You know fall is finally starting to appear when those glorious signs go up all over town telling you that the fair is in town. The fair is practically a rite of passage for the season to kick off. Fairs are wonderful vacuums that attach themselves to your wallet before you even walk in the pearly gates. Besides the ability to lose all your cash in one night, fairs are actually the best. They're usually only in town for a week or two at a time, so you've got to strike while the iron is hot. Here's a few of the best things fairs have to offer:

1. Food

There's nothing in the world like all the adventurous cuisine you can find at your local fair. There's booths for all the normal stuff, like funnel cakes and cotton candy. But then, there's also vendors selling "deep fried everything." Basically, somebody has tried frying everything and is now trying to market it all for our own enjoyment. I've seen for myself a sign that read "Deep Fried Kool-Aid," and I honestly had to try really hard to restrain myself. Don't feel bad for indulging in five funnel cakes because you can rest assured in the fact that you are not the only one.

2. Rides

After eating all the food, who could even think of getting on some circling machine of death? Spinning around and around after the foot-long corn dog you just had might not be the best idea, but you do it anyway because it's the fair, and it's only in town for a few more days. You cannot let the fair slip by without riding the Ferris wheel at least once. It's the staple of any good carnival.

3. People Watching

They say the beach is the best place to watch people. But, when the fair comes to town, people come from all over to take part in the festivities, so if the food and the rides aren't fun for you, grab a nice comfortable seat and just watch. You can see the people get off the craziest ride and stumble, before keeling over. You can see all the junior high couples walking through the crowd holding hands, unaware of how ridiculous they look. You can watch the moms fight over stroller parking and yell at their kids for running into other people. There's never not something entertaining to see at the fair, so don't miss out.

4. Fun For the Whole Family

The fair is the perfect place to get the whole family together and go out and have some fun. There's attractions for everyone. From the youngest member of the family to the oldest, there's something for every person to do. And, it's always nice when you don't have to ride the rides alone and when you can share your mountain of curly fries with the people who love you most.

5. A Nice Change

Growing up in a small town, fun can be hard to come by. There's not really a place where all your friends can get together at once and hangout. But, when the fair comes to town, you've got eight days and seven nights of entertainment for you and your friends. So, don't miss your chance, and take advantage of that wonderful week!