Fair preparations underway
Published 12:00 am Monday, November 3, 2003
Conditions, including weather and preparations for this year's big event, are expected to be fair.
The Andalusia Kiwanis Club in conjunction with the Agriculture Center Board/Alabama Depart-ment of Agriculture and Industries will be hosting the County Fair Nov. 6-15 at the Kiwanis Center in Andalusia.
Each day during the fair will have a variety of events for the public to enjoy. The breakdown of festivities for the fair are as follows:
€ Thursday, Nov. 6: Ribbon cutting at 5:20 p.m. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. The first 100 to
buy admission tickets get free rides from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Also riders may pay $12 for a ticket and receive unlimited rides for the night. A cheerleading competition starts at 7 p.m., in which participants will be judged on team cheers and dances.
€ Friday, Nov. 7: Gates open at 5:30 p.m. The same ride special from Thursday night will be in effect. At 7 p.m. Southern Aire - a Celtic band from Robins Air Force Base in Georgia will play traditional Celtic music.
€ Saturday, Nov. 8: Gates open at 1 p.m. All high school students and younger get in for one dollar until 5 p.m. The ride special for the day includes paying $10 for unlimited rides until closing, but the tickets must be purchased before 4:30 p.m. A calf show will be held at 3:30 p.m. and at 7 p.m. football players and high school athletic departments will compete in a hotdog eating contest.
€ Sunday, Nov. 9: The fair will be closed.
€ Monday, Nov. 10: Gates open at 5:30 p.m. The ride special of opening day will be in effect. Little Miss Covington County Fair, a competition for girls 6-8 years old, will be at 7 p.m.
€ Tuesday, Nov. 11: Gates open at 1 p.m. Admission for high school students and younger is just a dollar. Until 4:30 p.m., pay $10 for a ticket for unlimited rides. At 6:30 p.m. there will be a boiled egg contest, in which contestants will compete for a $35 first- place prize and a $15 second-place prize. The Tiny Miss Covington County Fair, identical to the Little Miss County Fair except for girls 4 and 5 years, will begin at 7 p.m.
€ Wednesday, Nov. 12: Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Ladies' night: Admission for the females only $3. The ride special is the usual rate. At 7 p.m. The Church of the Living God District Choir will perform.
€ Thursday, Nov. 13: Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Senior Citizen Night: Admission for persons aged 65 and older is only $3. The usual ride special rate will be in effect. The Youth Talent Contest, for individuals under 18, will be held at 7 p.m. Trophies will be awarded 1st through 5th place.
€ Friday, Nov. 14: Gates open at 5:30 p.m. The usual ride rate will be in effect. The Adult Talent Contest, for individuals 18 and over, will be at 7 p.m., and trophies will be handed to the 1st through 5th place winners.
€ Saturday, Nov. 15: Gates open at 1 p.m. The student admission for high school students and under will be one dollar, and the ride special until 4:30 p.m. will be $10 tickets for unlimited rides. The Fresh Anointing Choir of the Andalusia Full Gospel Tabernacle will perform at a time to be announced.
The Kiwanis Club's website is celebrating its second year in service, and people can log on to the site to enter exhibits and download their entry forms and have the forms prefilled.
"This will save both them and we who enter the exhibits lots of time," Roy Windham, who works each year with entering the exhibits said.
In addition to the cow show, the club will salute agriculture at the arena, featuring miniature horses, llamas, chickens, turkeys, and geese, according to Fair Chairperson Tony Wells.
"Everything the Kiwanis Club makes goes back to the community," Wells said. "Part of the proceeds goes to school scholarships, Buckle Up Babies Program, and Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) - a program which makes sure every child has a book to read."
The fair is the largest fund-raiser of the year, added Wells.
"We aim to have a good time this year," he said. "Money is important, but fellowship and fun are more important. We're looking to have a good and safe time this year."
Wells said there should be clear skies during the week-long event.
"Lee Williams from WAAO-FM guaranteed us good weather for the event, which is good news for this year," Wells commented. "We hope to have at least 15,000 to 20,000 people attend, and we look forward to having the same attendants come back next year.
"I think the fair means a good time for people of the county," he continued. "It's good for the people to experience and enjoy a fair atmosphere."
The fair building will be open to receive exhibits on Tuesday, Nov. 4, from 1-6 p.m. The fair will accept exhibits on Wednesday, Nov. 5 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Thursday, Nov. 6, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Baked goods will be accepted on Wednesday and Thursday from 1 p.m.-6 p.m. Horticulture will be taken from 1-6 p.m. on Wednesday only, and flowers and designs will be accepted from 8-11 a.m. on Thursday. Livestock will be accepted Wednesday and Thursday until 2 p.m.
Exhibits will be picked up on Sunday, Nov. 16 from 1-5:30 p.m and Monday, Nov. 17 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Special arrangements must be made for any exhibits to be picked up any later than the designated times.