By Angela Brown
MC301 Contributor
Have you missed the Mississippi State Fair? Well if you have, get ready for exciting rides and fair food starting Oct. 7 at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, fairgoers should expect a few changes this year. All staff, vendors, and participants will be required to wear masks upon entry. Hand sanitizer stations will be throughout the fairgrounds, and there will be increased cleaning. There will be masks provided for individuals without one.
According to mdac.ms.gov, the official website for the Mississippi Fair, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) advises that people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions may be higher risk for severe illness from coronavirus. Guests should evaluate their own risk in determining whether to attend. So fairgoers should understand that by entering the fairgrounds, it would be their responsibility to stay safe.
According to the 161st Mississippi State Fair Fun Guide, the fair will include numerous livestock shows, rides, a new lumberjack show, and daily musical entertainment. Musical acts will include Mustache the Band, Wolf Trap Trio, and Roots and Boots. Admission will be free to concerts upon entry to the fair and social distancing will be in effect. Although the Mississippi State Fair will be enforcing precautions for COVID-19, some still feel hesitant about attending.
Mikayla Davis, a junior psychology major from Birmingham, Ala., believes that having a state fair right now “is not safe or smart because numbers are steadily rising, especially in Jackson, therefore it is not a good idea to have a public event as large as a fair.” Davis expressed that with people not regularly following COVID-19 guidelines now, that it is unlikely they will follow them once the fair opens. She was not the only one with this opinion.
While Taylor Scott, a junior psychology major from Mobile, Ala., enjoys going to the fair for the rides, she feels that “having a fair at this time is putting people at risk, especially kids the most.”
“If I go to the fair, it would be very tedious and a battle for me because I would be on the workers to disinfect everything in front of me,” expressed Scott.
Even though Scott and Davis are unsure about whether they will be attending the Mississippi State Fair this year, they both took the time to reminisce on their favorite things about the fair.
“My favorite thing about the fair is the rides, I love rollercoasters, I love being high up and the rush I get from them,” said Scott.
Davis usually goes for the fair games where you can win stuff animals or the frozen lemonade.
With COVID-19 affecting the world still, a state fair could seem scary but Anna Moore, the receptionist at the fairgrounds, assured “that COVID-19 procedures will be forced into action and that one thing about it, is that we are trying to keep people safe, as well as ourselves.”
While Moore was unsure about specific procedures such as how concerts will be conducted, how often rides will be cleaned, or if contactless payment will be an option, she stated those questions can be answered by North American Midway Entertainment. North American Midway provides the rides for the Mississippi State Fair.
The fair will run from Oct. 7-18 and gates will open at 11 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Hours vary for the weekend. Gate admission will be $5.
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