Neshoba County Fair ready
When the Neshoba County Fair officially gets under way Friday, it will be the result of much planning and hard work.
Vehicles without valid cabin parking permits will not be allowed into the Neshoba County Fairgrounds Thursday evening before the Fair, it was announced on Monday, reinforcing a policy in place for nearly a decade, Fair officials said.
Actually, Fair preparation started for many Fairgoers weeks ago, but particularly the Fourth of July and this past weekend. Fairgoers gathered to enjoy a slower pace before the actual Fair schedule cranks up.
“The weekend before the Fair always seems to be a big weekend,” said Fair Board President Scott Bounds. “People were working on the insides of their cabins, bringing groceries in. They come out here and enjoy their cabins and each other before the race of the Fair starts. They visit with family and cook. And we don’t have anything planned. It is usually a huge Saturday night.”
Bounds said the security contractor also started last Saturday and will remain on duty 24/7 until the end of the Fair. He said safety is the Fair Board’s No. 1 concern.
A rash of car break-ins was reported over the weekend around Sunset Strip and Woodland Hills with guns and purses stolen from vehicles, it was reported by Fairgoers. (See story, Page 1A.)
Bounds promised a crackdown on underage drinking again this year.
“We want to let people to know that our security contractor and the state Alcohol and Beverage Control will be here,” Bounds said. “ABC has cut down a lot on underage drinking. Our contractor’s employees are all full-time law enforcement officers. They have a very watchful eye and do what is necessary to see nothing happens.”
That gives them a lot of ground to cover during the week of the Fair.
“This Fair is a big operation,” said Bounds as he starts his first Fair as board president. “The Board of Directors are all volunteers and I can’t say enough for those guys. I can look at the board and I can truthfully say each one of them has a passion for the Fair. They would not be doing it is they did not have it, and I would not be doing it if I didn’t have it. I could not do my job as president without them.
“We have an outstanding support team, including our business staff and grounds staff, our utility and infrastructure people. The people who pick up the trash early in the morning. All of these things turn this into a small city for eight to 10 days. We can’t say enough about our staff here.”
During the week of the Fair, Bounds said close to 300 people are working, doing various jobs. He talked about the logistics of getting things done while everyone else is having fun.
“The trash crews start around 2 a.m. in the morning,” Bounds said. “When you wake up and the Fairgrounds are clean, you should say thank you for what you do. Offer them a bottle of water.
“I have been going to the Fair all of my life,” Bounds said. “I was out here before we had plumbing. And, I have been told that when they put in the sewer system, they assessed each cabin $1,000. Today, we maintain and operate the sewer system. It is maintained by licensed people and we have two lagoons. It was something that was needed very much.
“Each year, we continue to improve parts of our electrical infrastructure. We work on our oldest and weakest areas. We have an area after the Fair we will be getting after for a significant improvement, just so we can meet the electrical demands that the cabins require.”
The Heart ‘O Dixie Triathlon is Saturday. The Miss Neshoba County Pageant is Monday night. Horse racing beings on Sunday.
Political speaking begins Wednesday at 9 a.m. with District Attorney Steven Kilgore.
Thursday will be another full morning of political speeches beginning at 9 a.m. with Central District Public Service Commissioner Brent Bailey. Gov. Tate Reeves will close out the political speaking Thursday at 10:30 a.m.
The entertainment schedule for the Grandstand is as follows:
• Monday night, The Miss Neshoba County Fair pageant, 8 p.m.;
• Tuesday night, Hotel California, The Original Eagles Tribute Band, 8 p.m.;
• Wednesday night, Sawyer Brown, 8 p.m.;
• Thursday night, Scotty McCreey, 8 p.m.;
• Friday night, Michael Ray, 8 p.m.
For more information on this year’s schedule, visit neshobacountyfair.org.