The Dutchess County Fair kind of puts the other surrounding county fairs to shame. It’s massive and sprawling, with a dizzying array of food and shopping vendors, a small city of rides for all ages, myriad carnival games and a jam-packed schedule of special events and entertainment. The hordes of animals and livestock on display are dwarfed only by the outsized crowds that descend on the fair during its peak hours near sunset. Yes, it’s chaotic, it can quickly get very expensive, and the weather may not always be comfortable. But the Dutchess County Fair is unquestionably the premiere area destination for the classic summer carnival experience.