Mid-South Fair attendance continues to dwindle

SOUTHAVEN — An estimated 66,000 attended the 2012 Mid-South Fair in Southaven.

The Commercial Appeal reports the attendance was not as good as past fairs in Mississippi but still a number that fair officials consider a success.

The event ended Sunday in Southaven, where the 156-year-old fair has been held for the past four years since moving from Memphis.

In 2009, attendance was 142,976, a shadow of the 340,146 who attended during the final year in Memphis a year earlier. Fair officials have struggled with the attendance numbers in each year since. Last year’s attendance was estimated at 75,000.

Mike McGee, the president of the fair’s board of directors, says final revenue totals were still being compiled.

The fair will remain in Mississippi through 2014.