So, when we heard there was going to be a “carnival” sponsored by Adult Swim, we expected the usual host of “omg-free-stuff-none-of–which-I’ll-ever-actually-use” promotional goodies, and maybe some of those tacky beanbag-throwing carnival games. But when we got there we were actually quite blown away–and that means a lot coming from the Clog.

Lower Sproul Plaza was completely transformed into what looked like an old-school carnival, with its usual attractions, slightly tweaked for a more adult audience. The arcade was a gigantic Meatwad tent, featuring Family Guy pinball, video games and Whack-a-Chippy. The fortune teller was a “semi-functional clairvoyant cat” who gave us a fortune that read “No entering and no touching.” Instead of a petting zoo, there was a “heavy petting zoo animal,” which was basically just a guy in a bunny suit whose purpose seemed to be to try to stalk and/or annoy people. (At one point he tried to read the Daily Cal through his mesh eye holes.)

The “Peep Show” had clips of Easter Bunnies hopping and horses running, which–we might add–was the opposite of the adult version. There were also the traditional carnival faves: Test Your Strength, dart throwing, a photo booth, one of those grabber claws where the claw is too weak to ever actual pick anything up and, yes, even beanbag throwing. The coolest thing had to be “Xavier’s Tree of Infinite Sadness and Possibilities,” which was a plastic stump with a bunch of limbs dispensing endless amounts of random shit like socks, Meatwad stress balls, pins and sock puppets.

If you were willing to wait you could even choose from a box of random t-shirts and applique whatever Adult Swim logo you wanted. There may not have been a Ferris Wheel or any cotton candy but we’d say that this was better than your average carnival: no kids, no parking and it was all free.

Image Source: Ruby Lee
Earlier: A County Fair in Lower Sproul Plaza? Do Whatnow?

Yeah … the Williams Street County Fair and Expo in particular. If the image didn’t give it away—which it certainly should have, to the initiated—the name of Williams Street will be familiar to fans of Adult Swim.

Much like the Seinfeld bus last month or Dethklok’s concert last year, the major television networks are continuing in their campaign for more viewers by offering college students free stuff. Who are we to argue?

We’re still not sure what—exactly—the fair entails, but there are hints in the interwebz:

The interactive event will feature 12 attractions that will provide students and faculty the opportunity to win prizes, create custom t-shirts, preview never-before-seen clips of upcoming Adult Swim programming and more.

What: Williams Street County Fair and Expo
When: Thursday, Nov. 20 from noon to 5 p.m.
Where: Lower Sproul Plaza

Image Source: mattdesmond under Creative Commons
Williams Street County Fair and Expo [Site]