Vendors line up along the midway at the Mississippi State Fair

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In a state proud of its traditions, the Mississippi State Fair — now celebrating its 157th edition — evokes fond memories of amusement rides that make kids squeal and adults scream, food greasy and sweet enough to send a nutritionist into shock and live music that pulls audiences out of their chairs to dance. And pigs and cows and horses — and even camels.

All on 100 acres in downtown Jackson now through Oct. 16.

Mississippi Today met some early birds at the fairgrounds this week as hundreds of thousands of others gear up for the first big weekend.

Bands including the Luckenbach Tribute Band, Jesse Robinson Blues Band, the Harmony & Grits Bluegrass Band and the Delta Mountain Boys are scheduled to perform this weekend.

Saturday morning, fiddlers compete, followed by a hula hoop contest in the afternoon.

Sunday catch some dare-devilish acts at the ‘Freestyle MX’ Xtreme Motorcycles event.

All weekend, animal lovers will get up close and personal with the exotic creatires in the petting zoo.

But for thrill-seekers, it’s all about the rides. Tonight’s and next Friday’s Ride-A-Thon offers unlimited twists and turns, ups and downs for $25 from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m.

Mississippi State Fair welcomes fairgoers

Fair worker restocks stuffed animal prizes at the Mississippi State Fair

A microphone agent waits for fairgoers to come play

For the first time, Beau Ridge Independent Living & Memory Care Assisted Living gave a few of their patients the chance to relive some childhood memories at the fair.

Lianna Miller and daughter Dakota traveled from Hattiesburg to have a mother and daughter day at the fair.

An airbrush artist completes a customer’s order at the fair

Vendors roasting corn at the Mississippi State Fair

A pig finishes last in a race at the Mississippi State Fair

Pigs return into trailer after completing their race

Boy enjoys a pony ride at the Mississippi State Fair

Girl holds on tight during camel ride at the Mississippi State Fair

Two girls enjoy a camel ride at the Mississippi State Fair

Two camels take a quick break in between rides

Tone Tone the clown smiles big for the camera at the Mississippi State Fair

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Step right up for food and family fun

by Sereena Henderson, Mississippi Today
October 7, 2016

					<h1>Step right up for food and family fun</h1>
<p class="byline">by Sereena Henderson, Mississippi Today <br />October 7, 2016</p>
					<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>In a state proud of its traditions, the Mississippi State Fair -- now celebrating its 157th edition -- evokes fond memories of amusement rides that make kids squeal and adults scream, food greasy and sweet enough to send a nutritionist into shock and live music that pulls audiences out of their chairs to dance.  And pigs and cows and horses -- and even camels.</p>
<p>All on 100 acres in downtown Jackson now through Oct. 16.</p>
<p>Mississippi Today met some early birds at the fairgrounds this week as hundreds of thousands of others gear up for the first big weekend.</p>
<p>Bands including the Luckenbach Tribute Band, Jesse Robinson Blues Band, the Harmony &amp; Grits Bluegrass Band and the Delta Mountain Boys are scheduled to perform this weekend.</p>
<p>Saturday morning, fiddlers compete, followed by a hula hoop contest in the afternoon.</p>
<p>Sunday catch some dare-devilish acts at the 'Freestyle MX' Xtreme Motorcycles event.</p>
<p>All weekend, animal lovers will get up close and personal with the exotic creatires in the petting zoo.</p>
<p>But for thrill-seekers, it's all about the rides. Tonight's and next Friday's Ride-A-Thon offers unlimited twists and turns, ups and downs for $25 from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

					<p>This &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://mississippitoday.org/2016/10/07/step-right-up-for-food-and-family-fun/&quot;&gt;article&lt;/a&gt; first appeared on &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://mississippitoday.org&quot;&gt;Mississippi Today&lt;/a&gt; and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/06074517/MT_icon-logo-favicon-1-200x200.png&quot; style=&quot;width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;&quot;&gt;&lt;img id=&quot;republication-tracker-tool-source&quot; src=&quot;https://mississippitoday.org/?republication-pixel=true&amp;post=25025&amp;amp;ga4=G-VSX4B701MS&quot; style=&quot;width:1px;height:1px;&quot;&gt;&lt;script&gt; PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: &quot;https://mississippitoday.org/2016/10/07/step-right-up-for-food-and-family-fun/&quot;, urlref: window.location.href }); } } &lt;/script&gt; &lt;script id=&quot;parsely-cfg&quot; src=&quot;//cdn.parsely.com/keys/mississippitoday.org/p.js&quot;&gt;&lt;/script&gt;</p>