The Kiwanis Club recorded 15,995 attendees at this year’s Kiwanis Covington County Fair, which closed on Sunday.

“Last year, on school day, we had more than 4,000 people come through the gates,” Fair Board President Larry Avery said. “This year, he did about 1,800. But the crowd picked up every night, and we made up for it throughout the week.”

Traditionally, the Kiwanis Club opens the fair on the Monday Columbus Day is observed, which is a school holiday.

“Because of the schedule of the James Gang, we couldn’t have it on Columbus Day this year,” Avery said. “But the weather is also a contributing factor, and we had much better weather last week than the week of Columbus Day.”

It was also a week of competing events. Both Andalusia and Straughn High Schools celebrated homecoming, and Opp High School’s marching band hosted Little Big Horn on Saturday.

However, on Saturday, 4,259 people went through the gates at the fair, he said.

Final tallies aren’t in, but Avery said it appears the fair will again be profitable for the club, which uses the proceeds first to pay the note and insurance on the Kiwanis Community Center, and then to support organizations which positively affect children and youth.

“All of that money is spent here in the county, in some shape, form or fashion,” he said.