The Central Alabama Fair is admittedly one of the jewels of our community.

Its arrival each year is one thousands of people — people of all ages — spend a year anticipating and an event those organizing it spend a whole year planning.

The fair is far more than the Cozy Dog and cotton candy vendors. It is more than the midway of rides and rows of games.

The fair is people, pure and simple.

From the carnival workers who set up, man and then break down this traveling road show to the members of the Selma Lions Club who work for months getting ready, the fair is about the enjoyment of those who come each evening and to the charities and organizations the fair supports.

The ribbons awarded in a long list of categories and the smiles plastered across the children’s faces in the petting zoo are just an added bonus to the imagery of the fair. The four pageants and singing competition add a dash of suspense to the atmosphere that truly is one of the greatest weeks of the year in Selma and Dallas County.

As the annual Central Alabama Fair wraps up Saturday, we wanted to take a moment and thank the countless volunteers, clubs, organizations and businesses who routinely partner with the Selma Lions Club to bring the fair to life each year.

There are only a few who can truly appreciate the amount of work and planning that go into such a production simply for the enjoyment of thousands and for the benefit of great charities and organizations.

To the Selma Lions Club, thank you. We are already marking our calendars for next year’s Central Alabama Fair.