(September 30, 2011) -- The smell of fried foods is in the air and everything ranging from watermelon to butter is waiting to be fried and served. A place where families can get together, friends can share tickets, and anyone can try fried Kool-Aid.

With rides ranging from as high as you can see to the lowly bumper cars, the LA County Fair has a large variety of activities. 

The County fair is not like your typical park on a Saturday afternoon. “It’s really different from any other place I’ve been to,” said junior Nick Baygan. “It’s a fun experience; the food, the rides, the music. It’s what I’ve grown up with on a larger scale.” 

At every corner in the fair, there are stands with all kinds of foods waiting to be fried and eaten by anyone brave enough to try them. Chicken Charlie’s, a stand famous at the fair for its fried foods, offers everything from fried Twinkies to fried frog legs. New fried concoctions of its this year include the Zucchini Weenie, a hollowed out zucchini with a hot dog inside of it, rolled in corn dog batter and deep fried.

Another thing the County Fair is famous for is its carnival rides. The highest ride, Speed, has seats at each end of a long structure, and spins around while spinning the seats. It might look a bit scary for first-timers, but for a county fair regular, it’s like a piece of cake. 

Probably the least threatening ride would be a row of four very tall slides that you slide down on with a cloth. Junior Ciria Saavedra said that the slides were “bumpy and fast. It was really cool. I felt like a little kid.”

In addition to rides and food, animals are also a major part of the County Fair.  At the big barnyard at one end of the fair, visitors can see an array of different animals: chickens, cows, pigs, horses and more. There’s even a small area where kids (and parents) can pet animals like goats and sheep.

“The county fair is a very special experience for me,” Baygan said. “It gives me the chance to learn about culture, animals, and have fun all at the same time.”

Tickets for the LA County Fair are sold at Ralphs for $10, and at the fair for full price, varying by age. The fair is open every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (some days until midnight) through Oct. 2. Visitors can go on their website, www.lacountyfair.com,  for more information, or call them at (909) 865-4590.