Another Mississippi State Fair has come to a close, and while it was another safe year for fair-goers, less people came out for the 12-day extravaganza.
The fair wrapped up Monday with “God Bless the USA” singer Lee Greenwood taking the outdoor main stage ahead of a 15-minute fireworks show, marking an event Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson is heralding as an overall success. The state fair, held at the state fairgrounds in Jackson since 1858, saw just under half a million people in 2025, while 506,952 attended a year ago.
“Between October 2-13, just under half a million Mississippians came together to enjoy the 2025 Great American Mississippi State Fair,” Gipson said.
“This special, and uniquely patriotic event was a celebration of family, freedom, and tradition. I want to thank our incredible law enforcement and security team for their diligent work throughout the duration of the State Fair,” he continued. “Thanks to the coordinated efforts of state, county, and local law enforcement, as well as private security and the Fairgrounds staff, the Mississippi State Fairgrounds remained clean, welcoming, and completely free of any major safety issues.”
As part of Gipson’s ongoing effort to ramp up security measures at the state fair, he instituted a rule requiring all minors to be under the supervision of an adult when entering the fairgrounds after 6 p.m. The commissioner contended that he expected the new regulation to reduce overall foot traffic while simultaneously making the fair safer for all families.
Citing a violent weekend in Mississippi, where dozens of people were shot at events linked to high school and college football games and homecoming events, Gipson argued that his model of enforcing strict security measures at the state fair is a policy measure that could be utilized elsewhere and would yield positive outcomes.
“Given the tragic and dangerous events Mississippians witnessed at several football events this past weekend, we believe the State Fair security protocol provides a strong, proven model for similar large events across the Magnolia State,” Gipson added. “It is plain, common sense that minors need adult supervision, period. And it makes a positive difference, as evidenced that we did not experience any similar acts of violence at the 2025 Mississippi State Fair.”
The 2025 state fair had a patriotic flair, as Gipson signed Mississippi up to participate in the nationwide Great American State Fair competition, held in conjunction with the America250 initiative honoring the upcoming 250th anniversary of the U.S. becoming a nation.
To capture the full spirit and scope of this year’s celebration, the Mississippi Fairgrounds team is producing a documentary for official submission to the America250 Committee – aiming to prove that Mississippi didn’t just host a great fair, but the most patriotic State Fair in the nation.
“From the opening ceremony on that first day, where I was proud to cut the ceremonial ribbon with City of Jackson Mayor John Horhn and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Chief Cyrus Ben, to our grand finale of patriotic festivities on the final day, the Spirit of America was evident throughout the 12 days of the State Fair,” Gipson said. “We incorporated all-new patriotic competitions and shows, as well as the first-ever Great American Parade at the State Fair, a live performance by the legendary music artist Lee Greenwood, and a star-spangled fireworks display to end the fair.”
Another new event was the fair’s inaugural Disability Friendly Day, which created an inclusive environment for individuals and families impacted by disabilities. Gipson said the special day received positive feedback from attendees.
Now that the fair has wrapped up, agriculture officials have turned their attention to the upcoming Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo, which will occur in February 2026.
