The 2023 Mississippi State Fair has officially wrapped and with an increase in attendance and revenue, according to the Department of Agriculture and Commerce.
Commissioner Andy Gipson estimates that roughly 526,000 attendees enjoyed the state fair featuring the first-ever American Idol competition and Taste of Dixie National Rodeo along with many traditional favorites like the biscuit booth, livestock shows, and all the unique food options.
The uptick in attendance, even with multiple rainy days, was in part due to large lunch crowds and heavily attended concerts that took place over the course of the fair.
According to Gipson, there were no major incidents to report from this year’s event. He attributes the success of hosting a safe state fair to the updated security measures implemented at the fairgrounds, which included metal detectors at entryways and a curfew for those under the age of 18 unaccompanied by an adult.
“We accomplished our goal of hosting a safe state fair. For the second year, we implemented the new stringent security model that included policies such as a youth curfew to ensure a peaceful, family-friendly, fun, and secure Mississippi State Fair for fairgoers,” Gipson said.
“There were no major incidents to report. Any issues that arose were handled by law enforcement quickly. We could not have accomplished this without the support of multiple state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies.”
Officers with the Mississippi Highway Patrol, Capitol Police, Department of Homeland Security, State Fire Marshal’s Office, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, Mississippi Agriculture and Livestock Theft Bureau, Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson Police Department, Pearl Police Department, Florence Police Department, and private security officers worked in collaboration to enforce the new security measures and keep fairgoers safe.
The 11-day event is the state’s largest agriculture get-together with an economic impact of nearly $50 million annually. Next year’s Mississippi State Fair is set for October 3-13, 2024.
