Plot Synopsis

In this half-hour reality series, Noah Cappe travels to fairs, festivals and carnivals across North America, as he tastes ingenious and outrageous culinary concoctions on the midway while celebrating the larger-than-life characters who create and sell these culinary delights. From the Florida State Fair, where Peanut Butter Banana Bacon Burgers are all the rage, to the Lone Star Fair, where Texas delicacies like Chicken Fried Cactus and Mexican Firecrackers are all Supersized, Noah takes viewers on a food-frenzied roller coaster ride to discover food in every imaginable shape, size, and color -- all while sharing tips and tricks for surviving the midway munchies. In each 30-minute episode of CARNIVAL EATS, Noah visits two fairs, including: 89er Days in Oklahoma, where he pigs out on the Giant Texas Tenderloin Sandwich; a Strawberry Festival in Virginia, where he gets berry excited over Strawberry Pizza; Virginia's Viva! Vienna! Festival, where he goes coastal for creamy crab dip; Contraband Days Festival in Lake Charles, Louisiana, where he discovers the secret to authentic Crawfish Gumbo; Alabama's Oak Mountain Spring State Fair, where he is smitten over Fried Bread Pudding Bites; the Apache Rattlesnake Festival in Oklahoma, where he gets bitten by Fried Rattlesnake; and many more festivals across the United States. Food Network Canada first aired the pilot of this program -- when it was still called MIDWAY MUNCHIES -- on Sunday, October 6, 2013 at Noon ET, ten months before Cooking Channel aired the series premiere of CARNIVAL EATS on Monday, August 18, 2014 at 10:30pm ET.

On Thursday, July 16, 2015 at 10pm ET/7pm ET, Cooking Channel premiered the second season of CARNIVAL EATS. In the Season 2 opener, "From Livestock to Lemons," Noah visits the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and samples the Texas Chili Burger and the Big Texas Barbecue Baked Potato. Then he tries a local legend's tamale recipe before rounding off the day with Strawberry Waffle Bombs. Next, he arrives at Lemonade Days in Dunwoody, Georgia to discover a new breakfast concept called Rise & Shine Pizza. A Sushi Burrito is an East-West fusion food that tickles his taste buds while The Funnel Cake Dog proves that even the wackiest carnival concoctions can be a success.

Season 3 of CARNIVAL EATS premiered on Thursday, April 7, 2016 at 10pm ET/7pm PT on Cooking Channel. In the season opener, "K-Days/North Dakota State Fair," Noah travels to Edmonton, Alberta for K Days. He starts the day off right with a Canadian specialty turned into brunch: Breakfast Poutine. The creative combos continue with a fusion-inspired Japanese Dog and a S'mores Mini Donuts, with the summer camp favorite topping the perennial carnival classic. Across the border in North Dakota, Wild Rice Burgers, Idaho Tacos and Kettle Corn make up the regional fare in this prairie state. Later in the season, Noah heads to: Magical Winter Lights in Houston; 89er Days Festival; the Pungo, Virginia Strawberry Festival; the South Florida Fair in West Palm Beach; the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver; the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo; the Florida State Fair in Tampa; and many more carnivals across America.

On Thursday, March 9, 2017 at 9pm ET/6pm PT, Cooking Channel premiered the fourth season of CARNIVAL EATS. In the season opener, "Some Like It Popped," Noah hits the Big Butler Fair in Prospect, PA, where he tears into the Conevore, filled to the brim with smoked brisket, pork and chicken. Then, Noah feels the fire with the Ragin' Cajun Hoagie before sampling a Fried Fruit Tart and Big Banana Pop. The folks at the San Mateo County Fair in California have a grand slam with the World Series Burger, then Noah gets wrapped up in a Chile Relleno Burrito and celebrates with Birthday Cake Popcorn Balls.

Season 5 of CARNIVAL EATS premiered on Thursday, October 26, 2017 at 9pm ET/6pm PT on Cooking Channel, immediately following a three-hour marathon (6-9pm/3-6pm) of encore episodes. In the season opener, "Close Encounters of the Food Kind," Noah is hot on the trail of some otherworldly carnival eats at the UFO Festival in Roswell, NM. From the Alien Egg to the Crashed UF-Dough, it's good eating for earthlings. Later, Noah heads to California's Orange County Fair where he tackles the massive Porky Leg and makes dreams come true with Deep Fried Pizza.

The sixth season of CARNIVAL EATS premiered on Sunday, July 15, 2018 at 9pm ET/6pm PT on Cooking Channel. In the season opener, "Garlic's Angels," Noah packs his breath mints and heads to the South Florida Garlic Festival in Lake Worth, Fla., where the stinking rose makes an appearance in fair foods like the Claw Cake Burger and Mojo Pork Pockets. But it's the Toasted Garlic Donuts that get Noah's taste buds tingling. Then he's off to enjoy America's favorite ballpark snack at the National Peanut Festival in Dothan, Ala., where he finds high school band boosters hard at work serving fair food classics with a peanutty twist.

On Sunday, June 9, 2019 at 9pm ET/6pm PT, Cooking Channel premiered the seventh season of CARNIVAL EATS, immediately following a three-hour marathon (6-9pm ET/3-6pm PT0 of encore episodes. In the season opener, "Smokey and the Slamwich," Noah heads to the Arkansas State Fair for the hometown hero, the Arkansas Slamwich, the Stuffed Thanksgiving Taco and more. Then he travels to Florida for the Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair, where he indulges in a savory funnel cake called the Chick 'N' Cake, Deep-Fried Rice Pudding and other delights.

Season 8 of CARNIVAL EATS premiered on Sunday, September 15, 2019 at 9pm ET/6pm PT on Cooking Channel, immediately after a three-hour (6-9pm ET) marathon of encore episodes. In the season opener, "Grillers in the Mist," Noah heads to New York for the Long Island Fun Fest and some Empire State eats. He can't resist a pizza covered in gooey penne alla vodka or a fancy Hamptons Dog, and he also tries the ultimate Italian-American combo, a Cannoli Calzone. Then Noah travels to Fort Pierce, Fla., for the St. Lucie County Fair, where he devours the savory and sweet Loaded Churro Fries. The Strawberry Cheeseshake and the Food Court Megastick send him home happy.

The ninth season of CARNIVAL EATS debuted on Sunday, August 30, 2020 at 9pm ET/6pm PT on Cooking Channel, immediately following a six-episode marathon. In the season opener, "The Postman Always Brings Rice," Noah heads to Hawaii for the Maui Fair, where rice is always on the menu in traditional Hawaiian treats like the Laulau Feast and Loco Moco. Then he's off to see the light show and sample the food at the Aurora Winter Festival in Vancouver.

A new season of CARNIVAL EATS premiered on Sunday, May 22, 2022 at 9pm ET/6pm PT on Cooking Channel. In the season opener, "The Wild Brunch," Noah heads to the Ostrich Festival in Chandler, Ariz., to sample local specialties like the Tacocolada, a pineapple stuffed with tortillas. Then he makes his first visit to the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo, Colo., for a rattlesnake corn dog.

Season 11 of CARNIVAL EATS debuted on Sunday, July 16, 2023 at 9pm ET/6pm PT on Cooking Channel. In the season opener, "Starship Scoopers," Noah Cappe sets the perfect date at the Riverside County Fair and Date Festival in Indio, CA, where he tackles the Scooperbowl Sundae, an ice cream and nacho combo that's a complete touchdown! While there, Noah fills up on the Japanese-inspired Gyoza Stuffed Sandwich and gets stuck on the Sticky Date Parfait. Then, Noah visits the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for the Un-Pho-gettable Burger and the Deep-Fried Lasagna Ball. Later, he dines on the royal treats at the Medieval Fair of Norman, OK -- like the Pie'd Piper Shake and Sir Sweet Potato's Tots.

The twelfth season of CARNIVAL EATS debuted on Sunday, July 7, 2024 at 9pm ET/6pm PT on Cooking Channel. In the season opener, "Parmageddon," Noah Cappe's taste buds are brought to life at the Dia de los Muertos Festival in San Antonio. Noah does a deep dive into a Loaded Oaxacan Tamale -- a traditional tamale loaded with fried chicharron and sumptuous sauces -- and scarfs down the Elote Dog -- a house made bacon-wrapped wiener loaded with Mexican street corn -- that twist fair food staples together in the most satisfying way. The fantastic food fusion doesn't stop there as he tries the Smash Burger Taco -- seasoned beef pressed into a tortilla and loaded with burger toppings -- and the Breakfast de Muertos -- a sweet and savory breakfast sandwich on a traditional Pain de Muertos bun. Later on, Noah visits Florida for the Florida State Fair in Tampa, where series veteran Mama Jane serves up a Cubano sandwich on a funnel cake, and for the Brevard Renaissance Fair in Melbourne for the sweet, crunchy and fired up Dragon's Breath Brulee.
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On Sunday, September 29, 2024 at 9pm ET/6pm PT, Cooking Channel premiered "2 Fast 2 Furikake," the Season 12 finale of CARNIVAL EATS. Noah Cappe heads to the Washington State Spring Fair in Puyallup for the Wake n' Bacon Fry Pie -- a breakfast bonanza of eggs, bacon and hash browns rolled into a hand pie -- and the Hapa Dog -- a Hawaiian-inspired Portuguese sausage topped with creamy coleslaw and furikake. In the cornhusker state of Nebraska, the Taste of Omaha makes good on the maize with The Firecracker -- a deep-fried corn on the cob rolled in hot cheese puffs and spicy blue tortilla chips. The heat gets turned up for the Fiery Frank Roll -- an egg-rolled sausage covered in queso and jalapenos -- and The Snoop -- a chicken and waffle-stuffed wrap with jalapeno-bacon jam and maple syrup. Then, it's off to Arizona for the Pima County Fair, where a savory cake surprises with layers of rice, seaweed, pineapple and canned meat, and a divisive dessert known as The Pickle Split tickles every taste bud with its giant dill pickle wrapped in fruit leather and topped with pineapple soft serve and tamarind candy string.