I have a love of fairs and carnivals and I have been attending various ones for years and years. Yes, they are a commercial enterprise, and are often somewhat cheesy, but their reason for being is to entertain, and that can’t be all bad?

What is more fun or scarier than a mobile ride that was bolted together by an itinerant worker?

And where can one purchase such items except at a fair? Why one would purchase such items? Because one is at a fair!

And it is indeed a “fried fantasy” of food that is available at the fair. These vendors spend all winter during their off season to try and think of new things to dip in batter and fry. None of these offerings are noted for their nutritional value before being dunked in oil, but that is part of the appeal, I guess. Also available are unusual meats, like alligator on a stick. All of these things are best consumed with a group a friends who may or may not be sober.

This was my favorite booth, which was handing out free samples of roasted green chile wrapped in a flour tortilla (free being the best price to enjoyment ratio).

People have been holding fairs since the beginning of recorded time, usually to celebrate a harvest or some event. This fair has been in existence since 1872 and I hope that this sort of entertainment continues on into the unknown future. (Not pictured are bull riding, concerts, beauty contests for animals and sundry other events of the fair).