The smell of fried foods and the sounds of laughter and chatter will soon fill the air as the annual George County Fair is approaching.
The fair is something many people look forward to year round. Sophomore Darla Fairley enjoys going to the fair because she gets to spend time with her friends outside of school and it is somewhere they do not get to go all the time. Fairley often finds herself busy with volleyball and other extracurricular activities throughout the year, so when fair time hits, she knows that things are slowing down.
“There’s not very much that happens in our small town, so the fair is a special time for me.” Fairley said. It is very enjoyable because I am really busy all the time the first part of the school year so there is never really a time for me to do anything other than volleyball and school. The fair gives me time to hang out with friends and my family.”
“I look forward to making new memories every year and the fair is a big part of fall for me,” Fairley said.
Junior Raylee Hodges looks at the fair as a family tradition. It is an annual thing for her to partake in the fair and festivities that happen after that. Hodges and her family go on Tuesday every year and stay from the start time to whenever it ends.
“I bring all of my friends with me, and we ride all the rides while my parents have a little date night. We leave with a funnel cake per person and go rolling afterwards. It is kind of like a holiday,” Hodges said.
In 2016 junior Mason Drinkard had a thrilling experience which led him into making the fair such a pivotal part of his year.
“One time when I was eight, my mama let me go on rides all by myself, and I went on the ‘Chaos’ 17 times, and it made me so sick. I knew then it was my favorite ride, and it still is to this day,” Drinkard said.
The 2025 fair dates will be Oct. 13-18 at the George County Fairgrounds. Tuesday and Thursday are Family Night and Friday night is Buddy Night. Everyone five years and older has to pay a general admission fee of $2.
With all the rides and food they also have the livestock show. If you plan to show an animal at the 4-H show, the George County Extension office asks that you contact them at 601-947-4223. To show an animal you must be a resident of George County, a member of George County 4-H, 8-18 years old and own your animal for 90 days before the show.
George County’s High Schools Interact Club members are looking forward to working the fair. The club has volunteered to take up tickets on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Working the fair will give them volunteer hours as well as a good experience with helping the community out.
“Interact enjoys helping the community and a good way to do that is working at the fair,” Interact Club sponsor Marlana Broadhead said.
The fair is an exciting time for many people and an excellent opportunity to make memories.
