People on a swing ride at a carnival

© Peter Burian/Aurora Photos

People on a swing ride at a carnival

Can you smell the fried food and fairy floss? The modern fair has roots in ancient times, tracing back to a variety of influences, from Roman religious festivals to temporary markets set up at crossroads along the trade routes from Asia to Europe. Today, agricultural shows often combine industry and agriculture exhibits with various entertainment options such as this swing ride, a sideshow attraction that has chairs suspended from the rotating top of a carousel.