A week of fun entertainment will get kicked off Saturday nightwith the beginning of the annual Brookhaven Exchange Club Fair.

The smell of cotton candy, the sound of laughter and the sightof blurring lights seen from a spinning ride will be the atmosphereat the Exchange Club Park from July 27 to August 3.

“Everybody needs to come out and enjoy the midway, the rides andthe games,” said Charles “Ploochie” Ratliff, a charter member ofthe Brookhaven Exchange Club.

The fair starts at 6:30 each night and runs until 11 p.m. onweekends and 10 p.m. on weeknights. It will not be open onSunday.

Attractions include a train ride around the park, theTilt-A-Whirl, swings, roller coaster, Swan, ferris wheel andchildren’s rides.

“We’ll also have Bingo again this year with lots of great prizesdonated by local merchants,” said Ratliff, who helps run thepopular game.

Brookhaven Exchange Club’s 51st annual fair also brings thechance to win a new four-wheeler.

“We thank the community for supporting the four-wheeler rafflethe last few years because that helped us purchase new playgroundequipment,” said club president and fair chairman Glen Armstrongabout the approximately $15,000 improvements.

Armstrong pointed out that proceeds from this year’s raffle willgo toward child abuse prevention projects, the National ExchangeClub project.

Funds from the fair are used throughout the year to furnishAmerican and state flags in Brookhaven during holidays and toprovide senior citizens with fruit baskets at Christmas.

“We also give away a $4,000 scholarship each year,” saidRatliff, who has been involved with the exchange club for 56years.

The money also helps with the upkeep of the park, which is usedfor picnics and family gatherings. Club members also work to buyflags and Freedom Shrines for schools, as well as helping thecommunity by opening the park for Heartwalk, Relay for Life and theBig Brothers-Big Sisters campaign, said Armstrong.

“We also participate in the Christmas parade and hand out smallAmerican flags every year,” he said.

This year’s fair promises to be as exciting as ever bringinghundreds of people to Brookhaven for the event.