The Exchange Club Fair has been a staple of Brookhaven culture since it first opened in 1951. It’s undergone a few revisions since then, but Clint Earls said it has maintained its good family atmosphere throughout the decades.

“I don’t want to tell my age, but I’m 47 and I know I’ve probably rode that Ferris wheel more times than anybody else in Lincoln County,” Earls said.

Now Earls is a detective with the Brookhaven Police Department, and he works with other officers of the department to keep the fair a safe place for parents to bring their children and have fun. Many of those parents have memories of coming to the Exchange Club Fair themselves as children.

“It’s one of the few places I can remember coming to as a child that really hasn’t changed that much,” Earls said. “Some of the lights have changed. Some of the rides have been painted. A couple of things have been moved. But basically it’s still the Exchange Club Fair.

“It holds a special place in your heart when you’re able to put your kids or grandkids on a ride that you rode as a child.”

The Ferris wheel is just one of several rides available at the fair. From a roller coaster to a carousel, there is something for all ages to enjoy.

It’s a good event for a good purpose, Earls said. Any of the money not used to maintain the fair goes to scholarships and donations to other charitable organizations like the local Junior Auxiliary.

This year, several several game booths will be run by other organizations, easing personnel pressure off the Exchange Club and giving other non-profit organizations a chance to more directly raise money at the fair.

One of the most popular games is the ball toss, where participants try to toss a ball into a fish bowl to win a goldfish. This booth is run by members of the Venturing Crew 119, a scouting organization for young men and women.

Other booths are more competitive. One group hopes to raise money for a Christmas mission trip to Honduras, where they give away shoes. They run the speedball booth, where 16-year-old Kylar Fielder managed to grab the top score Monday at 73 miles per hour.

These games will continue throughout the week. The fair runs each night from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Armbands are $10 for all ages, which gives attendees a pass to unlimited rides. The fair will close Saturday with a fireworks show at about 10:15 p.m.