Kiwanis Club working around rain for county fair

Published 3:38 pm Thursday, September 27, 2018

By J.R. Tidwell

By J.R. Tidwell / Editor

The 2018 Kiwanis Club Chilton County Fair is here.

The event is set up at Clanton City Park next to the playground. Admission is $2 for ages 3 and up, while anyone younger gets in for free.

The fair began on Sept. 25 and runs through Sept. 29, which gives anyone interested a few more chances to attend. Gates open at 6 p.m. on Sept. 27-28 and at 5 p.m. on Sept. 29.

A wave of rain and thunderstorms has hit Chilton County this week, however, so the Kiwanis Club has been working around the weather to keep the fair going.

“We have only had one night of the fair so far,” said Scott Zuelzke, the fair manager for Kiwanis, the morning of Sept. 27. “The other night was rained out. We have been having the fair since 2004, and that was the first night we have ever had get rained out. We have been fortunate so far.”

Despite the rainout on Sept. 26, Zuelzke said the fair’s opening night went OK.

“Things are always slower on the first night, and then things build up throughout the week,” he said.

The rides this year have been provided by James Gang Amusements from Andalusia. They provided the rides for the Kiwanis Club’s spring carnival earlier this year as well.

“They are a family-run business,” Zuelzke said. “It’s run by three brothers.”

Zuelzke said Kiwanis has entered into a multi-year contract with James Gang Amusements, which is the first time the club has done so with the group providing the rides for the fair.

“This year we have a stronger emphasis on kiddie rides,” he said. “We have had requests for those. A lot of the rides this year are new to the fair.”

Armbands that allow for unlimited rides are $18 for the remaining nights.

Zuelzke said this is the first year the Kiwanis Club has hosted both a spring carnival and the annual county fair, with the fair being the organization’s largest event each year.

“The money we raise goes back to charities that support children here in the county,” he said.

Zuelzke said Kiwanis raised $34,000 for charities in the community last year, and the group has given back almost $570,000 since 2003.

The local chapter also helps support Kiwanis International’s worldwide campaign, which currently is fighting against neonatal tetanus.

Photos taken at the fair can be found here.

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