After realizing that visitors to the California Exposition & State Fair wanted more adventurous foods, vendor George Sandefur changed his offerings from chicken to foods that “taste like chicken.” Grilled python kebabs seasoned with Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, Old Bay and lemon-pepper are a new favorite.

Arizona: Mealworm-Covered Caramel Apples

Along with deep-fried crickets, the Arizona Exposition & State Fair’s Chef du’ Jour booth sells caramel apples dipped in mealworms.

California: Chocolate-Covered Scorpions

Raccoon on a stick at the Alameda County Fair is barely adventurous compared to crunchy, chocolate-covered scorpions—though the dessert is no longer poisonous.