The Mississippi State Fair began its annual 12-day run in Jackson on Wednesday, for good and ill.
Good because children of all ages love the fair. There’s the judging of livestock, foods and crafts. That’s what these fairs were originally about.
There are the free concerts, which usually feature a couple of acts that are past their prime. This year’s most notable has-beens are Blood, Sweat & Tears (which includes none of the original members) and Bell Biv Devoe.
There’s the food, some of which is available only at fairs and is a nutritionist’s nightmare. Fried Twinkie, anyone? The Corder family never ate at the fair, but no visit was complete without purchasing a box of taffy. This was about the only candy I ever saw my parents eat. It would take a week or two to chew up that taffy.
There once were many sideshow attractions along the midway, including a freak show. These sideshows seem to have faded in popularity, but there used to be some that sounded enticing, such as the “The Ape Woman,” “The World’s Smallest Horse,” “Giant Crocodile” and, a personal favorite, “Giant Sewer Rats From Paris.” I’ve since seen a nutria once, and it was a dead ringer for one of those “Paris sewer rats.”
There are the rides, which are the main draw for many people. These can be terrifying, both to the people who ride them and the people who watch their children ride them.
But there are parts of the fair that make some people consider the event a public nuisance, if not a public menace.
Earlier this week, the fair and Jackson settled a dispute on security for the fair. The Fair Commission sued the city to try to force it to provide police protection, but city leaders said Jackson couldn’t afford it.
The Jackson Clarion-Ledger reported that the city of Jackson had spent roughly $300,000 each year in personnel costs associated with security for the state fair. (That figure sounds high.) Jackson provided patrols, traffic control and security around the state fairgrounds. Hinds County deputies and Capitol police provide security inside the fairgrounds.
Under the agreement, the Jackson Police Department will provide 10 officers to work eight-hour shifts outside the fairgrounds near downtown. The state Fair Commission will pay for another 10 off-duty Jackson officers to work security.
State Agriculture Commissioner Cindy Hyde-Smith, whose department is responsible for the fairgrounds, said she will seek state money to pay Jackson police for protection at the fair and the Dixie National Rodeo, which is during the winter on the fairgrounds.
I’ve heard tales of what happens when the fair comes to Jackson. At least one person I know had an unfortunate encounter with an employee of the traveling midway company (or “carny”). And there are anecdotal reports of an increase in property crime in Jackson at fair time.
The real crime goes on at the fairgrounds. Trying to win a teddy bear or some other prize can be expensive. And the prices for concessions and ride tickets are highway robbery.
When I was growing up, the family attended the fair every year, almost always on a Friday or Saturday. A few times, relatives from out of town came down and went to the fair with us.
After arriving at the fair, my parents would first make us go through the exhibition halls and livestock barns. After that nonsense, my sisters and I would get to the good part, going on rides.
When I got older, I would go to the fair with friends rather than my family.
Later, I took my daughters to the fair. They were usually out of school for at least a few days during the fair, so we would go in the afternoon. Later, they would go with their friends. In those years, my money went to the fair, even though I didn’t.
One difference between my parents and me is that they continued to go to the fair after their children grew up. They went to see the exhibits and to get a free biscuit with syrup. And they bought a box of taffy.
It’s unlikely I will go to the fair again unless it’s in the company of a grandchild.
I first remember going to the fair in 1965 or so. One of my most vivid memories of the fair came on a Friday night.
My father parked the family car on East Amite Street next to the Mississippi War Memorial Building. We walked over the crest of a hill on the street and suddenly we could see the fairgrounds spread out before us with glittering lights of seemingly every color. It looked magical.
Unfortunately, the coming years would teach me that not all that glitters is gold, especially at the Mississippi State Fair.
• Contact Charles Corder at 581-7241 or ccorder@gwcommonwealth.com.
