With school back in session, high school football and volleyball back on the schedule and fall right around the corner, the time has come for the Selma Lions Club to put a year’s worth of planning into action with the 59th annual Central Alabama Fair. 

The fair is set to open Monday, Oct. 5 and run through Saturday, Oct. 10.

“The fair is put on as [the Lions Club’s] fundraiser to bring money back to the community,” said John Haskell, fair manager.

“It’s the only fundraiser we [have], so if we don’t put on a good fair, then we can’t give away any money.”

The Lions Club is known for promoting vision preservation and awareness, and the fair allows them to raise money to help provide eye exams and glasses to the community. Haskell said the club’s motto is “we serve” and this is just a way for them exercise what the organization is all about.

“We give back probably 90 percent of what we make,” Haskell said.

The fair will feature the normal rides and games, a petting zoo, the Central Alabama Fair Pageant, arts and crafts contests, a sing-off competition put on by Dixie Country radio and much more.

“We look forward to it every year,” Haskell said. “It’s more of an enjoyment to get out and see people that you haven’t seen in a long time.”

The gates will open for the first time Monday, Oct. 5 at 5:20 p.m. and youth night is from 5:30 p.m. until closing with armbands for $15. The Petite Miss Central Alabama Fair Pageant will be at 6 p.m. followed by the Miss pageant at 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 6, the gates open at 5:30 and the Young Miss pageant will be at 6 p.m. and Junior Miss will be at 7:30 p.m.

For the second year in a row, kids day, Wednesday, Oct. 7 from 2-8 p.m., will offer even another way of giving back. Instead of paying an admission price, the Lion’s Club is asking that all school aged children, grades one through 12, bring a canned item for the local food pantry, or an item for the Selma Animal Shelter.

Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, and all rides will be $1. The Central Alabama Sing-off competition will kickoff at 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 9, the gates will open at 5:30 p.m. and the final day, Saturday, Oct. 10, the gates will open at 1 p.m. On Saturday from 1-5 p.m. is the Lion’s Club family day and ride armbands will be $15.

The Tiny Miss Central Alabama Fair Pageant will be at 2 p.m. followed by the Little Miss pageant at 4 p.m.

Admission is $5 for ages 6 and up and free for children 5 and under.

The fair is located at 2401 West Dallas Avenue. For more information about the fair or to get competition forms, visit www.centralalabamafair.com.