VEISHEA weekend offers a variety of foods for everyone

Erin Coppock

The week of VEISHEA has always brought a variety of foods for students and visitors, and this year will be no exception. There’s sweets, salty treats and every food in between. With low prices and convenient locations, it’d be a mistake not to take advantage of all the food that this year’s VEISHEA is bringing to campus.

Pancake feed: Pancakes start flipping Friday night at midnight for this popular tradition, and won’t close until 3 a.m. Saturday; the cost is just $4. The feed continues Saturday, 8 to 10 a.m. for $5, and again Saturday from midnight until 3 a.m. for $4.

Taste of VEISHEA: If your late night craving doesn’t involve pancakes, stop by Taste of VEISHEA on Friday from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Taste of VEISHEA is comprised of 16 different vendors — 10 at Lake LaVerne and six at Molecular Biology — each offering different foods. Each year VEISHEA weekend attracts these different vendors that sell a variety of “fair foods,” such as cotton candy, hot dogs, nachos, funnel cakes and other tasty favorites.

Food stands: If you’re looking for some old fashion backyard barbecue, stop by the student organization food stands. Food served at these stands include: hamburgers, pork chops, steak sandwiches, brats, hot dogs, corn on the cob, pulled pork and even walking tacos. They will also be selling chips, and a variety of beverages. The stands will open at noon to 5 p.m. Friday, April 15, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 16.

Cherry pies: Americans love their cherry pies, and those who attend VEISHEA prove this to be true by purchasing thousands of the pies every year during the VEISHEA cherry pie event. The event is an 80-year-old tradition Friday and Saturday during VEISHEA where approximately 9,000 cherry pies are sold to students, residents, visitors and faculty members. 

The pies sell for $1 and you can purchase them at 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, and 7:30 a.m. until they sell out Saturday. The planning, baking and selling of the pies is done by students of Iowa State in the hotel, restaurant and institution management department, with all proceeds from the fundraiser going toward funding the student’s scholarships within the program. Seeing as this is one of VEISHEA’s oldest traditions, pies tend to sell out very quickly, so make sure to get yours before they’re gone.

International Food Fair: If you want to step out of your comfort zone and try something new, then the International Food Fair is the place to do it. This year the fair is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 16, in the Great Hall at the Memorial Union. This fair brings together the international organizations, under the International Student Council, to prepare and sell some of their favorite culturally-inspired cuisines. This VEISHEA tradition gives people the opportunity to celebrate and appreciate the cultural diversity that exists on our campus in a fun and delicious way.

Campustown: Even with all other food options during VEISHEA, ISU students still love their Superdogs and gyros from Smiles and Gyros Inc., the company that provides the two popular stands located on Welch Avenue. During VEISHEA weekend, the stands open at 10 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and won’t close until 4 a.m. As an added bonus, a cart serving the gyros will be set up at the Taste of VEISHEA and will stay open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. both Friday and Saturday.

Every different food option is scheduled at hours to satisfy needs during a busy weekend, and most are inexpensive; just be sure to bring cash. So, whether you’re craving pancakes at 3 a.m., a Superdog for dinner, cherry pie for breakfast or homemade Japanese cuisine for lunch, Iowa State has you covered by serving up all of these delicious food options during the week of VEISHEA.