Now that fall is here and the weather is beginning to cool down, the time has come for the community to enjoy the rides, food and fun brought by the Central Alabama Fair.

Back for the 59th year, the fair is an annual fundraiser for the Selma Lion’s Club, which is known for promoting vision preservation and awareness. The fair allows the club to raise money to help provide eye exams and glasses to the community.

“This is the only benefit that we have to make money to give away to [local charities],” said John Haskell, fair manager. “Without the fair, we can’t give anything away because we won’t have any money to give away.”

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’re always excited for the fair to be here. We’re excited right now,” Haskell said. “The kids, they love the rides and the grownups, they like the exhibits and they just like to walk around and see people they haven’t seen in a while.”

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.

On Tuesday, Oct. 6, the gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the Young Miss Pageant will be at 6 p.m. and Junior Miss Pageant 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 first 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 for kids and $3 for adults. 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, Oct. 10, 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.