For the past month, you've been twitchy, just waiting to get that first whiff of funnel cakes, the first sound of a whooshing roller coaster and spend your first dollar toward the big purple dinosaur you know you'll never win. But rest at ease fair lovers - the Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo is back in town and it's sure to be best week of summer.

Crabtree Amusements is providing the carnival attractions every day for those young and young at heart. For $26 a day, you can enjoy all the classic stomach-churning rides, maddening carnival games, and delicious fair food that only come once a year. For little tykes who aren't quite tall enough for the big rides, there's a kiddie land with equally fun stuff, which is free for kids under 36 inches.

Something new this year is an entertainment tent on the west end of the grandstand. Here you can find The Avengers in concert every night from 10 p.m. to midnight. Come jam out, bust a move and whip out your best air guitar.

If you want to show off your sick guitar skills, sign up for the Guitar Hero competition being held every afternoon on the midway. Only the most hardcore will strut their stuff in the finals next Saturday.

For those with a love for all things furry, check out the 4-H exhibits showing all week. There'll be horses, hens, hamsters and everything in between. You can even enter little Sniffy in the Pocket Pet Parade on Monday for a chance to win a fair title of your very own.

Tuesday is Parade Day, which starts downtown at 10 a.m. After you've got your fists full of candy, bring the family out to the fairgrounds for senior day and kids day. Seniors over 62 get in free to the grounds and rodeo, and armbands for the kids are only $16 from noon to 5 p.m. Then make your way over to the PRCA rodeo at 7:30 p.m. Eighty-five percent of those folks go on to the national rodeo in Las Vegas, so pick your favorites here and now.

On Thursday, show that you're tough enough to wear pink and show support for victims of breast cancer. At 10 p.m., let your voice be heard at Jerry Cox's "Karaoke Anyone!" event.

If you know you're a cut above and want to sing for more than just applause, enter the Wyoming Idol competition from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday. The winner will have a shot to audition for Randy, Paula and Simon on the infamous American Idol TV show.

So grab a friend, hit up the cotton candy stand and get ready for the biggest, baddest ride of the summer.

And please try to keep down your lunch.

Reach reporter Riane Menardi at (307) 266-0610 or riane.menardi@trib.com

On the Web

For complete fair and rodeo schedule, visit www.centralwyomingfair.com.