The lights disappeared bit by bit Sunday night at the Ventura County Fair, an annual summer highlight nearing its end, not to return for another year. With a few hours left, the night still had plenty to offer, because darkness at the fair does not bring the end of the day.

The parking lots fill up, the stadium booms with music and fans, and more than 50 rides are alive, forming a glowing array of colorful lights.

"The fair is more electric at night," said Dee White of Scottsdale, Ariz.

"It's much livelier. The smells are enhanced, the lights make everything magical."

White runs a snack stand just outside the Grandstand Arena. She has been working the Ventura County Fair since 1979, and it's one of her favorites.

"This is a really nice fair. The people are so nice. I just love it here," White said.

As fans streamed out of the Beach Boys concert to her window, White began helping her employees take orders. The top sellers at her stand are corn dogs and cotton candy. "A lot of old people like the cotton candy," she said.

"It brings back a lot of memories."

Nostalgia was a big draw to the arena Tuesday night, where people crowded in to hear the Beach Boys perform. Actor and musician John Stamos turned up on stage to help out with drumming and vocals.

In the audience, Patti Bronk of Ojai was dancing and singing along to the music as she and her friends donned fresh Hawaiian leis around their necks.

On the midway, carnival rides swung and spun as many teens enjoyed their second-to-last week of summer break. Megan McDonough, 15, of Ojai enjoyed the Wave Swinger, which offers an exhilarating ride around and above the lights of the carnival, all at 25 mph.

Kristyl Knox of Ventura waited patiently while her daughter Danielle, 11, rode the Magnum, which pulls up to 3 Gs of force on the flips, according to one of its operators.

Knox described the difference between the nighttime and daytime fair environments "like a raccoon coming out versus a squirrel. If that makes any sense," Knox said with a laugh. "It's totally different."

As Danielle got off the ride, she said she liked going on the rides any time of day.

"It doesn't make any difference to me," she said calmly.

Then, suddenly, the fireworks erupted.

The display provided the last treat of the evening as the lights, falling from the sky, dwindled into darkness.