The sweet scent of funnel cakes and cotton candy wafted through the air at the Columbus Fairgrounds this week during the opening nights of the Lowndes County Fair hosted by Mississippi Delta Shows. Music played and children screamed as families sailed through the air on rides, played carnival games and ate treats.
The first Mississippi Delta Shows carnival was held in 1948, when a member of the Jenkins family started the business. Though it has taken breaks in operation over the years, the business remains family owned and operated by three generations of Jenkins. The carnival started their traveling season mid-March and it will continue to bring excitement to towns across Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana through Nov. 3.
Before moving to the Columbus Fairgrounds, Mississippi Delta Shows used to set up at Leigh Mall in Columbus. They have been coming to town for at least eight years. “There’s a lot of good people in Columbus,” the carnival’s owner Deborah Jenkins said.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.