The fairs are a scam. The plush toys they sell are about the same price to play the game. Also the games are usually rigged or devised to work not in your favour.
Its like buying something from Amazon and instead of being delivered its placed in an Indiana Jones temple rigged with booby traps and you have to retrieve it. If you fail your money is gone.
Go for the food and experience.
If you get beat out on a carny game, just let the $1 go.
Don't let it be a hair in your cotton candy.