North Florida Fair Returns for 84th Year
Smitty's Buttermilk Corndogs and Taylor's Doughboy are back at the fair's food lineup as it marks its 84th year.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Fairs and Festivals
The North Florida Fair is running its 84th year, with Smitty's Buttermilk Corndogs and Taylor's Doughboy among the vendors returning to serve fairgoers. The fair runs through Sunday, November 15.
Why it matters
The fair's long-running vendors give Tallahassee-area residents a familiar tradition tied to local family businesses. Their continued presence reflects how fair food stands pass from one generation to the next.
Smitty's Buttermilk Corndogs is in its 10th year at the fair and has been owned by Janet and Danny Smith, who took over about 10 years ago. Taylor's Doughboy has been passed down through three generations of the Taylor family, beginning at the fair in the 1990s.
The players
North Florida Fair
An annual regional fair held in the Tallahassee area, celebrating its 84th year with a midway, exhibits and food vendors.
Smitty's Buttermilk Corndogs
A fair food business known for its buttermilk-battered corndogs, now owned by Janet and Danny Smith.
Taylor's Doughboy
A fair food stand that has been operated by the Taylor family across three generations since the 1990s.
The details
Smitty's Buttermilk Corndogs uses an original recipe and has been in the Smith family for about 40 years. Taylor's Doughboy serves sweet treats and fried favorites, with Tad Taylor's nieces and nephews also involved in the business.
Timeline
The Taylor's Doughboy business began at the fair in the 1990s.
Janet and Danny Smith took over Smitty's Buttermilk Corndogs about 10 years ago.
The North Florida Fair runs through Sunday, November 15.
Festival Heritage
Taylor's Doughboy's three-generation run and Smitty's four-decade family ownership follow the long-standing pattern of family-run concessions that define many Southern fairs. Their continued presence at the North Florida Fair extends that tradition into its 84th year.
Fairgoers can find Smitty's Buttermilk Corndogs and Taylor's Doughboy at the North Florida Fair through Sunday, November 15. The vendors are part of the fair's food offerings for visitors attending during the run.
The takeaway
Long-running family vendors help keep fair traditions alive from one generation to the next. Visitors planning a trip can look for these established stands on the fairgrounds before the fair closes.
Further reading
For more on regional gatherings, explore Fairs and Festivals across the area.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WTXL ABC 27 Tallahassee News.
