Dates for the 164th Mississippi State Fair have been announced.
According to Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson, the 2023 Mississippi State Fair will be held from Thursday, October 5 through Sunday, October 15.
“We’re excited to announce the dates for this year’s annual Mississippi State Fair,” Gipson said. “Fairgoers can expect all their favorite rides, events, livestock shows, concerts, and foods to be on display across the 105-acre grounds. Our staff is working tirelessly to ensure we have another safe and successful fair, with even more family-friendly attractions and nationally recognized artists.”
Additional details regarding concerts and special attractions will be forthcoming.
“We have been working very hard on the 164th State Fair,” Michael Lasseter, director of the Mississippi State Fairgrounds, said. “We have new attractions and great entertainment, which we will be announcing soon. So mark your calendars for this annual, fun-filled event coming in October.”
According to Gipson, 519,000 people attended last year’s Mississippi State Fair after the commissioner implemented several new safety measures, including seven points of entry with metal detectors, video surveillance overseeing the entirety of the fairgrounds, an increase in law enforcement, as well as a nightly curfew for those under the age of 18.
While Gipson acknowledged the increase in security – especially the curfew – might have lowered overall attendance numbers, the commissioner said the new measures were well worth it following an April 2022 mass shooting at the Mississippi Mudbug Fest that left one dead on the fairgrounds.
