From ramen doughnuts to deep fried frozen watermelon<\/p>\n
The Calgary Stampede isn\u2019t just about the rodeo, concerts and rides.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The annual 10-day show, which started on Friday in Calgary, Alberta, is a major cultural event for Western Canada.<\/p>\n
And in the past few years, unique and unusual food items have taken centre stage along the midway.<\/p>\n
Many attendees even look forward to seeing \u201cwhat crazy thing [we are] going to think of this year,\u201d said Julie Forget, the Calgary Stampede\u2019s manager of communications and media relations.<\/p>\n
This year, there are 65 new food items available for visitors to try.<\/p>\n
Here are a few of the more eye-catching ones:\u00a0<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s interesting food<\/p>\n
Why do people want to eat weird food?<\/p>\n
Unusual foods and the carnival environment go hand in hand, said Karon Liu, the staff food reporter for the Toronto Star.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all about the shock and thrills and bright lights,\u201d he told CBC Kids News.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo the food has to match that energy level.\u201d<\/p>\n
Forget said the tradition of new, unique foods appeals to vendors as well as visitors.<\/p>\n
She said it allows vendors to get creative and that they enjoy coming up with unexpected ideas as much as customers like trying them.<\/p>\n
It has to be about more than creativity and originality, though.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it doesn\u2019t taste good, then that\u2019s not a win,\u201d Forget said.<\/p>\n
Liu said that because of rising food prices, the cost of making treats also goes up, which gets passed on to the buyer.<\/p>\n
For example, the Fried Frozen Watermelon has been reported on social media as costing $12, while the Calgary Stampede website shows the Big Buckin\u2019 Lemonade costs $55.<\/p>\n
This might make some people think twice about dropping money on an expensive snack they might not even like.<\/p>\n
However, Liu said that the risk can be part of the appeal for some.<\/p>\n
The novelty of the food can make people want to splurge on it, if not for taste, then for the social media appeal.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll the food looks great on Instagram,\u201d Liu said.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
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