Where can you go today and hear Kenny Wayne Shepherd in concert, watch a cow being milked and stuff yourself with everything from barbecue bologna to funnel cakes? Only at the Mid-South Fair, of course.
The 146th annual Mid-South Fair begins its 10-day run Thursday with a special discounted admission price of $3 until 6 p.m. After that, prices go up to $5 per person. Today is also one of several wristband days when a $15 wristband will get you on all the rides until 6 p.m.
For some, the fair is an annual event that signals the beginning of fall. University of Memphis graduate student Alicia Barden looks forward to the fair each year for one reason-taffy.
“I try to get some taffy every year,” Barden said. “This year, I want to get enough to last a while, but it’s hard to save any of it.”
Fair food is a draw for some. Buttery corn-on-the-cob, Pronto Pups, caramel apples and cotton candy are only a few of the things to tempt your tummy. But you might not want to eat before you ride some of the rides with names such as the Fireball and the Power Surge.
The Power Surge is a ride with six arms with four seats attached to each one. The arms rotate around a boom that is also rotating. Each seat rotates on its axis as well, and the ride takes you up to 60 feet in the air.
If rides aren’t your thing, there are three buildings filled with exhibits. For the first time, the Pipkin Building is holding the Mid-South Fair Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Exhibition. Fishing pro Bill Dance is scheduled to appear on Sept. 22. Exhibitors include Ducks Unlimited, Bass Pro Shops and Dodge.
If you’re more interested in landscaping and decorating, the Shelby County Building will have everything from backyard waterfalls to hot tubs.
Exhibits Director Steve Sullivan said he is pleased with the children’s exhibits in the Brakeman Building. This year, there will be an exhibit from NASA featuring a 20-foot Saturn rocket and a lunar landing module.
“We wanted to have exhibits that would appeal to everyone,” Sullivan said.
The entertainment this year is also diverse. In addition to Shepherd, the lineup includes a gospel concert on Sept. 22, Nine Days on Sept. 23 and Merle Haggard on Sept. 28. For three nights, beginning Sept. 25, Illusionist Franz Harary will bring his magic to the main stage. All shows begin at 8 p.m. and are free with fair admission.
For rodeo fans, there are three days of roping and riding beginning Thursday. Rodeo tickets include concerts by Keith Urban Thursday, Tracy Byrd on Saturday and Jamie O’Neal on Sunday. Rodeo prices are $12 and $15 and include fair admission.
The Mid-South Fair is one of the longest running fairs in the country. To celebrate the fair’s history, there will be an exhibit with items gleaned from years of scrapbooks and collections commemorating the fair. There are more than 90 pictures in this exhibit dating from as far back as 1911.
Sidney Kuehn of the admissions and credentials committee said he is optimistic about the turnout for this year’s fair.
“Last year we had over 400,000 visitors to the fair,” Kuehn said. “With this year’s price drop from $7 to $5, we expect even more.”
The fairgrounds are only about two miles west of campus with entrances on both Southern and Central avenues. Parking is $3. For more information, you can visit the fair’s Web site at www.midsouthfair.com.
