The Kiwanis Club of Statesboro members meet every Thursday for a catered lunch in their community building at the fairgrounds, except for the week of the fair. It is tradition for the Vivona family to provide a thank you lunch of fair food for club members and public safety officials who all help make the annual fair a success. They host the lunch outside at the Pancake House pavilion. The food certainly didn't disappoint!
Since 1978, Amusements of America, owned by the Vivona family, has been a cornerstone of the annual Kiwanis Fair. The partnership, now in its 46th year, continues to thrive, bringing joy and excitement to the community. This year, despite some challenges, the fair has been a resounding success, with high attendance and a safe, smooth-running event.
Rob Vivona, speaking on behalf of the Vivona family, expressed his deep gratitude for the continued support from the local community. “We just want to say how much we appreciate all of you. This carnival wouldn’t be what it is without the hard work of everyone involved—from the volunteers to the police and fire departments. They’ve all done an amazing job. I’ve never seen police get people out of here so fast and work so efficiently with us,” Vivona said.
This year’s fair, like many others in recent memory, almost faced cancelation due to a hurricane. “We feel incredibly lucky to be here this year, especially after the uncertainty with the hurricane. We were up in Atlanta, ready to head down, but we didn’t know what was going to happen. We got lucky; other places nearby weren’t as fortunate. There was a lot of damage north and east of us, but here, we only had some wind damage, thank God. And now, look at us—we’re having a great run and looking forward to a huge weekend!” Rob added.
While the rides and carnival fun are always a draw, the Kiwanis Fair has much more to offer. Kiwanis President Marilyn Darrell highlighted the importance of tradition at the fair, particularly the signature pancakes and sausage that have become a staple over the years. “We’ve had great attendance every night, and more importantly, it’s been a safe fair. That’s something we’re always grateful for because, in some places, you don’t always get that kind of smooth running.”
The pancake and sausage sales, in particular, have been record-breaking this year. "We sold $10,000 worth of pancakes and sausage on Tuesday alone," Marilyn shared proudly. "That was just Tuesday! On Monday, we had a record night, our best since 2011. We’re knocking it out of the park this year!”
For many attendees, the food is as much a part of the fair as the rides. “People come to the fair just for the pancakes and sausage,” Marilyn laughed. "We’ve been doing this for 62 years. The only time we missed was during COVID, and that was just to keep everyone safe.”
Beyond the fun and food, the fair plays a vital role in supporting the community. All the money raised goes back into local projects. "We give out college scholarships and support a lot of local nonprofits. What we make, we give back to the community. We might use some for a new bathroom at the fairgrounds, but most of it, a couple hundred thousand dollars, goes right back to help local causes," Marilyn explained.
As the fair continues through the weekend, both the Vivona family and Kiwanis Club remain grateful for the community's support and are already looking forward to many more years of partnership and success.
Click here for Grice Connect's Fair Guide to learn more about this years fair.
