Photos Coosa Valley Fair
Imagine the sounds of an organ playing a slow waltz, the smell of fried food and popcorn, the buzz of the cotton candy machine, bells ringing, the oohs, aahs, and screams of exhilaration, twinkling lights, and thousands of your Floyd County neighbors right there to enjoy it with you. From rides to shows and pageants to funnel cakes, the Coosa Valley Fair will celebrate its 75th year in 2024 and they are pulling out all the stops.
Northwest Georgians mark their calendars every year for the week of the CVF, which is put together by The Exchange Club of Rome, the second largest chapter of the organization in the United States with right at 200 members. The club focuses on child abuse prevention and The Exchange Club Family Resource Center here in Rome, which provides a number of services to help with that cause, is fully funded by the group.
While the members of the Exchange Club volunteer year-round to fight child abuse, the Coosa Valley Fair is certainly their flagship event and one that provides great opportunities for local people to highlight their talents and a chance for families to make memories that last a lifetime.
“We are so excited to be celebrating our 75th year,” says Fair Manager Bryan Shealy. “I’ve been in the Exchange Club and Coosa Valley Fair Association for over 30 years, which is almost half of those 75 years it’s been running. I started parking cars and working admission before moving to the treasury and generally just helping however I could. It’s something I look forward to every year.”
That sentiment is shared by fair attendees as well. With annual events like the cheerleading competition and the appeal of a candy apple or funnel cake reeling in ticket buyers, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy.
Shealy describes himself as the traffic officer for the event. He is the person who can get you to the right person to answer your questions or address your concerns. It’s a job that was just created a few years ago, but one he was happy to volunteer for.
“People come here for so many different reasons,” says Shealy. “It may be the rides, it may be the fair food, the competitions, and so many other things, but the thing I’ve heard the most over the last few years is that people come here to see their friends and neighbors.”
“It’s a big social event and it may be the one time of year some people get to see and interact with each other.”
The opportunity to walk the midway with your friends and family is certainly a pull and watching a child’s eyes light up and sparkle in amazement is enough to warm the cockles of any heart, but the good the CVF does doesn’t stop there.
As you stroll the grounds and look at the exhibits, any ribbon-winning display, be it art or animal, wins the entrant a cash prize. All in all, Shealy says $30,000 goes back to the community. There is also a dedicated space for local charities to provide food to fair goers which is a wonderful opportunity for local fundraising. So, buying a ticket to the fair is supporting the community and a good time.
Wade Shows is the largest carnival provider in America and has been partnering with The Exchange Club of Rome for over 20 years. The Coosa Valley Fair is one of the smaller to mid-sized fairs that they provide attractions for as they move from one state fair to the next, so it’s a relationship that is vital to the sustained success of the event.
“They have been so good to us and go above and beyond as a community partner,” says Shealy. “They have access to so many wonderful attractions, so there always seems to be something new each and every year, along with the staples everyone has come to know and expect.”
The shows and exhibits, along with the rides are always the main attractions, and this year they have some surprises in store as well. One attraction is a call back to the fairs of old in the form of The Museum of Marvels, which will showcase all sort of oddities such as the bearded lady and strong man. And on the flip side, The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show will wow audiences with their battling lumberjack competitions.
This just scratches the surface of all the fun to be had at the CVF, but the fact that this much fun raises so much money for the community and the battle to prevent child abuse, makes this 75th Anniversary that much more special.
“Everyone in the Exchange Club is a volunteer,” says Shealy. “It’s a big event and it wears me out just like it does everyone else who gives their time to make it what it is, but it’s worth every minute and we all look forward to it every year.”
To find out more information and to save money by ordering armbands in advance, visit www.coosavalleyfair.com
