Get ready, Statesboro — the Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair is back for its 63rd year, and it’s bringing plenty of “Farm Fresh Fun for Everyone!” Each October, this exciting event transforms Statesboro into a destination for the ultimate fair experience while ensuring the local Kiwanis Club can fulfill its mission in the year ahead.
“The Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair is more than just a week of fun; it is a treasured tradition that puts every dollar raised into programs that support and strengthen children and families in our local community,” said John Banter, 2025 fair chairperson.
A look back in time
The Kiwanis Club’s purpose as a nonprofit organization is to help initiate community service projects, which also involve helping local youth. The Statesboro chapter had only 28 members when it was chartered in 1960, making it a small but mighty group of individuals looking to help their community.
In 1962, B’s Old Reliable Carnival asked the Jaycees to sponsor a show in Statesboro after losing a stop in Evans County. It was suggested they approach the new Kiwanis Club instead. A deal was struck: Local businesses would give away free ride tickets as promotions, and the carnival would accept them for 10-cent rides. Soon rides popped up across town, creating an impromptu “fair” for the community.
By 1963, city officials denied the carnival a spot inside the city limits. Wanting to give kids a place to show livestock and provide a local fair experience, the Kiwanis Club worked with county commissioners and secured Parker’s Stockyard just outside town. With rides and livestock shows combined, the first official Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair opened on Oct. 14, 1963. Today, the fair serves as an exciting event for residents of the seven-county area that encompasses and surrounds Bulloch County.
Marching into fair week
Fair week in Statesboro begins with a burst of color, music and community as the annual fair parade rolls through downtown on Monday, Oct. 13, at 5 p.m. This cherished tradition sets the tone for the week ahead with lively marching bands, beauty queens, local dignitaries and themed floats showcasing each group’s creativity. The parade is a celebration of the joy of living in a region rooted in agriculture and hometown pride, where everyone comes together to kick off fair week.
Family-friendly fun
The Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair is packed with adventures for visitors of all ages. From live entertainment and mouthwatering carnival treats to an adorable petting zoo, there’s so much to experience! Plus, enjoy a thrilling mix of rides, carnival games and excitement on the fair midway. There are also lots of ways to show off your personal skills by participating in the fair’s competitions and contests. From a home arts and crafts and produce, canning and baking competition to 4-H mini booths and a fine arts contest, show off your talent for the chance to win prize money and bragging rights.
The sweet smell of pancakes
Follow your nose, and you’ll find one of the Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair’s sweetest traditions: the Pancake House. This endeavor began in the 1960s to help raise money and is now known as the staple of the fair. As you enter the fairgrounds, the delicious aroma of fluffy pancakes and delicious sausage will draw you in, so get ready to indulge yourself! The menu, as the name suggests, consists of pancakes with homemade cane syrup or fresh maple syrup, along with savory sausage to round the meal off.
“The Pancake House is all about tradition and family,” said Earl Cashon, Pancake House committee chairperson. “For generations, it’s been a place where folks can sit down together, enjoy a special meal, and make memories at the fair. We work hard to keep the prices affordable so everyone can be part of this experience, year after year.”
The importance of agriculture
Teaching the next generation about the importance of the agricultural industry is another key value of the Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair. Through the Kiwanis Livestock and Poultry Project, local kids from around the county are given the incredible opportunity to be a part of the livestock raising process. During the month of June, kids from the area can request to receive a livestock animal, which they will raise and show at the livestock show taking place at the fair in October. Each participant is expected to take care of their livestock and keep a detailed record of everything, which helps teach them the importance of responsibility. It also gives those who may not have the financial means to raise livestock a chance to do so, and helps to instill an understanding of how the agricultural industry works.
