The 57th annual Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair opened this week, featuring new exhibits, new rides and new vendors. 

This year's event also made history, as the fair was headed by Kiwanian Deb Pease, the first woman to chair it in the club's history.

In addition to the ever-popular racing pigs and petting zoo, a reptile rescue exhibit with snakes, alligators and more was featured.  There were also educational workshops, which drew crowds each night. Participants learned to make corn husk dolls and homemade soaps.

Crowds enjoyed new rides on the midway, in addition to live nightly entertainment that included local and regional performers. 

The fair, which opened with a parade down South Main Street on Monday, drew massive crowds each evening from Bulloch, Bryan, Jenkins, Screven, Evans, Tattnall and Candler counties.

This year's theme was "Agriculture — Pioneer Days to Modern Ways."