AUGUSTA — Randi and Michael Shaw had to get fried Oreos before the fall fair season officially ended, they said.

“We didn’t get to go to any other fairs because we had a busy schedule with work,” said Randi Shaw. “We love the fried dough, Oreos … mostly the fried food.”

The Pittston couple made their way to Augusta’s Kickoff to Fall Fair, as most people who attended did, to get one last fix of fair food and rides before the Maine fair season officially ends. They were pleased with their dessert, which is an Oreo cookie deep-fried with powdered sugar on top.

The second Kickoff to Fall Fair is at the city’s Mill Park through Sunday and is put on by the Augusta Downtown Alliance and Smokey’s Greater Shows.

Some say the traditional fair food is the most popular draw, like it was for the Shaws, while others, like the Mortons, came for the rides.

After attending the fair last year, Janis Morton and her niece Ace Morton, came back for the rides. Though Ace Morton did not attend last year with her aunt, she was excited to ride the “spaceship.”

“It’s the one that spins around and gravity holds you against the walls,” she said.

Smokey’s Greater Shows is a local traveling carnival company that has served the state for over 50 years.

The games, rides and food stands travel with Smokey’s, as do the employees. It moves from fair spots around Maine during the months of May to October, like Skowhegan Fair, as well as adding some out of state events in Lancaster, New Hampshire, and Burton, Vermont.

While Patricia Bates and Debbie Martin, both Smokey’s employees, agree that people come for the rides, especially the Ferris wheel, they said that some travel to each fair stop to get the fair food.

“Everyone talks about the fried dough,” said Bates. “It’s one of the staples and has been here the longest. Even to the small fairs, like this, people will travel hundreds of miles for the food. I heard one man say he did it because he’s ‘Not going to have cotton candy for a year!'”

Martin agreed and said that she noticed one man attend five carnival shows in a row to eat the food.

For Kickoff to Fall Fair, they said the attendance is smaller than the fairs they are used to, but the turnout is steady.

“This stop, the Augusta one, is new, but there used to be a fair here years ago,” said Bates. “I think they are trying to help Augusta be the strong city it is.”

Jeremy Ashlock, executive director of Augusta Downtown Alliance, said the fair is not only a fun event for the community, but a great fundraiser.

When reached by the phone Friday, Ashlock said the fair had a successful first day on Thursday.

Downtown Alliance earns 20% of the ticket sales, Ashlock said, with Smokey’s Greater Shows receiving the rest.

“Yeah, I mean, I think downtown Augusta is a unique and special place. The roots of the community have created things that are one of a kind,” Ashlock said. “That big space at Mill Park pays homage to this industrial space that we have from generations of folks working hard and now we can have it as an event space where we can all sit down and watch the fireworks on the Fourth of July, or do this. I think it lends itself well to Augusta and the downtown.”

The fair continues Sunday from 1-6 p.m.