Vidalia Mayor Doug Roper was at Monday’s local unveiling of The Blue Angels’ Civilian Air Show of 2022 Award to the Vidalia Onion Festival, and says receiving the award “speak volumes” about the community.

“It’s just amazing,” Mayor Roper said. “Not that it’s a competition, but when you think that a community the size of Vidalia gets this award is something in which to be proud. It’s a point of pride for our community, and nobody rolls out the red carpet for these guys like we do. But we should. A lot of people forget when they come into town and do these maneuvers and put on a show that these guys first served in combat. They put their lives on the line in service for our country and the least we can do is give back to them for a weekend.”

Jake Cleghorn is the incoming Chair of the Vidalia Onion Festival, and he echoes what the mayor and other festival committee members have said and although there won’t be an Air Show in 2023 as Vidalia is on the two-year rotation, Cleghorn shares good news for 2024!

“The 2023 Vidalia Onion Festival will have all of the other events except and air how,” he said. “Vidalia is the only show site for The Blue Angels in Georgia in 2024 – possibly also for the state of South Carolina.  We will beginning planning the 2024 Air Show along with the 2023 Vidalia Onion Festival.”