By Staff
LUNCHTIME Gov. Ronnie Musgrove talks with fairgoers during lunch Thursday at the Neshoba County Fair. Musgrove, who spoke at the fair minutes earlier, was joined by (clockwise from left) Guy Hovis, Sis Moorhead, Liles Williams and Homer Gordon. Photo by Carisa McCain/The Meridian Star
By Scottye Carter/The Meridian Star
July 27, 2001
The 112th edition of the Neshoba County Fair closes tonight, but the fairgrounds won't stop rocking until the final gate shuts for good.
Even though the eight-day event officially ends at midnight, fair manager Doug Johnson said many people who have stayed on the fairgrounds in family-owned cabins will begin moving out early today.
The fair opened July 20. Since then, visitors have attended the Miss Neshoba County Fair pageant, weeknight concerts by top entertainers, daily harnessracing and old-fashioned political speeches.
Today is no different the fair has a full slate of scheduled events.
Fairgoers can visit the Exhibit Hall starting at 8 a.m. or brave amusement rides on the carnival midway starting two hours later. For a change of pace, fairgoers can attend the Vernon Brothers Bluegrass Show at noon at the grandstand.
At 2 p.m., the year's last harness and running races begin including the Morris Therrell Memorial Invitational Race and the Jim Dance Memorial Race. And at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., the Neshoba Central High School Band will perform at the grandstand.
The day's highlight is an 8 p.m. concert by the Charlie Daniels Band, best known for such hits as "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," "Simple Man" and "Still in Saigon." The band performs at the grandstand.
Then at 9:30 p.m., a late-night dance featuring "Gilmore" will begin as fireworks light up the sky over the fairgrounds weather permitting.
Johnson said that this year's fair has been a great success. He said that he is "delighted everything seems to better than last year. Even the weather is cooperating with us."
Planning the Neshoba County Fair is a continual job, and Johnson said that he has already begun planning next year's event.