COMMUNITY EVENTS
The Jones County Lions Club Fair was a no go this year because of the uncertainty of hurricane Ian, and the disappointment was shared by the community and Lions Club members.
A Facebook post Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 27, the day the fair was due to open at 6 p.m., was the first inkling to the public that the 2022 fair was in jeopardy. More bad news came Wednesday evening, following the declaration of a State of Emergency by Gov. Brian Kemp.
The fair was scheduled to run from Sept. 27 to Oct. 1.
Lions Club Fair Chairman Terrell Fulford said he understood the disappointment of the community.
“No one is any more disappointed than we are,” Fulford said. “We enjoy the fair and being able to provide a safe place for families to come and have a good time.”
Fulford explained that the decision not to have the fair was not made by the Lions Club. He said they wanted the fair to open Tuesday, but it was not up to them. He said Michael Parks, one of the owners of Paradise Amusements, called from their previous stop in Carrollton to let them know the fair would not open.
The chairman said some of the equipment was already at the fairgrounds, but Parks said the decision about whether to open Thursday would be made Wednesday. Fulford said part of that concern was because of the extremely muddy conditions at the 2021 fair.
“It took them 12 hours to take the rides down in that mud. Those conditions were much different. It had been raining before they set up last year, and then it rained for several days,” he said.
Fulford said Lions Club members were in limbo waiting for a decision. He said the Wednesday weather report was not bad, but Parks told them it was the governor’s announcement that was the clencher.
“We were here looking at sunshine, and they told us they could not operate the fair after the State of Emergency declaration,” he said. “There wasn’t anything we could do.”
Fulford said the dates for the fair are set a year in advance and depends on the amusement company schedule. Paradise Amusements has provided the midway for the past five years.
“We are a small fair, and we don’t have a lot of choices. After the fair was canceled, there were no other available dates this year,” he said.
The Jones County Lions Club has been in existence since 1968 and has been bringing the fair to the community since 1982. One of the biggest attractions for Jones County’s fair is the home-cooked food prepared by the Lions Club kitchen, in addition to the regular midway cuisine of funnel cakes and cotton candy.
The annual fair is the Lions Club’s biggest fundraiser, and the last time the fair was open for a full schedule in Jones County was 2019. The 2020 fair was canceled due to the pandemic, and the fair had a limited schedule in 2021 because of rain and the extremely muddy conditions.
Proceeds of the fair are used by the Lions Club to help people in need in the community. The organization gives to those who have impaired vision and people who cannot afford glasses or eye surgery, or a guide dog.
The club also supports the Lions Lighthouse in Atlanta, the camp for the blind and helps local families as needs arise.
Fulford said it is possible the club will look at a spring fair, and they will be looking at other fundraising options.
“But we are absolutely planning to have our fair next year,” he stated.
