The highly-anticipated 165th Mississippi State Fair will soon be up and running in the capital city.
From Thursday, October 3, through Monday, October 14, folks of all ages will be able to enjoy a wide variety of events, entertainment, food, and a heaping dose of Southern hospitality.
“The Mississippi State Fair began as an agricultural exposition, and agriculture remains the heartbeat of this massive event over 160 years later,” Gipson said. “I’m proud to oversee this incredible, family-friendly event. With over 100 food vendors, over 60 rides, 73 expo participants, nationally recognized artists, and so many great acts and shows in between, there is something for all to enjoy.”
But before heading out to the fair, here’s what you need to know.
Admission
For the first time, the public can purchase advance admission tickets, concert tickets, and ride wristbands online. Fairgoers who purchase online tickets in advance can skip the line. Online tickets are available now through Wednesday, October 2, at a discounted price of $8 per person.
Admission to the fair will be free every weekday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., except on Monday, October 14 for Columbus Day.
Gate admission will be $10 per person and parking is free. Children aged 5 and under will be admitted free of charge.
Fair rides
At the fairgrounds will be a wide variety of rides for all ages to enjoy. The children’s area will feature popular, slower-paced amusement hits like the Fun Slide, Bumble Bees, and the Bear Affair. For those looking for a thrill, rides such as the Ring of Fire, Remix, and Pharaoh’s Fury will be on the grounds to get the adrenaline rushing. The typical fair rides — ferris wheel, merry-go-round, and sky ride — will also be open for attendees to enjoy.
Entertainment lineup
- Saturday, Oct. 5: The Oak Ridge Boys, a Country Music Hall of Fame quartet founded in 1943, will bring hits such as “Elvira,” “Bobbie Sue,” and “American Made” to the stage.
- Sunday, Oct. 6: Matthew West, a Dove Award-winning contemporary Christian artist, will sing hits such as “Hello, My Name Is,” “The God Who Stays,” and “Broken Things.”
- Wednesday, Oct. 9: Ronnie McDowell, a country music singer who is most popular for his tribute to Mississippi’s very own Elvis Presley titled, “The King is Gone,” which was released soon after Presley died in 1977.
- Friday, Oct. 11: Dru Hill, an R&B group founded in 1992, best known for their songs “Beauty,” “The Love We Had,” and “Tell Me.”
Beauty pageant and talent show
The Mississippi State Fair Beauty Pageant will take place Friday, October 4, at 4:00 p.m. The Mississippi State Fair Talent Show will be on Saturday, October 4, at 4:00 p.m.. Both events will be held inside the Mississippi Coliseum.
Livestock shows and rodeo events
- Thursday, October 3
- 8:00 a.m. — Scales open for weighing market goats and commercial meat goats does
- 1:00 – 6:00 p.m. — Stall and pen assignments for early arriving lambs, steers, and breeding cattle (All stall and pen assignments to be made by show management)
- 1:00 p.m. — Scales open for weighing market lambs, wether dams, market hair sheep, breeding hair sheep, market steers, and commercial beef heifers
- 4:00 p.m. — Deadline for arrival of 4-H/FFA market goats, commercial meat goat does, and registered breeding Boer does; deadline for goat showmanship (market and meat goat doe) entries using the check-in app; deadline to enter weights for market goats and commercial meat goat does using the check-in app; deadline to process registered breeding Boer doe entries and enter Boer Goat Showmanship using the check-in app.
- Friday, October 4
- 8:00 a.m.-12 p.m. — Stall and pen assignments for lambs, steers, and beef breeding cattle
- 8:00 a.m. — Scales open for weighing all lambs, market steers, and commercial beef heifers; goat showmanship; meat goat doe show; junior market goat show (Barn 7 Heartland Judging Arena); released after showing registered breeding Boer doe showmanship and show (Barn 7 Heartland Judging Arena)
- 12:00 p.m. — Deadline for arrival of all junior lambs, steers, commercial beef heifers, and beef breeding cattle
- 3:00 p.m. — Deadline to process beef breeding entries using the check-in app; deadline to enter weights for market steers and commercial beef heifers using the check-in app; deadline to enter weights for all lambs using the check-in app, deadline for lamb, beef, and hair sheep showmanship entries using the check-in app
- Saturday, October 5
- 8:00 a.m. — Junior market steer show (Barn 14 Havard Pest Control Judging Arena) with two rings – progress steers on one side and prospect steers on the other side; steers released after showing junior commercial beef heifer show (Barn 14 Havard Pest Control Judging Arena)
- 1:00 p.m. — Junior lamb shows (Barn 8 Heartland Judging Arena); hair sheep show followed by lamb show; all lambs released after showing
- 2:00 p.m. — Open Hereford Show (Barn 14 Judging Arena); Open Angus Show (Barn 14 Judging Arena)
- 5:00 p.m. — Open Simmental Show (Barn 14 Judging Arena)
- 8:00 p.m. — Tri-State Rodeo (Equine Center)
- Sunday, October 6
- 8:30 a.m. — Present 4-H/FFA Replacement beef heifer development contest awards (Judging Arena) 9:00 a.m. — Beef showmanship (Barn 14 Havard Pest Control Judging Arena); Junior Cattlemen’s Association Meeting (Sales Arena); devotional service (Judging Arena)
- 2:00 p.m. — Tri-State Rodeo (Equine Center)
- 2:30 p.m. check-in for Mississippi State Fair Livestock Judging Contest (Barn 14)
- 3:00 p.m. MS State Fair Livestock Judging Contest (Barn 14)
- Monday, October 7
- 8:00 a.m. Junior Beef Breeding Show (Barn 14 Havard Pest Control Judging Arena); cattle released after showing
- Tuesday, October 8
- 9:00 a.m. Stock Dog Trial (Equine Center)
- 6:00 p.m. Stock Dog Cattle Trial (Equine Center)
- Wednesday, October 9
- 9:00 a.m. — Stock Dog Trial (Equine Center)
- 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. — Stall early arriving Open Dairy Cattle Show animals
- Thursday, October 10
- 8:00 a.m. — Arrival of junior and open market swine; scales open for weighing junior and open swine
- 12:00 p.m. — Deadline for arrival of junior and open show dairy cattle; deadline for arrival of junior and open market swine
- 1:00 p.m. — Deadline to process junior dairy cattle entries using check-in app; deadline to enter weights on commercial dairy heifers and cows using check-in app; deadline for dairy cattle showmanship entries using check-in app
- 4:00 p.m. — Deadline to enter weights for market swine using check-in app; deadline for swine showmanship entries using check-in app
- 5:00 p.m. Deadline for arrival of 4-H/FFA dairy goats; deadline to process dairy goat entries using check-in app; deadline to enter weights for commercial dairy goats using check-in app; deadline for dairy goat showmanship entries using check-in app
- Friday, October 11
- 8:00 a.m. — 4-H/FFA dairy goat Show (Barn 8 Heartland Judging Arena) showmanship, commercial dairy goats, sr./jr. does; 4-H rabbit show check-in (Barn 12); open market swine show (Barn 7)
- 8:15 a.m. — Junior market hog show (Barn/Barn 7 Heartland Judging Arena); all hogs released after showing; open junior prospect hog show (Swine Barn/Barn 7)
- 9:00 a.m. — 4-H Rabbit Show (Sales Arena – Barn 12); open dairy cattle show (Judging Arena)
- 1:00 p.m. — Pony Pull (Equine Center); 2-year-old Jersey Futurity (Judging Arena)
- 1:30 p.m. — 2-year-old Holstein Futurity (Judging Arena)
- 7:00 p.m. — Special dairy classes (Judging Arena); The pretty cow contest; The Commissioner’s Production Cup
- 8:00 p.m. — Arrival of open show dairy goat
- Saturday, October 12
- 8:00 a.m. — MGA open dairy goat show (Barn 8); open poultry show check-in (Barn 12)
- 8:30 a.m. — Junior dairy cattle show (Barn 14 Havard Pest Control Judging Arena)
- 11:00 a.m. — Horse and mule pull (Equine Center)
- 1:00 p.m. — Jr. poultry show check-in (Barn 12)
- 2:00 p.m. — Jr. poultry show (Sales Arena – Barn 12)
- 4:00 p.m. — Release all dairy cattle
- Sunday, October 13
- 8:00 a.m. — Devotional service (Judging Arena)
- 9:00 a.m. — MGA Open Dairy Goat Show; released after the show (Barn 14); open poultry check-in (Barn 12)
- 10:00 a.m. — Open poultry show (Barn 12)
Antique car show
Dozens of some of the most historic vehicles will be on display in the Mississippi Trade Mart building. Attendees will have the opportunity to make their voices heard and cast a vote on which antique vehicle they find to be the best of the lot. A $1 donation will equal one vote with 100 percent of proceeds donated to Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital.
Food and drinks
Fairgoers will be able to enjoy classic food and drink options fitting the occasion including footlong corndogs, freshly squeezed lemonade, turkey legs, fried Oreos, and donut burgers. Local vendors will also be selling fan-favorite foods such as chicken on a stick, farm-raised corn, taffy, and other signature dishes. The Mississippi State Fair will continue a half-century tradition of providing free biscuits and syrup to hungry attendees at the Biscuit Booth.
Updated security measures
- Beginning at 9 p.m., any guest under the age of 18 seeking admission to the Fairgrounds must be accompanied by a legal adult (21 or older). Any guest may be asked to show official proof of age to be admitted after 9 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring identification.
- When entering the Midway, all guests will proceed through one of several entry security points utilizing a metal detector and/or be subject to magnetic wanding.
- All bags are subject to search. The maximum bag size that will be accepted into the Fair is 12”x12”x6”.
- No outside food or beverage is allowed.
- No marketing, soliciting, political, or vending items are allowed unless and as authorized under fairground regulations.
- No animals (other than service animals or as authorized by fair management for fair activities), banners, fireworks/explosives, or laser pointers are allowed.
- Under state law, the legal carry of firearms by all lawful adults is recognized on the Mississippi fairgrounds.
- Exceptions and challenges to these policies will be satisfied at the discretion of fair management.
Additional information and updates about the Mississippi State Fair can be found here.
