‘Layered in safety’
Mid-South Fair begins 10-day run with eye on details
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The 160th edition of the Mid-South Fair opened its gates Friday afternoon at Landers Center in Southaven, bringing back some familiar sights and sounds along with an emphasis on ride safety.
The first patrons began streaming in at 4 p.m. Friday. Hours will be noon to midnight today and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday. Mostly sunny weekend weather should help attendance.
“We hope so,” Mid-South Fair President Michael Doyle said when asked if he expected traffic congestion during the fair’s first year of operation since the nearby Tanger outlet mall opened last fall. “We hope cars are going to be lined up on the interstate ramp.”
The fair topped 100,000 visitors last year for the first time since its inaugural year in DeSoto County in 2009.
This year’s fair, which runs through Oct. 2, features 55 main stage acts along with the usual midway rides and food. The FARMtastic agricultural exhibit, sponsored by Mississippi State University, brings back another exhibit that has grown in popularity as the fair continues its evolution into a Mississippi event since moving from Memphis’ Fairgrounds.
A closing-day ecumenical worship service inside Landers Center, which drew more than 7,000 last year, won’t return this year, Doyle said, because the rodeo had to be moved to closing weekend.
Doyle also emphasized safety in the aftermath of an accident at the competing Delta Fair earlier this month in which eight patrons were injured, four with broken bones during a ride incident.
“We have four nationally certified ride inspectors, and local authorities check the rides as well,” Doyle said. “We’re layered in safety.”
Southaven Police Chief Steve Pirtle said his department doesn’t have anything special planned for traffic control this year, but is ready if extra personnel are needed for safety reasons or for traffic control.
“We’re not expecting anything unusual or different from past years,” Pirtle said. “That area gets pretty well saturated, anyway.”
Extra patrols were added to the area after the Tanger opening.
Admission is $12 for ages 13-59, $6 for ages 5-12 and 60 and over. Many days have special events, including Senior American Day and School Day Wednesday.
For a complete schedule of events and hours, visit midsouthfair.com.