Shelby County residents are invited to the 55th annual Shelby County Fair for great family entertainment.

The fair is set for Sept. 20-25 in Columbiana.

There will be 4H animal shows, county fair contests, carnival rides and daily musical entertainment.

This year’s county fair, which is sponsored annually by the Kiwanis Clubs of Columbiana and Chelsea, is dedicated to Elvin Hill of Columbiana.

Hill is a charter member of the Columbiana club and &uot;has been a driving force behind the Shelby County Fair since its inception in 1949,&uot; according to members of the club.

Hill viewed the Kiwanis Club as a way to meet a wide variety of community needs, especially those having to do with children.

And since the fair’s beginning, proceeds have been spread throughout the community to benefit many, many children.

In fact, Hill led the club’s effort to establish a scholarship for a graduating senior at each of the county’s high schools.

Several years ago, he was presented Kiwanis International’s highest honor, the Hixson Award, for his many years of service to the children of Shelby County.

He also received the club’s Shelby County Citizen of the Year award.

His children, Peg and Mike, are current members of the Columbiana Kiwanis Club, and his grandson Hunter Hill served last year as president of the Shelby County High School Circle K Club. He received a Kiwanis scholarship.

The Hills will enjoy this year’s fair along with many Shelby County residents.

Admission to the fair is $8 and includes entry to the exhibition hall, the entertainment and the rides. Tuesday night is Seniors Night, and their cost on that night is only $4 for seniors, 55 and older.

Opening ceremony for the fair will be Monday, Sept. 20 from 6-6:30 p.m. followed by the 4H Dairy Show and the youth league cheerleading contest at 6:30 p.m., the junior varsity cheerleading contest at 7 p.m., the varsity cheerleading contest at 7:30 p.m. and the Summerhill Players at 8:30 p.m.

Tuesday events include the junior beef show at 6 p.m. and gospel singing from 6-9 p.m. featuring Trinity, Uplifted, the Key Masters and the Royal Masters.

Wednesday events include the youth meat goal show at 6 p.m., the Vincent Elementary School choir at 6 p.m., the Elvin Hill dancers at 7 p.m. and ATM at 8 p.m.

Thursday events begin at 6 p.m. with the junior market lamb show, the Meadowbrook choir at 6 p.m. and the Thompson Intermediate School choir at 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 24 is Elvis Night from 7-9 p.m.

On Saturday, Sept. 25, events will be held throughout the day. A McDonald’s pie-eating contest will begin at 3:30 p.m. followed by entertainment from Steel Rails at 4 p.m. A Needle in the Haystack contest will begin at 5 p.m. followed by entertainment Jennie Creel at 5 p.m., Laura Culpepper at 5:30 p.m., and bluegrass performances including Southbound, Flat & Struggling, Rock Creek and Tommy Toes.

An inside concession stand will be sponsored by the Shelby County Athletic Booster Club.

In addition, contests will be held featuring some of the best in homemade goods including produce, canned items, baked goods, sewing, photography, drawing and painting, quilting, plaster crafts, flowers and plants.

Entries for the contests should bring their exhibits to the Shelby County Exhibition Center on either Friday, Sept. 17 from 3-6 p.m. or Saturday, Sept. 18 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The only exceptions will be cut flowers and baked goods which should be brought on Monday, Sept. 20 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Entries can be pre-registered with exhibitor forms and tags which are available at the County Extension office, Central State Bank in Calera, Midstate Co-op in Columbiana and Chelsea City Hall. Call 669-6763 for information