County fair concludes Saturday

Published 1:01 am Saturday, October 3, 2015

Ring toss: Brantlee Padgett, Bradlee Padgett and Caysen Craig play a ring toss game Tuesday at the Chilton County Fair. The fair is ongoing Friday and Saturday at Clanton City Park. (Photos by Stephen Dawkins)

Ring toss: Brantlee Padgett, Bradlee Padgett and Caysen Craig play a ring toss game Tuesday at the Chilton County Fair. The fair is ongoing Saturday at Clanton City Park. (Photos by Stephen Dawkins)

More than 1,300 people attended the Chilton County Fair through the first two nights, and organizers are hoping rain holds off so that the large crowds continue.

The fair started Tuesday and is being held at Clanton City Park for the second year, after the event was forced from the former fairgrounds near the Chilton County Airport.

Gates will open at 5 p.m. Saturday.

Admission is $2, with all proceeds benefitting local charities through the Clanton Kiwanis Club, which hosts the event.

Tickets for rides can be purchased for $1 each. The amount of tickets needed to gain entry to a ride differs depending on the ride.

Armbands can be purchased for $20 that allow the wearer unlimited access to the rides.

Parking for the event is free. Attendees can access parking via Fifth Avenue North or Park Drive, which runs alongside Jack Hayes Field.

Though more than 600 people attended Tuesday and more than 700 attended Wednesday, Scott Zuelzke, Kiwanis Club member and one of the event’s organizers, said attendance has been lower at the new location.

“Our attendance is dramatically down since we no longer have our fairgrounds,” Zuelzke.

The fair is transitioning to a new permanent home off Lake Mitchell Road, but the timing of the move is uncertain.

At the city park site, the fair has not included several favorite attractions, including a demolition derby, livestock demonstrations and exhibits.

Even if there is rain, fair-goers can still enjoy fall-like weather, as forecasts call for temperatures in the low-60s and upper-50s during the event.

“We just hope to have rain-free nights,” Zuelzke said.