Last year, the 152nd Mid-South Fair touted the event as its last at
the Mid-South Fairgrounds, the location it called home for generations.
The official Mid-South Fair moved to DeSoto County this year, but the
organization hasn’t left the city altogether.
From September 25th through October 4th, the Mid-South Fair will
operate two events: the original fair at the DeSoto Civic Center and
Memphest, a new “urban fair” held at the Fairgrounds.
“The fair at the DeSoto Civic Center will feature all the things
that have traditionally been associated with the fair: rides, food,
outdoor music, livestock, and petting zoos. We’ll have a rodeo inside
the civic center, and we’ll have our youth talent contest, as well as
the exhibits and the creative arts,” said Jim Rout, former Shelby
County mayor and general manager of the Mid-South Fair.
“Memphest will have a midway with all the lights and Ferris wheels,”
Rout said. “We’ll also have an outdoor stage with live music, but there
will be no livestock, no rodeo, no creative arts, and no exhibits. It’s
more of a food, rides, and music festival.”
The musical lineups for each event are tailored to different
demographics. The DeSoto fair boasts country music star Martina
McBride. The Memphest lineup includes Soulja Boy, Yo Gotti, and Bret
Michaels.
Several years ago, the city of Memphis began discussions of a re-use
plan for the Fairgrounds, and, according to Rout, those plans didn’t
involve the Mid-South Fair. The fair’s lease was up in June of this
year, and the organization began making plans for an alternate
location.
“It was thought that development at the Fairgrounds would probably
be started by now,” Rout said.
A permanent fair site in Tunica County, Mississippi, has been
chosen, but Rout said financial concerns have gotten in the way of
constructing the proper buildings needed to house exhibit space. In the
meantime, the Mid-South Fair is being held at the DeSoto Civic
Center.
At the fairgrounds in Memphis, redevelopment plans have stalled.
Another group wanted to host a fair there, but the already-departed
Mid-South Fair was given first right of refusal.
“We were told if we didn’t take those dates, someone else would be
out here,” Rout said, “so we decided to be our own competitor.”
Earlier this month, city mayor pro tem Myron Lowery announced a $175
million alternative to the plan put forth by developer Henry Turley
(one of the stockholders of the Flyer‘s parent company). Plans
for the fairgrounds will determine whether or not Memphest has a future
in the city.
“We’d love to make it an annual event. We think it will be good for
Midtown and people inside the city limits. It gives an opportunity for
a little different flavor,” Rout said. “But it’s out of our hands. If
they’re still debating what to do with this property next year, we’d
love to do it again.”
