An overcast sky and a bit of a chill provided the backdrop for the final evening of the event billed as “fall’s finest festival.”

But that seemed to fit the mood just right for Coosa Valley Fair Association President Cathy Kerce. “It has been a fantastic week,” Kerce said. “Last night was the best Friday night we’ve ever had and we’re looking for a great night tonight.”

A steady stream of vehicles made their way into the fairgrounds at about 5:30 p.m. as visitors arrived to ride their favorite ride one last time, watch the final Miss Coosa Valley Fair pageants or simply take advantage of the cooler temps.

Of course the fair is also one of the largest fundraisers for the Exchange Club of Rome. A large portion of the proceeds from the five day event will go to the Exchange Club’s Family Resource Center for the prevention of child abuse.

“It was a little slow on Tuesday with the rain coming in, but we had the cheerleading competition that night which still brought in a lot of people,” Kerce said. “Many may not have come earlier in the week because of the weather, and I think they made it up by coming on Friday and Saturday night.”

A new event for the fair this year was the Chuck Wagon Cook-Off, which wrapped up Saturday with encampments serving ticket holders authentic meals from the 1870s, including cube steak, potatoes, pinto beans and peach cobbler.

“It was a big hit and it brought in a lot of newcomers, some from as far away as Dalton, just for that one event,” Kerce said. “We sold out of tickets for meals, and contestants fed approximately 300 people at lunchtime.”

The cook-off even got some of the fair staff in a western mood as Kerce and CVFA First Vice President Jim Talley wore costumes to fit in with the theme.

“We had so much fun,” Kerce said. “People were stopping us to take pictures.”

Saturday also marked the second year for the Miss Coosa Valley Challenger pageants, which celebrated physically and emotionally disabled young women.

“I thoroughly enjoyed being able to do that again this year,” Kerce said. “The Miss Challenger pageants have a special place in my heart and the children were so thrilled to be a part of it.”

Both Miss Georgia Leighton Jordan and Miss Rome Abby Killough were on hand to help crown the winners Saturday morning.

Jordan emceed the Teen Miss and Miss Coosa Valley Fair pageants Saturday night. The two events featured 27 contestants between 15 and 24 years old.

“All of the pageants went extremely well this year,” said coordinator Wanda Whitten. “We had larger turnouts for each age group than we’ve had in the past.”