That's where the difference is, in the fairs then. Our fairs are purely run by "travelling folk" and designed to part you from your money ASAP - no livestock or races. Yours sounds like a cross between a fair and a County Show.
County Shows could definitely be improved by having rides, but I didn't think fairs could be improved much. However a with a pig race, or swimming pigs....! Wow.
You can get chips n cheese here too but the cheese is real cheese, grated into a soft yellow pile on top (what is this squirty thing - gives me the dithers) In fact my local in London used to do an eye watering version of chilli chips n cheese that it took 3 of us to eat. But not at a fair. Never at a fair.
I want to move to America now.
At
Goose Fair in Nottingham (20 odd miles from my home) you can get mushy peas in a cup. With mint sauce. Can't say it ever appealed to me.