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Circus shows, rodeos and the Midway cookie stand have become popular parts of the Mississippi State Fair.

This year's celebration includes several innovations, from food to attractions to an updated, streamlined ticket purchasing process.

Read on and get your tickets to the 165th Mississippi State Fair, taking place Thursday through October 14 in Jackson.

Fried what?

Any good state fair includes a number of classic dishes like hot dogs and popcorn, as well as plenty of fried foods.

The Mississippi State Fair is no exception and in recent years has often featured unusual fried delicacies, including fried mac and cheese, alligator burgers and beer-battered burgers.

This year, guests can try the newest dish – fried marshmallows.

These are different from the typical toasted s'mores marshmallows. If you want to see for yourself, visit the Mr. Turkey Leg stand near the livestock pens.

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Updated ticket system, free parking

Convenience was at the forefront of this year's planning phase, said Michael Lasseter, director of the Mississippi Fair Commission. This year there is a new system for purchasing tickets.

For the first time you can purchase tickets online. If you buy tickets online in advance, you can skip the queues or stop by one of the kiosks at one of the seven entry points and buy tickets, which you can then have sent to your mobile phone.

In previous years, entry was only possible with cash payment. The additional options to purchase in advance or pay with credit card at one of the kiosks simplify access to the trade fair.

Lasseter said although it may seem simple, the process of creating the digital ticketing system is complex and takes months.

If you purchase tickets online by the end of the day on Wednesday, October 2nd, you will receive a discounted rate of $8 per person. Entry is free every day except Monday, October 14th, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. After 1 p.m., regular ticket price is $10 per person.

Not only can you buy tickets on your cell phone, but you can also travel completely paperless with the new ticket wristbands. In previous years, passengers purchased separate paper tickets for the journey. Now you can purchase a travel wristband in advance that serves as a ticket. The wristbands are separate from the admission tickets and are sold on certain days during the fair.

The online ticketing system also eliminates the queues of cars waiting to enter and park at the exhibition center.

“You used to come here at 2 or 3 p.m. on Saturdays and there would be a line out the gates,” Lasseter said. “This is mainly because everyone does their shopping at the gates. If a family of four drives up, you have to pay for the car, and then there's someone under five in there, so you get in for free, so there was a little confusion and it took a lot of time.”

For the first time, the trade fair also offers free parking spaces.

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New attractions

In addition to the usual favorites, there are also some new attractions to look out for this year.

In addition to the popular rodeo performances, the “Frontier” area of ​​the fairgrounds will also feature a new entertainment show, “Tumbleweed Crossing Wild West.”

There will also be an agricultural puppet theater. Lasseter said this addition will be an educational experience for the children.

Children and adults can also enjoy a new hands-on 4-H and FFA Barnyard exhibit.

Do you have a news tip? Contact Mary Boyte at [email protected]

On By John Fenwick

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