Carnival rides. Elephants ears. Corn dogs. Rabbit races. And this year, the return of the Egg Roll booth.

Yep, with a quick look at the calendar we’re reminded that opening day of the San Juan County Fair is just three weeks away.

Its four-day run begins Aug. 13.

The fair offers an opportunity to discover and admire the creativity, passion, hobbies and the enterprise of our neighbors. It’s a time to play together, compete against one another, cheer each other on, and celebrate the achievements of friends, neighbors and of islanders that we have yet to meet. The fair grounds us in a way like no other single occasion to the place that we all call home, like one great big family reunion.

It’s a pretty good bargain, too, just $25 for a season pass (adults), $18 for seniors, $15 for kids.

That’s like a pinch over $5.50 per day. And, on “Kids Day”, children can climb aboard as many amusement rides as they can stomach, from noon to 5 p.m., Thursday and Friday, for $22.

But wait, there’s more. The fair offers a deep discount off admission for entering exhibits, like a work of art or craft, a photo, pie or poem, flowers or fine arts, a chicken or egg (whichever comes first) or goat or bunny, or home-brewed beer or costume made out of recycled materials, and much, much more.

Exhibitors pay only $15 for a four-day pass, that’s for adults and seniors, and kids entering exhibits get in for free.

Islanders are not alone in their appreciation of the fair. While it remains a community event at heart and soul, the County Fair attracts more and more visitors each year as well.

Of the 20,000 people, or so, who attended the 2013 Fair, about 10 percent live outside the county, according to  fair stats, and, of those, 1,000 came specifically for the fair.

We say, the more the merrier. See you at the Fair!

— For more on the 2014 Fair, visit www.sjcfair.org