At the Freedom Fest State Fair on Saturday, crickets, worms, and other bugs were available as a snack to any who dared to give them a try.
ALLENTOWN -- Sean Loftus, 12, of Howell, held a mealworm between his teeth before chewing down as if it were just a regular piece of candy.
The worm was just one of a variety of bugs offered at the Ehrlich Pest Control "Pestaurant" tent at Saturday's Freedom Fest State Fair at the Horse Park of New Jersey.
Loftus was with his mother, Coral Loftus, who had eaten a cricket just moments before. She was also with her 13-year-old daughter, Grace, and 11-year-old son, Paul.
"It tasted like a corn chip," Coral Loftus said.
As for the mealworm, Sean said: "It tasted like popcorn."
"If you can get over the fact that it's a bug, it's pretty good," Coral added.
Representatives from Ehrlich ensured that the bugs were completely safe to eat, saying that they were raised on a farm specifically for edible purposes, using clean soil with no pesticides.
The crowd, which was spares in the early afternoon, began to pick up later in the day. It was scorching hot with temperatures in the 90s.
Attendees enjoyed a multitude of events, including countless rides, a petting zoo full of exotic animals like a zebra, a camel, a llama, among many others. There were also musical performances, a magic show and other entertainment, along with an array of food stands offering burgers, hotdogs, funnel cake, and more.
The fair -- which was to promote agriculture -- was sponsored by L.E.A.D. (Law Enforcement Against Drugs) -- a New Jersey-based drug prevention program, particularly against the ever-increasing heroin epidemic.
Nick DeMauro, fair manager and executive director of L.E.A.D., said, "We partnered with L.E.A.D. to combat the heroin problem. I've been committed to drug prevention, and it feels good being a part of a comprehensive organization with proven and effective services."
The fair will conclude Sunday with a southern rock festival with musical acts by The Marshall Tucker Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Artimus Pyle.
For more information on the fair's schedule on Sunday, visit www.freedomfeststatefair.com.
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.