Cotton candy and bumper cars will soon be coming to Selma as the Lions Club prepares for the 56th annual Central Alabama Fair.

The fair, which is sponsored by the Lions Club, will be held Oct. 1 through Oct. 6 at the Old National Guard Armory on Dallas Avenue. Gates open at 5:20 p.m. Oct. 1 for the grand opening. Tickets are sold at the gate and cost $5 for those age 6 and up.

John Haskell, Lions Club sight manager, said he along with many other volunteers have been working hard to get everything ready for this year’s fair.

“We have a good time out here,” Haskell said. “It’s a lot of work, but we enjoy it. It takes all year to get ready for it. We have anywhere from 12,000 to 15,000 people come out.”

On the first night of the fair, the Junior Miss Central Alabama Fair Beauty Pageant will take place under the fair pavilion at 7 p.m. The following day, gates open at 5 p.m. and the Miss Central Alabama Fair Beauty Pageant will be held, also at 7 p.m.

Attractions the fair will offer include carnival rides and an array of food vendors. Haskell said there will be about 10 adult ride and 10 rides geared more for children, and of course there will be a ferris wheel, merry-go-round and bumper cars.

“We’ll have bands playing on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday too,” Haskell said. “It’ll be something the whole family can enjoy.”

On Wednesday, Oct. 3, gates open at 2 p.m. and the fair will host WAKA Channel 8 Kids Day. Students through high school will be able to attend the fair for free 2 p.m. through 5 p.m.

Haskell said 90 percent of the proceeds from the ticket sales will go back in to the community.

“The main thing [we raise money for] is eyeglasses,” Haskell said. “We’ll give 12,000 to 13,000 away. It all depends on what we make in the fair.”

Thursday will be “Dollars Day” at the fair, and there will be reduced prices on ride tickets. Haskell also said there will be a bingo booth and dunking booth throughout the fair week, which are always popular draws, along with a petting zoo for children which will have rabbits, horses and many other animals.

He added that he encourages everyone in the community to attend because it’s a fun day for all ages.

“For one thing, it’s supporting the local community,” he said. “Without people coming out to it, we can’t give anything back to the community.”