The entertainment lineup has been set for the upcoming Mississippi State Fair.
The 166th annual Mississippi State Fair, which will be held from Oct. 2-13, will feature the following headliners, according to Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson:
- Montell Jordan — The R&B artist and mastermind behind the catchy 1990s hit song “This is How We Do It” will be taking the main stage in the Mississippi Coliseum alongside All-4-One on Thursday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m..
- Cory Asbury — A time of worship will happen in Jackson with the popular Christian artist bringing his well-known praise songs “Reckless Love” and “Reason to Praise” to the coliseum on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 2 p.m..
- Ronnie McDowell — Folks will be in for a little throwback country with McDowell and his famous hits “Older Women Make Good Lovers” and “The King Is Gone.” A time and date for his concert is not listed on the state fair’s website.
- Maddie & Tae — The public will also get a taste of modern country with the duo best known for songs like “Die From A Broken Heart” and “Girl In A Country Song.” Tayler Holder will also join the two on stage on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m.
Concert tickets are available for purchase online. Admission to the fair is included with the purchase of a concert ticket.
“We’re excited to announce that tickets for this year’s State Fair are officially on sale,” Gipson said. “If you purchase general admission tickets through 10:00 a.m. [Friday] morning, you’ll receive them at half price. So, don’t wait, get your tickets now!”
Other ticket specials
Fairgoers are encouraged to take advantage of a variety of ticket specials. The special 24-hour promotion announced by the agriculture commissioner currently offers general admission tickets at a discounted price of $5.
Following the current ticket special, pre-sale tickets purchased through Thursday, Oct. 2, will be $8 per person. After Oct. 2, all general admission tickets will be $10 per person online and at the gate. There are no parking fees this year. Tickets can be purchased online.
What to expect at the 2025 Mississippi State Fair
Fairgoers can expect over 70 carnival rides and more than 100 food vendors, including the famous Biscuit Booth, where buttermilk biscuits are passed out free of charge. This year’s event will once again host 4-H and FFA livestock shows, the Taste of the Dixie National Rodeo, State Fair Marketplace Expo, Tri-State Rodeo, Zerbini Family Circus, a petting zoo, and pig races.
“We’ve put together a top-tier entertainment lineup this year, along with all the classic rides and attractions that fairgoers know and love,” Gipson said. “But we’ve also got several all-new events that we’re excited to introduce.”
For the first time, the Miss Rodeo Mississippi and Miss Dixie National pageants will be held during the Mississippi State Fair on Sunday, Oct. 5. Contestants from all over the Southeast will compete in the categories of horsemanship, personal interview, written test, impromptu questions, modeling, and public speaking. The horsemanship competition will take place in the Taste of the Dixie National Rodeo arena. The style show and coronation will take place inside the coliseum. These events will be open to the public.
Also new this year is the X Riders Motocross event scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 11. This multi-sport event includes riders performing freestyle tricks on their motocross bikes.
The state fairgrounds will host “Disability Friendly Day” on Tuesday, Oct. 7. Individuals and families impacted by disabilities can enjoy a specially designed experience at the Mississippi State Fair. This event will include sensory tents for calm and quiet breaks, wheelchair-accessible restrooms and routes throughout the grounds, inclusive activities and entertainment, classic State Fair favorites adapted for accessibility, and a “Resource Carnival” which provides a fun environment to learn about the many resources that are available to those who live with disabilities.
Disability Friendly Day is free of charge for families and individuals impacted by disabilities. Advance registration is required to obtain tickets.
