No worries Jones County and the rest of the Pinebelt, the best part of the South Mississippi Fair is a go.
Despite the cancellation of the 2020 South Mississippi Fair due to COVID-19 concerns, Carrie Byrd, the Executive Director of the South MS Fair Commission has announced the "Fair Food Festival" set for Oct. 23-25 and Oct. 29-31.
Twelve of the 17 food vendors are scheduled to participate in the 2020 South Mississippi Fair before its cancellation has agreed to take part in the event.
“These are our local independent vendors that always take part in the fair, “ said Byrd. “We’ll be having the event on the last two weekends of October, which is when our fair would have been taking place.
“They’ll come in on that Thursday before and set up. On Friday morning, Oct. 23, they’ll be inspected by the health department and start serving [customers] at 2 p.m., and go through 8 p.m.”
A full list of dates and serving times are as follow: Friday, Oct. 23 (2 p.m. thru 8 p.m.); Saturday, Oct. 24 (11 a.m. thru 8 p.m.); Sunday, Oct. 25 (11 a.m. thru 3 p.m.); Thursday, Oct. 29 (11 a.m. thru 2 p.m.); Friday, Oct. 30 (11 a.m. thru 8 p.m.); and Saturday, Oct. 31 (11 a.m. thru 8 p.m.).
"Almost all of these food vendors have been with us for years," said Byrd. "The vendor that's been with us the longest has been with us for nearly 60 years, or maybe a few years beyond that."
The loyalty of these vendors over the years is part of the reason why the South MS Fair Commission decided to put on the event, despite the fair itself's cancellation.
"When people come to the fair, one of their favorite things to do is to visit our food booths," said Byrd. "So we felt that since we were not able to have the fair this year, we certainly wanted to do something to help these vendors. Our board decided to allow them to come and serve their food to the public."
Byrd said the response for the “Fair Food Festival” has been overwhelmingly positive.
"The response has been tremendous," said Byrd. "We announced it on social media, and I have not heard from one person in whom I've talked too, that is not excited about it."
Vendors participating in the “Fair Food Festival” are as follows: Stephanie’s; Kassy’s Concessions; H & T Concessions; Southern Hospitality; Tasty Taffy, Funnel Cakes, and Candy Apples; C & J’s Onion Mum; Funny Face Foods; Landrums Homemade Ice Cream; Smokin Joe’s; McAlpin Concessions; Seal Concessions; and Southern Goodness, Roasted Corn, Deep Fried Oreos, and Moonpies.
“All vendors will be set up in the main parking lot off of Don Curt Blvd,” said Byrd.
“We’ll have signs with names on them so that people can realize the [vendors],” said Byrd. “Our gates will be open in the big parking lot, and there’s no charge for entry.
“It will be a grab-and-go setup. We’ll have it set up so that people can practice social distancing while they’re waiting in line. It should be an easy-in, easy-out for people.”
Byrd also said the “Fair Food Festival” is a way to give 2020 some sense of normalcy.
"We felt like this was a way to not only help our vendors but also to help the community," added Byrd. "This way, we're able to give people some part of the fair this year. We hope people will come out and help support our vendors.
“We hope things will improve in 2021 with everything that is happening in our world right now. We’re hoping to get back to some sense of normalcy for 2021.”