FAST FACTS:
(Southaven, MS 9/25/09) Rain-free skies and ease of parking welcomed the MidSouth Fair to it's new location in Southaven, Mississippi on Friday.
The good fortune was not necessarily always on the forecast. Many had feared rain and a lack of adequate parking would hamper the fair's official start in it's new location.
By peak hours, the main parking lot at the Desoto Civic Center was half empty, and lines were short at rides. The crowd numbered in the hundreds rather than the thousands, making a great visit for patrons and a rough start for fair organizers.
'If we could hit 200-thousand, maybe a little more, it will be a success,' says organizer Jim Rout.
The main lot can fit roughly 1,400 cars and overflow parking in the grass can accomodate another 2,000. Unfortunately, earlier rains made parking in the grass worrisome.
'I think everybody is staying home because they think it's going to rain,' says Tameko Purnell, who looks at the small crowd a bonus for her family. 'I thought about maybe parking across the street at the Taco Bell and walking all the way because I didn't want to get stuck in the mud.'
Instead, many were pleasantly surprised to get parking on the asphalt, and unbridled access to opening day of one of the MidSouth's most celebrated traditions.
- 153rd Mid-South Fair moved to Desoto County temporarily
- Fair-goers expecting rain and cramps parking lots
- Fair organizers expected smaller turnout
(Southaven, MS 9/25/09) Rain-free skies and ease of parking welcomed the MidSouth Fair to it's new location in Southaven, Mississippi on Friday.
The good fortune was not necessarily always on the forecast. Many had feared rain and a lack of adequate parking would hamper the fair's official start in it's new location.
By peak hours, the main parking lot at the Desoto Civic Center was half empty, and lines were short at rides. The crowd numbered in the hundreds rather than the thousands, making a great visit for patrons and a rough start for fair organizers.
'If we could hit 200-thousand, maybe a little more, it will be a success,' says organizer Jim Rout.
The main lot can fit roughly 1,400 cars and overflow parking in the grass can accomodate another 2,000. Unfortunately, earlier rains made parking in the grass worrisome.
'I think everybody is staying home because they think it's going to rain,' says Tameko Purnell, who looks at the small crowd a bonus for her family. 'I thought about maybe parking across the street at the Taco Bell and walking all the way because I didn't want to get stuck in the mud.'
Instead, many were pleasantly surprised to get parking on the asphalt, and unbridled access to opening day of one of the MidSouth's most celebrated traditions.
