A good fair can pull people in before they even reach the gate. Lights flicker above the midway, and the first ride usually sparks an immediate debate about what comes next.
That is the kind of September energy this Arkansas tradition brings back each fall. Families may arrive for the carnival, but the evening has a way of growing once the food stands start calling and the fairgrounds open up around them.
Livestock areas give visitors another reason to wander, while competitions bring a different kind of excitement away from the rides. Younger guests have even more to look forward to this year, which gives families another excuse to stay a little longer…