Mid-South Fair

Tradition. Every year, at the end of September, we put on our comfortable shoes, I change to a smaller purse, and we head out for the Mid-South Fairgrounds. We look for a good parking place, pay $5, and go through the gates of the Mid-South Fair! The sights, the sounds, the smells, the lights, the rides, the buildings…and best of all, of course, is the FAIR FOOD! I always have to get a slice of pepperoni pizza as soon as we get there. Next, we walk around and then about 30 minutes later, we have to get one of those “potato things” (you know, the curly fried potatoes). I take one bite, and then it’s gone in less than 5 minutes. Those things are soooo good!




We always have to ride the big ferris wheel and go in all the buildings to see what “stuff” we can find. More fair food. Walk around and see what friends we run into. More fair food. More rides. Sometimes get a funnel cake, or popcorn, or a pronto pup. Need something to drink (where’s the lemonade stand?). Trying to avoid those people who want us to spend our money to win a prize. Get some of that Amish ice-cream (another tradition). Roland usually gets either a gyro, polish sausage, or some other weird sausage thing. The barnyard is another tradition. We always go through and look at the cows and bulls and ducks and goats, and try not to get the llama mad at us so he won’t spit. Then, right before we leave, we have to go back in one of the buildings to get some fudge. As we’re leaving, the very last thing we do is buy some cotton candy to eat on the way home.




This is the last year for the Mid-South Fair. So sad. They’re moving it to Tunica Mississippi next year. Today, as we walked around, we noticed the very obvious lack of so many of our favorite concession stands and rides. The Boy Scouts weren’t there, nor was the Amish ice cream place. There are always two of the potato thing stands, but this year, there was only one. My favorite, on that one corner, wasn’t there, so we had to go to the smaller one at the other end. Even my favorite pizza place was missing. As we walked around, I kind of had tears in my eyes. It’s sad to see a tradition fade away like that. So many empty spots. Not many people at all. And the parking places, that used to be full to the brim, had hardly any cars there.

A lot of people have started going to the Delta Fair, and I’m sure quite a few people may even make the drive down to Tunica next year. As for me, well…we may go to the Delta Fair every now and then, but we definitely won’t drive all the way to Tunica to see a fair that sure won’t be the same at all. Part of the experience is walking through the fairgrounds where we have so many memories. Goodbye, Mid-South Fair. I’ll miss you.