Members of the Clanton Kiwanis Club are busily making last-minute preparations for the 2013 Chilton County Fair set for Oct. 1-5.

“We are out working and excited for the week,” President of the Clanton Kiwanis Club Dan Nolen said. “We hope this will be a successful event.”

The fair is sponsored by the Clanton Kiwanis Club and the Agricultural Center Board and has served as the Kiwanis Club’s major fundraiser for 11 years.

The fair will feature Kissel Rides and Shows and a new addition to this year’s fair will include a circus with various animals including camels, goats, llamas, sheep and a monkey as well as more rides available for smaller children.

“This will be the first time we will have the circus in addition to our fair,” Nolen said. “The circus will be near the front gate and we are anticipating a big turnout for that. We hope the weather cooperates.”

Nolen said the hours have also changed this year with nightly events beginning at 4 p.m. instead of 5 p.m. and Saturday events will begin at noon and go until midnight instead of 4 p.m. to midnight.

Organizers have started a Chilton County Fair Facebook page this year that includes daily updates with information regarding events for the fair.

Parking is free and admission is $4 for adults, and children 3 and under are free.

Armbands are available for $20 and will allow unlimited rides each night at the fair.

Proceeds from the fair will fund scholarships the club awards to high school students every year and will support various charities.

Nolen said this year at the fair is sentimental for fair organizers as this will be the last year the fair will remain in the current location, near the Chilton County Airport.

“There is a lot of sentimental value to this old ground,” Nolen said. “We have been here 11 years and this location has been good to us.”

In October 2012, it was announced the fair would have to find a new location due to a proposed airport project that would extend the airport’s runway 1,000 feet to the west.

The fair poses safety issues with the airport that received grants from the FAA and Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) Avionics Division due to having a lit up Ferris wheel that is considered an obstruction near the airport’s runway.

Although a new location has not been finalized, the Kiwanis Club is trying to secure property near the old Henry M. Adair School located at 102 First St. S. in Clanton.

“We are still working everything out for the location next year, but we are hoping that this year draws a large number of people and everyone has an enjoyable time,” Nolen said. “We are hoping the weather cooperates which it is looking like it should. We will still have the fair in the rain, but the rain always lessens the crowds considerably.”

The schedule for the fair this week includes:

•Tuesday: Circus; Attitudes Dance, 6:30 p.m.; and the Demolition Derby, 7 p.m.

•Wednesday: Circus; Southern Pride Band, 7 p.m.

•Thursday: Circus; meat and goat show, 6 p.m. (registration at 5 p.m. or pre-register at (280-6268); lawn and tractor obstacle course at 6 p.m.; Chilton Dance and Twirl, 6:30 p.m.; gospel singing, 7 p.m.

•Friday: Circus; gospel singing, 7 p.m.

•Saturday: Circus; beef show at noon (check in at 9:30-10:30 a.m.); Perfect Peaches Line Dancers, 6:30 p.m.

For more information about the fair, visit the Chilton County Fair Facebook page.

The weather forecast for the week of the fair should be partly cloudy with the possibility of a stray shower or thunderstorm throughout the week.

Highs should be in the low 80s and lows should be in the 60s.