Carnival season is just around the corner folks! I don't know about you but the wait is killing me. Sometimes there's nothing better than rolling up to your dingy parking lot carnival for some summer time fun! And if you don't believe me, here are some fabulous reasons why you're wrong:

1. Food

Carnival food is AMAZING and your kidding yourself if you think otherwise. I would gladly go for a corndog and some funnel cake over a five star restaurant any day. And don't even get me started on carnival fries. I eat those by the bucket. Something about the smell of grease in the air and the creative new junk food creations that vary every year just makes you feel like a kid at a candy store. Or, you know, a kid at a carnival. Candy apples, Lemonade, funnel cakes, fried oreos, corndogs, slushies, there's something for everyone! There's nothing you can't find here!

2. Rides

The best part about the rides at a carnival is they are the perfect level of fun. For those of us who are terrified of rollercoasters (not me, I'm an adrenaline junkie), carnival rides lower the bar from frightening to just butterfly-in-the-belly level, for adults AND kids. These rides are family friendly but also just rickety and rusty looking enough to make you feel like you're doing something dangerous. Especially if the Carny running the ride has only one arm and is using the other to check his phone, then yea, I'd say you may not be 100 percent safe. But that's the fun part! Pair these rides up with the earlier food you've scarfed down, and hopefully you can aim for a trashcan from the top of the ferris wheel!

3. Games

I don't know about you, but I love winning prizes from the different carnivals I visit. Even though they're barely held together and are often scratchy feeling, it's still a little something you earned to take with you. Especially if you win something big, it's like walking around with a giant sign saying "Yes, LOOK AT ME, I really AM this talented. It only took me 11 attempts and thirty dollars!" But it was worth it, right? Watching everyone stare at you in obvious jealousy that they couldn't win the giant kangaroo like you did. And even if you don't win at all, you know deep down through all of your frustration at missing that damn balloon with the stupid dart, you were/are having a good time. And isn't that what it's all about?

4. Friends

Carnivals are great because SO many people attend them. At the same time, that is a reason why it could be argued that they're not great, but let's forget about that right now. I almost never go to a carnival and not see someone I know, whether an old friend or new. Even if you didn't plan it, now you have someone to enjoy yourself with. Plus bringing friends to a carnival is some of the most fun you can have during the summer. You can get on rides together, challenge each other at different games, chow down on delicious carnival food, or just sit down and catch up. There's so much room for you to decide what to do that it's hard to become bored!

5. Dates

If you're looking for somewhere easy to go on a date this summer, I'd suggest finding the closest carnival before doing anything else. Whether you've been together for years or this is your first date, the carnival is the perfect place to go. You two lovebirds can cuddle up on the ferris wheel, or he can win you a prize from a game (or you can win him one, whatever floats your boat), or you can even share cotton candy together. Even though it's usually swarming with people, there's a lot of places to find privacy to just sit down and talk. It's like this place was made for dates! No wonder it's so popular in the movies!

I can't wait to find and go to every carnival within driving distance this summer. I hope I've convinced some of you nonbelievers to swing by your nearest carnival soon. Have a fun carnival season everyone!