The North Carolina Mountain State Fair kicked off its 17th year last night at the WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher, NC. It runs from September 10-19 and is the perfect excuse to eat corn dogs and cotton candy and ride the Ferris wheel. Fun fact: According to Wikipedia the original Ferris wheel was designed and constructed by George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. as a landmark for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

You will have to attend the Fair to taste the salty, sugary goodness it offers, but here is a photography sampling of the sites.