Book Information
Title: The Fair Times Coffee Table Book
Author: Neshoba County Fair Association
Publisher: The Fair Times, Philadelphia, Mississippi
Release Year: 2023
Pages: 220
Format: Hardcover
Genre: Mississippi History / Photography / Coffee Table Book
Price: $59.95
Rating: ★★★★½
For more than a century, the Neshoba County Fair has been unlike anything else in Mississippi. Part family reunion, part political gathering, part sporting event, and part summer vacation, it has become a tradition that generations of families return to year after year. Whether you’re spending the week in one of the famous cabins, cheering on the horse races, watching the political speeches, or simply enjoying a glass of Lindsey’s Lemonade while catching up with old friends, there’s a feeling at the Fair that’s difficult to put into words.
The Fair Times, a coffee table book published by the Neshoba County Fair Association, comes remarkably close. Spanning more than 200 pages, the book combines historic photographs, modern images, newspaper clippings, and personal stories to tell the story of what many proudly call “Mississippi’s Giant House Party.” Rather than simply documenting the Fair’s history, it preserves the traditions, people, and memories that have made it one of the state’s most beloved annual events.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is how it blends the Fair’s past with its present. Early chapters feature archival pages from decades of The Fair Times newspaper, reproduced in their original layouts, allowing readers to experience the headlines and stories just as Fairgoers did years ago. Those historic pieces are paired with essays from longtime cabin owners, Fair officials, and regular attendees who share stories about everything from the growth of the cabin community to the long-standing traditions surrounding the horse and chariot races. Together, they create a history that feels personal rather than simply chronological.
No symbol of the Neshoba County Fair is more recognizable than its cabins, and the book gives them the attention they deserve. Through dozens of photographs and personal stories, readers get an inside look at the colorful two story cabins that surround Founders Square. Many have remained in the same families for generations, passed down from parents to children much like a treasured heirloom. More than just places to stay, the cabins are where friendships are renewed, family traditions continue, and memories are made year after year.
The horse and chariot races receive plenty of attention as well. The book looks back at one of the Fair’s oldest traditions with historic race programs, results, and photographs that capture the excitement on the track. Images of horses kicking up dirt as they charge around the oval and drivers battling for position remind readers why the races remain one of the signature events of Fair week. For anyone who has watched from the grandstand, it’s easy to recognize the sights that have become part of the Neshoba County Fair experience for generations.
Politics has long been part of the Neshoba County Fair, and the book doesn’t shy away from that history. It includes photographs from some of the Fair’s most memorable political moments, including President Ronald Reagan’s 1980 appearance, when he delivered his widely discussed “states’ rights” speech. Readers will also find images of more recent Mississippi governors and political candidates speaking from the pavilion, a reminder that every election season eventually makes its way to Founders Square.
(Ronald Reagan speaking at the Neshoba County Fair in 1980.)
The photography is one of the book’s biggest strengths. Wide aerial shots show just how large the Fairgrounds have become, while close-up images focus on the little moments that define a week at the Fair. There are children enjoying carnival rides, rodeo fans escaping the summer heat beneath worn cowboy hats, and plenty of the familiar yellow cups from Lindsey’s Lemonade that seem to be everywhere during Fair week. The book is well organized, giving each photograph room to stand on its own while naturally leading readers from one chapter to the next, much like walking through the Fairgrounds themselves.
By the time you reach the final page, it’s easy to understand why so many families return to the Neshoba County Fair year after year. The Fair Times doesn’t just tell the Fair’s story. It preserves the traditions, the people, and the memories that continue to make it one of Mississippi’s most cherished events. For anyone who loves Mississippi history or simply appreciates unique Southern traditions, it’s a book that’s well worth adding to the shelf.
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