The Mississippi State Fair is just days away with officials gearing up to open the gates for the 166th edition of the largest fair not only in Jackson but the entire state.
Last year, the state fairgrounds saw over half a million people walk through to enjoy food, rides, live entertainment, or a combination of the three. This year, a stacked entertainment lineup is ready to take the stage with the typical funnel cake and pronto pup stands and carnival rides opening soon.
Here’s what to know before you go.
When is the Mississippi State Fair?
The Mississippi State Fair will go for 12 days from Thursday, Oct. 2 until Monday, Oct. 13. The final day of the fair falls on Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day, a purposeful move made in recent years to boost attendance with many getting the day off from work.
Gates open the first day at 11 a.m. and will open every weekday of the fair’s stint at that same time while staying open until 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday schedules are expanded from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m.
Where is the Mississippi State Fair?
The Mississippi State Fair is held annually at the state fairgrounds in downtown Jackson. The physical address is 1206 Mississippi Street with free parking available on site.
For those traveling in from out of town, fair and city officials are offering these hotel recommendations.
How much are tickets?
Fairgoers can purchase advance admission tickets, concert tickets, and ride wristbands online. Those who purchase online tickets can skip the line and go directly in. Online tickets are available now through the opening day for a discounted price of $8 per adult. General admission after the promotion will be $10 per person. Tickets can also be purchased at the door. Children ages 5 and under get in free.
For the many who only visit the fair for lunch, admission is free every weekday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., except for Monday, Oct. 13.
Admission will also be covered for active military members and veterans on Monday, Oct. 6, and Monday, Oct. 13. Families and individuals impacted by disabilities get in free on Saturday, Oct. 11. First responders get in free on Friday, Oct. 10.
Concert tickets are priced differently based on the act and seating inside the coliseum. However, the purchase of any concert ticket includes admission into the fair. Rides also have a separate cost but multiple specials on unlimited rides will be offered throughout the extent of the fair.
What’s this year’s entertainment?
As for music, the lineup includes R&B artist Montell Jordan (Thursday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m.), Christian contemporary artist Cory Asbury (Sunday, Oct. 5, at 2 p.m.), country duo Maddie & Tae alongside Tayler Holder (Thursday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m.), and Lee Greenwood (Monday, Oct. 13, at 8 p.m.).
For the first time, the Miss Rodeo Mississippi and Miss Dixie National pageants will be held during the Mississippi State Fair. Those take place on Sunday, Oct. 5, with contestants from across the Southeast competing in categories like horsemanship, personal interview, written test, impromptu questions, modeling, and public speaking.
Also new to this year’s fair is the X Riders Motocross event scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 11. The multi-sport event will include riders performing freestyle tricks on motocross bikes.
Other entertainment throughout the week includes livestock shows, pig races, car shows, lumberjack shows, family circuses, a petting zoo, rodeos, and more.
Fair rides and games
There will be a wide variety of fair rides and games to enjoy. Children’s rides include slower-paced hits like the Fun Slide, Bumble Bees, and the Bear Affair. Those looking for a thrill will have the chance to hop on the Ring of Fire, Remix, and Pharoah’s Fury, among others. Hallmark rides like the Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, and sky ride will also be at the fair.
Games include everything from ring toss, duck pond, and balloon darts, among many more.
Food and drink
Fairgoers will be able to enjoy classic food and drink options with footlong corndogs, freshly squeezed lemonade, turkey legs, chicken on a stick, taffy, fried Oreos, and donut burgers being among the seemingly endless menu. For attendees 21 and older, there will be beer tents set up but additional costs may apply.
The Mississippi State Fair is also known for its half-century tradition of providing free biscuits and syrup at the Biscuit Booth.
Mississippi State Fair to see American flare
In what Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson is referring to as the “Great American Mississippi State Fair,” the state fair will have a bit of extra patriotism to it as the country gears up for the semiquincentennial of the U.S. becoming an independent nation.
“This year’s State Fair will be wrapped in red, white, and blue, honoring our country’s rich heritage and the farmers, families, and communities who represent the backbone of Mississippi and America,” Gipson wrote in the 2025 Mississippi State Fair Fun Guide. “You’ll feel the spirit of freedom and pride from the moment you walk in the gates. Whether you’re coming for the thrills, the tastes, the music or the memories, there’s something for everyone at the America250 Fair!”
An American-themed parade will be held in the area around the fairgrounds at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 13, before the gates officially open at 11 a.m. Following the performance later in the night by Greenwood, whose best known for his song “God Bless the U.S.A.,” a fireworks show will light up the capital city sky.
