At 5 p.m. Monday, October 4th, the doors of Selma’s Old Armory open for admission to Lion’s Fair Park, where the 48th Central Alabama Fair will entertain, educate and reward participants daily through Saturday, October 9th. Sponsored by the Selma Lions Club and the Alabama Department of Agriculture Center Board, the Fair is observing its 48th anniversary this year in coordination with the 52nd Annual Industrial Show. And as always, the Fair offers something for everyone.

Special events at the Fair include as always Carnival rides, with the same company that has been coming for 37 years, although each year new rides are offered. And as always, the farm animals and petting zoo will be open in the farm arena every day.

On opening day Youth Night is the special feature, with WJAM 107.9 armbands for rides at a cost of $10 from 5:30 p.m. until closing. Sponsors include Pepsi, Dixie 100 and Honda.

Tuesday at 7 p.m. the Pepsi-Dixie 100 Miss Central Alabama Fair Beauty Pageant will be held. The Fair Grounds open at 5:30.

Wednesday the Fairgrounds open at 2 p.m. for WAKA 8 Kids Day.

From 2-5 p.m. students through high school are admitted free at the gate. Featured will be The Home Schoolers Face Painting, Clowns, Balloon Animals, Smokey Bear, Shoney Bear and more.

At 5 p.m. Wednesday in the Armory

the musical “Hats off to Broadway” will be performed by Meadowview and Cedar Park Elementary Schools under the direction of Ms. Martha Harris..

On Thursday

the Fairgrounds opening time is 5:30 p.m. and at 7 p.m. Dixie Hold’em begins in the Armory. According to members of the Lions Fair committee, this radio contest combines the excitement of Texas Hold’em and the World Poker Tour and is sweeping the nation. Contestants for the local Lions version will be selected from live on-location Dixie 100 remotes.

The process is simple. All who draw an Ace of Hearts from the Dixie 100 deck will qualify. Then, 200 qualifiers will try their luck at winning the grand prize on Oct. 7 at the Fair. One qualifier could win a brand new 2005 Honda Civic LX, but someone will definitely win at least $5000 in cash.

Friday, Fairgrounds open at 5:30 p.m., reminding kids to visit the animal arena and petting zoo.

Saturday, Fairgrounds open at 1 p.m. for WALX Family Day (until 5 p.m. only), with $10 armbands available for rides. At 4 p.m. Little Miss Central Alabama Beauty Pageant, sponsored by Dixie 100, is featured.

As stated in the Lion’s Club special fair edition to be published in The Times Journal, more than $17,000 in premium money items, with the exception of farm animals, will be awarded Saturday for the winning entries in each category. All entries must be products of Dallas and surrounding counties and have been made, grown or raised by the exhibitor within the past 18 months.

Classes include: Canning (vegetables, jams, jellies, preserves, pickles, relishes and fruits;

Truck and Field Crops; Baked Goods; Needlework and Sewing; Ceramics both stained and glazed; Handcrafts such as painting, weaving, jewelry making, decorative items, pottery and even flower arrangement. There is also a photography category.

There is also a Youth Division for those up to 19 years of age and with the same categories. One of the most popular is that of Youth Farm Animals, where all manner of chickens, rabbits, goats, sheep and lambs may be found, along with the poplar Petting Zoo.

Anyone interested in entering an exhibit will find detailed information in the Fair Edition at a number of local sites, among them WHBB, WDXX and Alexander Broadcasting; the Public Library, the Centre for Commerce and the Old Depot Museum

And as always, a number of local organizations have food booths at the Fair, offering everything from Polish Sausage to Cozy Dogs and barbecue. Enjoy!