Name: State-Fair Lemonade
Prep time: 2 min
Total time: 2 min
Yield: 1
Ingredients: 1 whole lemon, sliced into wedges; 3 tablespoons granulated sugar; 1 cup ice cubes; 2 cups cold water

This state fair-style lemonade is made by smashing fresh lemon wedges with sugar, then shaking it all up with ice and water in a 32 oz deli cup. It’s easy to make and tastes just like the lemonade served at fairs and food trucks.

Three large deli cups filled with homemade state fair lemonade. There are three whole lemons and three lids next to the drinks. Each lemonade has lots of iced and lemons in it and a slice of lemon on top.

Jump to Recipe

If you’ve ever ordered lemonade at a state fair, carnival, or theme park, chances are you’ve had this kind of drink—fresh lemon wedges, sugar, ice, and water shaken together in a big plastic cup. It’s bold, sweet, a little tart, and incredibly refreshing.

This style of State Fair Lemonade has made a comeback lately thanks to Instagram and TikTok, where you’ll see food trucks and drink stands built entirely around this one recipe. And honestly? It lives up to the hype.

I first had a lemonade like this at Six Flags Over Texas when I was a kid. It was a hot day and the drink was ice-cold, super sweet, and loaded with real lemon flavor. Fast forward (about 50 years later—eek!) and I’m just as hooked.

This homemade version is simple to make and tastes exactly how I remember. All you need is a lemon, some sugar, ice, and a 32-ounce deli container. Smash it up with a muddler, give it a good shake, pop in a straw, and you’ve got yourself a little sip of summer in a big cup!

A three-photo image showing a refreshing cup of homemade state fair lemonade, the lemons being smashed in cups, and serving the lemonade in a deli cup with lid. The image has text overlay that says, how to make state fair lemonade. Smash. Shake. Stir.

Why You’ll Love This State Fair Lemonade

Pure nostalgia – It tastes just like the lemonade you remember from fairs, carnivals, and theme parks—bold, sweet, and super refreshing.

Shaken, not stirred – It’s easy to make this single-serve homemade lemonade in a big cup for shaking, no fancy tools or juicers required.

Customizable sweetness – You can adjust the sweetness to your liking, or even add a splash of flavored simple syrup to make strawberry, raspberry, or peach lemonade.

Party-friendly – It’s a fun idea for summer parties, 4th of July or DIY drink bars. Set out lemons, deli cups, sugar, and a few bottles of flavored syrup (optional) so guests can shake up their own creations.

A close up photo of a large cup of homemade state fair lemonade that's made by smashing lemons and sugar in a deli cup and serving with lid and straw. The drink is surrounded by ice cubes, three whole lemons and there are two more lemonades on a tray in the background.

Ingredients You’ll Need

fresh lemons (1 whole lemon per drink)
granulated sugar
ice cubes
cold water

An overhead photo showing the ingredients needed to make the lemonade. The image has text overlay that says, "state fair lemonade."

What to Look for When Shopping

Lemons: Choose the juiciest lemons you can find. Avoid ones with thick, bumpy skin since those tend to have more pith. I’ll show you how to slice it just right for the least amount of bitter pith in the drink.

Sugar: Regular granulated sugar dissolves best for this. You’ll need 3-4 tablespoons per 32-ounce drink.

Ice: Plan on one cup of ice per lemonade. If you’re hosting a party, I suggest buying a bag of ice so you have enough to go around.

Cold water: I always suggest filtered water for all my drink recipes. It makes all the difference for that thirst-quenching crisp lemonade. A Brita water pitcher works great for this.

You will also need: A muddler for pressing the juice out of the lemons, BPA-free 32 oz deli containers with lids that snap on tight, along with the special straw hole puncher if you want to go all out.

A refreshing state fair lemonade drink with a green straw in it, on a small tray that's filled with iced cubes and half a lemon. Next to the drink, which is in a 32oz deli container, is a lid, a small bowl of sugar and a bowl with lemons in it.

The Best Way to Slice a Lemon (So It’s Less Bitter)

Unlike regular lemonade where the juice is squeezed and the rest discarded, state fair-style lemonade includes the whole lemon right in the drink—peel, pulp, and all. That’s what gives it that bold, zesty flavor.

But if you’re not careful, including too much of the white pith can bring bitterness.

Luckily, there’s a way to cut the lemon so you get all the juicy goodness without all that bitter bite. Here’s how I like to do it:

An overhead photo of a lemon being sliced on a cutting board.

An overhead photo showing how to cut three whole lemons into wedges and chunks for smashing into homemade state fair lemonade. The piles of lemons are on a cutting board next to a knife.

Start with a clean lemon.
Make your first cut off center—about a third of the way in.
Do the same on the opposite side. You’ll now have two chunky sides and the center of the lemon (called the columella).
Trim the two end pieces from the center columella.
Slice each of the large chunks into 3 wedges. You’ll end up with a total of 8 wedges. (Go ahead and knock off any seeds that are close to the surface.)
Chop lemon wedges in half for 16 small pieces.

This method gives you all the juicy lemon flavor, while eliminating any potential bitterness from the columella part of the lemon.

How to Make State Fair Lemonade (1 Serving)

Detailed recipe and instructions are in recipe card at bottom of post.

Slice a clean lemon into16 chunks (8 wedges cut in half). Add to a 32 oz deli container.
Spoon in 3 tablespoons of sugar.
Use a cocktail muddler to smash the lemon pieces into the sugar. This releases the juice and oils for that bold lemonade flavor.
Add 1 cup of ice cubes and pour in about 2 cups of cold water, leaving a bit of room at the top.
Snap the lid on tight and shake vigorously for 20–30 seconds until the sugar is fully dissolved.
Punch a straw hole in the lid (optional), insert a straw, and enjoy immediately!

Overhead photo showing the steps to make state fair lemonade at home. There are three deli cups that have pieces of lemon in them. Next to the cups are the lids and a muddler. — **Step 1: Add sliced lemon to deli cups.**

An overhead photo showing sugar added to cups with lemons to make state-fair style lemonade at home. — **Step 2: Scoop sugar on top of lemons.**

An overhead photo of smashed homemade lemonade being made directly in the cups. The center cup has a muddler in it and you can see how the lemons have released their juice and the sugar has dissolved. — **Step 3: Smash lemons into sugar using a muddler or back of spoon.**

Ice added to each homemade state fair lemonade drink. — **Step 4: Put ice cubes and cold water into cup**s

Cold water being poured into the lemonade drinks. — **Step 4: Put ice cubes and cold water into cup**s

The deli container lids are placed on the three homemade lemonades and shaken to combine. — **Step 5: Snap lids on tightly and shake until sugar is dissolved.**

A homemade state fair lemonade made in a 32 ounce deli container with lid that has a hole punched in it for a straw, just like how it's served on food trucks. The lemonade is on a tray covered in ice and there are lemons and two more lemonades in the background. The drinks look icy and refreshing. — **Step 6: Punch straw hole in lid if you have a puncher and serve**.

Recipe Notes & Tips

Sweetness: I found 3 tablespoons of sugar perfect, but you can use up to 4 tablespoons (¼ cup) if you want it sweeter.

Party hack: Set up a lemonade bar! Just lay out lemons, sugar, ice, water, and deli containers, a muddler and straw punch. Everyone can make their own. Great for July 4th or cookouts. If you want, you can add the lemon and sugar to the cups ahead of time.

Lid & straw: If you want the full fair effect, try the straw punch I use. It makes a perfect little hole that doesn’t drop plastic into the drink.

Serving a crowd? Skip the shaking and make a big batch! My Homemade Lemonade by the Gallon is perfect for parties, picnics, and summer BBQs. Just mix it up in advance and chill until you’re ready to serve. You might also like my gallon sweet tea recipe!

Can I Prep These Ahead?

Yes! If you’re making a few drinks for a party or picnic, you can prep the cups ahead of time by adding just the sliced lemons and sugar.

As they sit, the sugar helps draw out the natural oils from the lemon peels, giving the final drink a more intense citrusy flavor. Just wait to add the ice and water until it’s time to shake and serve.

A refreshing cup of homemade smashed lemonade made in a deli container for serving. The drink is filled with pieces of lemon and lots of ice. There is a slice of lemon floating on top.

🍋 More Refreshing Lemonade Recipes

If you’re in the mood for more cool and citrusy drinks, here are some of my other lemonade favorites:

Homemade Lemonade by the Gallon – Perfect for cookouts and backyard hangs
Hibiscus Lemonade – Tart, floral, and such a pretty pink color
3-Minute Frosted Lemonade – Like Chick-fil-A’s, but faster and made at home
Frozen Raspberry Lemonade – Sweet, slushy, and super refreshing
Blended Strawberry Lemonade – A Starbucks copycat that’s an icy blend of strawberry and lemonade
Brazilian Lemonade (aka Limeade) – Made with fresh limes and sweetened condensed milk—creamy, zippy, and totally different from traditional lemonade

Check them out if you’re planning a lemonade bar or just want to sip your way through summer!

State-Fair Lemonade

Yield: 1 (32 ounce lemonade)

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Total Time: 2 minutes

Ingredients

1 whole lemon, sliced into wedges
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 cup ice cubes
2 cups cold water

Instructions

Slice a clean lemon into 16 chunks (8 wedges cut in half). Add to a 32 oz deli container.
Spoon in 3 tablespoons of sugar.
Use a cocktail muddler to smash the lemon pieces into the sugar. This releases the juice and oils for that bold lemonade flavor.
Add 1 cup of ice cubes and pour in about 2 cups of cold water, leaving a bit of room at the top.
Snap the lid on tight and shake vigorously for 20–30 seconds until the sugar is fully dissolved.
Punch a straw hole in the lid (optional), insert a straw, and enjoy immediately!

Notes

Slicing Lemon: Cut two sides of the lemon off-center to avoid the pithy center membrane, then cut them into 3 wedges each. Cut remaining two pieces of lemon off center. Now you have 8 wedges. Cut in half for 16 total lemon chunks.

Sweetness: I found 3 tablespoons of sugar perfect, but you can use up to 4 tablespoons (¼ cup) if you want it sweeter.

Party hack: Set up a lemonade bar! Just lay out lemons, sugar, ice, water, and deli containers. Everyone can make their own. Great for July 4th or cookouts. If you want, you can add the lemon and sugar to the cups ahead of time and add bottles of flavored syrup.

Lid & straw: If you want the full fair effect, try the straw punch I use. It makes a perfect little hole that doesn’t drop plastic into the drink.

State Fair Lemonade (Shaken in a Deli Cup!)

Why You’ll Love This State Fair Lemonade