The 120th edition of the Neshoba County Fair starts Friday for eight big days with popular musical entertainment, exciting midway rides, horse races and a rodeo along with a second appearance by a popular Oxford-based music and literature radio program on Saturday.
Thacker Mountain Radio, hosted by Jim Dees, will be taped from 7:30 to 9 p.m. from Founders Square. The show will broadcast in Oxford and statewide on Mississippi Public Radio later this year.
A Greenville resident, Dees is the son of Neshoba County native Anse Dees, who grew up on Holland Avenue and now lives also in Greenville.
The Dees family owns a cabin on Founders Square and returns to the Fair annually.
Saturday's show will also feature a musical performance by the Thacker Mountain house band, the Yalobushwackers, along with Brian Ledford's Band, The Dixie Nationals, and Wiley and the Checkmates.
Horse racing
Harness and running horse races will get under way daily at 2 p.m. starting on Sunday.
The midway opens daily at 1 p.m. and the exhibit hall from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The U. S. Post Office, Neshoba County Fair Station, is open from noon until 4 p.m. each day.
The Neshoba County Extension Service conducts a Beef Show on Tuesday, Dairy Show on Thursday, and Sheep Show on the last Friday of the Fair.
The Harper-Morgan and Smith Rodeo begins at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday of the Fair.
Meet the Press will provide dance music at the pavilion Friday, beginning at 9:30 p.m. while Santa Fe will take the pavilion stage Saturday beginning at 10 p.m.
Saturday's arts and crafts show will include over 100 vendors from throughout the Southeast beginning at 7 a.m. on Founders Square. Phillip Martin, former Chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, will sign his recently released autobiography from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Booth 17 at the arts show.
Heart O'Dixie Triathlon
The Heart O'Dixie Triathlon is celebrating its 30th year on Saturday with runners completing the grueling trek at the grandstand Saturday morning.
Dr. Jimmy Porter, executive director and treasurer of the Mississippi Christian Action Commission, will conduct worship services at the Fair on Sunday beginning at 9:30 a.m. followed by an antique car show at 10:30 a.m. The Vernon Brothers will perform at the grandstand at 1 p.m.
Founders Square activities
First Baptist Church Choir will perform Sunday evening on Founders Square beginning at 6:30 p.m. followed by the Gold City Show at the grandstand at 8 p.m.
"The Doug and Bob Radio Show" will broadcast live from the pavilion on WHOC-AM from 7 to 8 a.m. Monday through Friday.
East Central Community College's Collegians will perform at 1 p.m. Monday on Founders Square while the annual Miss Neshoba County pageant is on tab that night.
Bliss will provide dance music on Founders Square beginning at 9:30 p.m. Monday.
The annual Veterans Memorial Service is set for Tuesday morning at the Fair while the Bucky Covington Show takes the grandstand stage that night. Snazz will perform dance music at the pavilion on Tuesday night.
Political speaking
Political speaking gets under way on Wednesday of the Fair with District Attorney Mark Duncan, Circuit Court judges Vernon Cotten and Marcus Gordon, Rep. Scott Bounds, Sen. Giles Ward, Transportation Commissioner Dick Hall, Public Service Commissioner Lynn Posey, State Auditor Stacey Pickering, Attorney General Jim Hood and Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant on tab beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday night visitors will also be treated to the Atlanta Rhythm Section show at the grandstand and dance music by Class Reunion at the pavilion.
The A. J. Yates Jr. Memorial Late Night Sing gets under way at 1 a.m.
Political speaking will resume on Thursday of the Fair with several district and state officials on the agenda including Gov. Haley Barbour.
The lineup, starting at 9:30 a.m., includes Appellate Court Justice T. Kenny Griffis, Supreme Court Justice Jim Kitchens, Chief Justice William L. (Bill) Waller, Commissioner of Insurance Mike Chaney, State Treasurer Tate Reeves, Secretary of State Delbert Hoseman and Barbour, who speaks at 10:40 a.m.
Hometown Proud
The annual Hometown Proud Program is also set for Thursday morning of the Fair while the Red Hills Blue Grass Band concert is at 1 p.m. at the grandstand followed by the Neal McCoy Show at 8 p.m. Dance music by Coop D'Belle begins at 8 p.m. at the pavilion and by U. S. at the grandstand starting at 11 p.m.
Final night
The Vernon Brothers will make a second appearance on the last day of the Fair beginning at 12:30 p.m. at the grandstand.
The Little Big Town Show is set for 8 p.m. at the grandstand while Chris Gil and the Soul Shakers will provide dance music at the pavilion at 9:30 p.m. Weather permitting, a fireworks show will follow Little Big Town.
First aid information
First aid will be provided by personnel from Neshoba County General Hospital in a station under the grandstands while an ambulance will be available in case of emergency. Local volunteer fire departments will also provide fire protection throughout the week.
Season tickets are $30 while day tickets are $15. Children 9 and under are admitted free.
For a complete Fair schedule go to www.neshobacountyfair.org.
