Commissioner Touts Safe State Fair
Attendance fell at the Mississippi State Fair this year. Although the fair enjoyed attendance of over 600,000 people as recently as 2019, it was 482,000 in 2025. It was the first time the fair saw attendance of less than half a million people outside of 2020, the Covid-19 year. Although the Clarion-Ledger blamed the pandemic for the decreased attendance, such is not the case when one looks at the numbers.
Posted below are paid attendance and total attendance from 2018 to 2025.
Paid Attendance
2018: 211,987
2019: 204,066
2020: 123,529
2021: 187,507
2022: 143,253
2023: 145,187
2024: 137,014
2025: 128,373
Total Attendance
2018: 635,961
2019: 612,198
2020: 370,587
2021: 562,521
2022: 518,576
2023: 525,577
2024: 506,952
2025: 481,399
The total attendance statistic is generated by a multiplier of 3.62.
Fair attendance is obviously not what it once was seven years ago. Ross Reilly blamed covid-19 in the Clarion-Ledger recently:
The fair has yet to see the same numbers since before the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, a total attendance of 612,198 was recorded, which was more than 100,000 more than this year's attendance. In 2020, the year of the pandemic, attendance at the fair was only 370,587.
Um, not so fast, my friend, as the Samsung-sponsored Lee Corso would say. The Mississippi State Fair enjoyed much higher attendance in 2021, considered a "Covid year" than it does now. The 2025 total attendance fell 15% from 2021 while paid attendance fell 32%. Thus it can not be said the pandemic destroyed fair attendance.
The attendance figures tell a different story, one that does not involve the pandemic. Attendance did indeed decline but look at when they started to really decline. The real decline started in 2022, after the pandemic. What could have caused that to happen?
The deadly April 2022 Mudbugs Festival is what happened. Six people were shot and one killed (by a law enforcement officer) in a shootout that took place in the parking lot. The festival was cancelled. To say it spooked fairgoers is an understatement as countless people vowed on social media they would never come to the fairgrounds again.
MDAC Commissioner Andy Gipson moved heaven and earth to overwhelm the Mississippi State Fair with police. Mr. Gipson took several other actions that probably reduced attendance. Midnight Madness was abolished (and is when much crime took place). The fair closed earlier. Efforts were made to make the fair more family friendly.
The Commissioner said this was the first year the fair required juveniles under the age of 17 to attend with an ID-carrying adult all weekend long and every weekday after 6 PM. Ski masks and hoodies were banned as well. "I don't mind having a half a million person fair instead of a million person fair if it's a safe, family-friendly fair," said the Commissioner.
"I was very pleased with the fair. I was pleased with how safe it was and how clean it was. I was pleased with how many full families came to the fair. The number one comment that I received was how safe the fair was this year so I am grateful to our law enforcement and team for making it happen," concluded the version.
54 comments:
Also the food prices were rediculous
Folks are afraid of all the shootings going on
I have to agree with the Commissioner. A safe fair with less attendance is better than more people and more risk. I felt very safe at the fair this year because of the overwhelming police presence. There were so many law enforcement officers during a weekday afternoon that there had to be a 4 people to 1 officer ratio. My family and I weren't complaining..
The Venn Diagram of attendance and Antar Lumumba's reign of terror are an almost perfect circle.
1. Prices are crazy
2. Safety Concerns
3.Weather (88 degrees going to the fair lol)
A couple of days were completely knocked out due to weather.
For many people, the first thing that comes to mind when the fair is mentioned is violence. The commissioner is right in turning that around by starting with a smaller, safer fair.
I would rather he write a sponsored post about the food price gouging monopoly policy that he forces on the vendors who aren’t part of the preferred amusement concession company. Please explain that one Commisioner Gipson! Otherwise we are all forced to just assume it is just Good Ol’Boy home cooked corruption! 🤠just with a deceptive white hat.
#WhatWouldGospelBillDo?
Scared to get car stolen. Scared might get shot. Scared to drink the water. Why risk going to Jackson when you can stay home, save money, and still have possession of your life and automobile?
For the most part Jackson is despised in the rest of the state. Sad but true. The fair suffers from its location.
Covid fears still persisted in 2021 -2023 until the propaganda calmed down.
The most common complaint I heard for this year were prices.
The cost for rides and food was laughable for everyone I spoke to, and it also priced some families out altogether.
It's not fascinating enough to pay those prices.
Also.. the music offerings sucked. No big names worth paying for that would draw a crowd.
Why is fair attendance declining? Two words:
Jackson, Mississippi
To all the scared posters, stop watching local media. They thrive on selling fear. It's not that bad in the Capital police district. I frequent music venues in Jackson often. Something I began to start doing again a few months ago.
If fear is keeping you from visiting the fair or attending events in Jackson now, you may as well slap on that old covid mask like a little old lady.
Fear for your life?
Ironic that Mr. Open Carry finds himself hoist by his own petard (lifted off the ground by one of his own farts)
The Fairgrounds has its own water supply.
Agree about the musical acts. They've gotten worst. Not even disco bands in their 70's. I suspect they had to funnel a good portion of their entertainment budget to the increased security.
One word: Leland.
At one time groups from across the state would attend. Times change with crime, indecent language and indecent dress not acceptable to many groups and families.
I think a lot of people are wary of being in large crowds. Too many evil crazy criminal people.
Amen!
Crime crime crime
If someone gets shot or stabbed at the fair can they call you since you believe it’s safe
It’s the crime stupid!
@2:22pm, Thank. You!! Jackson isn't so bad as long as there isn't someone in your ear trying to convince you it is. The CCID is a safe place to be and encompasses all you could want in Jackson. We have been going to every restaurant and event we can since their inception and 0 problems. Now there is a competent mayor, and it seems like some momentum is building. Turn off the news people!
Lower Attendance & Increased Safety>>>A ton of people and fights and shootings. It was fantastic this year. I challenge someone to find a cheap state fair to go to in the USA!
Jackson......that is all
In a word...."Jackson"
Keep this up, and, in a few years, the Fair will be considered safe, family, fun. Then, you will see the crowds return. Maybe not the kind of crowds that there once were, but crowds of people having fun without fear of predators. (Ok, the carnies are always predators, but that's universal.)
They may have security at the fair but how about outside the fair? You still have to drive through Jackson
Economy is bad and this is luxury spending and not a necessity.
Also outside the fair you have to drive through Jackson
They need to move the fair to Madison
I quit going just because I don't go into Jackson any longer. It has it's nicer things to do, however, you are one bad apple from turning into a statistic. I'm not going to roll the dice with my life.
Exactly!
No!!!!!!!!!! Jackson deserves the fair!
You’re 100% WRONG! According to crime stats Jackson is one of the most dangerous cities in America
Another red meat post for the redneck Jackson haters.
@3:42pm well according to REALITY and the personal experience of those not afraid of their shadow, it ain’t so bad! The stats are padded well from the crap that happens outside the CCID!
@3:26 oh heavens!!! You have to drive I-55 and turn onto High Street for a couple hundred yards!! How will anyone survive such danger!!
@3:30pm You are one bad apple away from becoming a statistic in literally every city in the world. Please live your life. Call Cap PD if you see something. Not a big deal.
Jackson sucks. Accept it. What a joke of a city!
I agree
4:12 what do you love about Jackson?
Take any positive post about Jackson and you will see from the comments that even when the ‘necks can escape the Rankin trailer park to a ticky-tacky house in a Madison subdivision, they are still white trash bigots on the inside!
Amen, 2:22 & 3:12. Amen. The ones of us that live here understand that.
8 years running?
Reminds me, I haven’t watched The Jerk in a while.
I felt the food prices were more orangediculous than “red”iculous
For those of you who don't know, the old Mid South Fair in Memphis, that some of us enjoyed as far back as fifty years ago and for years after that, moved south to Southaven, Mississippi a few years back because of Memphis crime.
The old Mid South Fair dates back to 1856. It's been held in Southaven now since 2009 (16 years) with no incidents.
A week after this Southaven Mid South Fair shuts down, the identical fair, rides, vendors, the whole works, travels down south, on 55, to Jackson, Mississippi and sets up there as the 'Mississippi State Fair'.
It's high time to move this Jackson fair out of Jackson. Just like the Children's Rodeo that went to Hattiesburg because of safety concerns.
Nobody owes anything to the location, the sponsors, the Ag Secretary or Jackson to continue holding it in Jackson.
"still white trash bigots", are they anymore of a bigot than you? Sweep around your own door step. You're layers deep in psychological projection.
We stopped coming to Jackson for any type of recreation. We also take the grand kids & go to the Yazoo County Fair. It is really enjoyable, the kids love it & our hard earned inflation squeeezed dollars go waaaay farther!
We also stopped going to Jackson unless unavoidable. Used to love the fair tradition of buying a greasy corn dog and seeing the kids enjoy the rides.
But, the PRO-CRIME, PRO-CRIMINAL DEMOCRAT PARTY destroyed Jackson. And now the electorate is so divided we’ve reached a level of retardation that keeps us from even being able tom agree that immoral lawlessness should not be used as a tool to control cities forever.
I have lived in Jackson and worked downtown for many years. I have never felt unsafe or had a problem with anyone. I know Jackson has issues, but overall is a nice place to live.
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