Most things in life have a serious purpose. Cars are for getting places. Houses are for shelter and comfort. Jobs are for making a living. Carnivals, however, exist for the sole purpose of having fun. Yes, they’re crowded, noisy, dirty, and usually very, very weird, but they’re here to elevate our moods and make us forget the stresses of daily life. Carnivals deserve a lot of credit.

You may not have visited a carnival or fair for quite some time, so do yourself a favor and check one out this summer. Celebrate that resurgence of childhood memories (good OR bad) with a few carnival souvenirs that are way cooler and more permanent than a goldfish in a plastic baggie. After all, what could be better than some good, clean, local fun?

My list on ThisNext is devoted to the quirks and perks of carnivals. Let’s hope the tradition never dies, and we can see many more years of fun, games, and fried food.

See more of my Long Live the Carnival list at ThisNext.