What's the Essence of a Carnival?
Illinois Compiled Statutes ยง 11-54.1-1 tells us:
"Carnival" means and includes an aggregation of attractions, whether shows, acts, games, vending devices or amusement devices, whether conducted under one or more managements or independently, which are temporarily set up or conducted in a public place or upon any private premises accessible to the public, with or without admission fee, and which, from the nature of the aggregation, attracts attendance and causes promiscuous intermingling of persons in the spirit of merrymaking and revelry.
Promiscuous intermingling of persons in the spirit of merrymaking and revelry -- I couldn't have said it better myself.