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Oct 18, 2024

What to know about 2024 MS State Fair: New fried food, tickets, parking

Circus shows, rodeos and the biscuit booth on the midway have all become well-loved staples at the Mississippi State Fair. This year's festivities include several new additions from food to

Circus shows, rodeos and the biscuit booth on the midway have all become well-loved staples at the Mississippi State Fair.

This year's festivities include several new additions from food to attractions to an updated, streamlined ticket purchasing process.

Read on and grab your tickets for the 165th Mississippi State Fair taking place starting Thursday through Oct. 14 in Jackson.

Any good state fair includes an array of classic dishes like hotdogs and popcorn as well as plenty of deep-fried food options.

The Mississippi State Fair is no exception and has often offered unusual fried delicacies in past years including fried mac and cheese, alligator and beer-battered burgers among others.

This year, guests can try out the latest dish — fried marshmallows.

These are different than your typical s'mores roasted marshmallows. If you want to see for yourself, head over to the Mr. Turkey Leg booth stationed near the livestock barns.

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Convenience was at the forefront of this year's planning stages, Mississippi Fair Commission Director Michael Lasseter said. This year, there is a new system to purchase tickets.

For the first time, you can get tickets online. Those who purchase tickets online in advance can skip the lines, or you can visit one of the kiosks set up at one of the seven entry points and purchase tickets that can then be sent to your phone.

In past years, admission was cash only. The added options of purchasing ahead of time or using a credit card at one of the kiosks will streamline the process of getting into the fair.

Lasseter said while it may seem simple, the process of creating the digital ticket system was complex and is months in the making.

If you purchase tickets online by end of day Wednesday, Oct. 2, you can get a discounted price of $8 per person. Admission is free from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every day except Monday, Oct. 14. After 1 p.m., regular ticket prices are $10 per person.

Not only can you purchase tickets on your phone, you can also go completely paper free with the new ride wristbands. In past years, ride goers would purchase separate paper tickets to go on a ride. Now, you can buy a ride wrist band ahead of time to serve as your pass. The wrist bands are separate from the admission tickets and are sold for specific days throughout the fair's run.

The online ticketing system will also eliminate lines of backed-up cars waiting to get into the fair grounds to park.

"In the past, you'd come out here on a Saturday at 2 or 3 o'clock, and there'd be a line to get in the gates," Lasseter said. "It's mostly because of everybody who's doing their purchasing at the gates. You'd have a family of four pull up... you had to pay for the car and then somebody would be in there under five, so they would get in for free, so it was a little bit of confusion and it took a lot of time."

For the first time, the fair will also offer free parking.

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Along with the usual favorites, there are some new attractions to look out for this year.

In the "frontier" section of the fairgrounds, there will be a new Tumbleweed Crossing Wild West entertainment show alongside the well-loved rodeo performances.

There will also be an agriculture puppet show. Lasseter said this addition ties in an educational experience for the kids.

Kids and adults alike can also enjoy a new hands-on 4-H and FFA Barnyard exhibition.

Got a news tip? Contact Mary Boyte at [email protected]