Event to go on after fire destroys $700,000 of equipment on fair grounds

Montgomery celebrated its 70th fair last year. A few months later, a fire ravaged the organization's storage barn, destroying about $700,000 of equipment.

The March 16 electrical fire demolished “just about anything that can make this fair run," said Doug Singleton, the president of the Alabama National Fair.

The fair, which is the fundraising arm of the Kiwanis Club of Montgomery, is working with insurance companies to complete settlements, and Executive Director Randy Stephenson plans to begin work putting the pieces back together in the coming weeks.

“We lost everything," Stephenson said.

Despite this tremendous setback, Stephenson said the fair will arrive as scheduled Oct. 4.

“It will be as good as we’ve ever had," Stephenson said.

Last year, the Kiwanis Club gave $339,000 to 47 agencies after raising money through the 2023 fair.

“The whole purpose of this fair is giving back to this community," Stephenson said.

More: Fair FireMontgomery firefighters battle barn fire at Garrett Coliseum

Alex Gladden is the Montgomery Advertiser's public safety reporter. She can be reached at agladden@gannett.com or on Twitter @gladlyalex.